Ron Smith Care Centre
July 2016 No.19
@ Elphin Lodge
UPCOMING EVENTS
Lotto: The next
Lotto concert will
be on July 13 in
the Elphin Hall.
Get your ticket
from Pam for R10.
Entertainment by
Martin Lane on
the piano. Martin
will also have his
CDs on sale.
Armchair Travel: July 7 starting at 10am in the OT/activity
centre. Topic presented: Ngele Hiking Expedition in 1992,
The Great Wall – China – 2007, Maglev Technology – China – 2007, England & up to Scotland by sea – 2010.
Support Group: The next support group for families with
a loved one being affected by dementia/Alzheimer’s takes
place on Saturday, July 9 at 9:30am in the card room.
Sing-a-long: In the OT/activity centre from 9:30 – 10:30am
on the July 14 and 28.
Mandela Day Crochet/Knit-a-thon:
July 18 in the activity centre at 10am.
All staff, volunteers and elders are invited to participate in a knitting/crochet
competition. Prizes to be won for the
person who can knit/crochet the most
lines in 67 minutes! Completed squares
will be joined to make blankets which
will be donated to the less fortunate.
News Group: Thursdays, Cedar Park patio at 9:30am.
Hymn Singing: Tuesdays in the chapel from 1:45pm to
2:30pm.
Bible Study: Wednesdays in the chapel from 2pm-3pm.
Card Making: July 21 in the OT/activity centre at 2pm.
High Tea in Honour of Mandela: July 22 in the activity
centre at 2pm; all invited to attend.
Hands & Nails: July 28 in the OT/activity centre from 10
to 11:30am.
Knitting Club: July 28 in the OT/activity centre starting at
We received this message from the
family of Reinette Durand, who attended day care and will be moving to Hermanus:
“When our mother Reinette rather suddenly came to live with us
in Alberton in 2013, after being
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, we were on rather a steep
learning curve. Finding support
to care for such a person while also
working full time was not easy. I therefore remember very clearly how relieved I was to find
the Ron Smith Centre and your OT programme
that would also accommodate day visitors. It
has really been a blessing.
“It has brought our mother many smiles and
meaningful hours in a safe and entertaining environment among peers. She always
loved going to the dam, feeding the ducks
and best of all, picking up dry leaves in the
peaceful garden. In the beginning, she said
she was going ‘to the farm’.
“We think the trees and water reminded her
fondly of places around Stellenbosch where
she grew up. With her condition she could by
afternoon not remember that she had been to
the centre in the morning, but I have come to
learn that ‘feeling good’ is also a type of memory. I am convinced that time spent pleasantly
and actively at the centre, often related to better sleep and to generally be less prone to depression.
“Please keep up
your good work.
We have already
recommended the
centre to friends
and colleagues.”
Magical
moment
n We wish
Reinette
everything
of the best
in her new
home .
Reinette Durand
with her carer Trudy
van Graan.
Winter warmer treat for dedicated walkers:
The walking group is determined to keep going this winter as the
temperature gradually declines into the single digits. On June 2, a hot
chocolate station was set up on the grass area by the lake. After walking up a storm along the Elphin Lodge pathway, the walkers relaxed at
the lake where they were encouraged to make their own Milo, tea or hot
chocolate with a choice of adding in marshmallows. The drinks were
served with a cupcake, made by volunteer Sheryl Emmett, or a flapjack
and whipped cream. The residents can’t wait for the next winter warmer
treat! Pictured is day care resident Etienne Geyser.
GET TO KNOW ME
Resident Employee Volunteer
My name is Maria Roberts; I am a resident residing on River Lodge 1.
Some things you
may not know about
me: I was born on August
27, 1922, in the one-horse
farm town of De Putten
near Zeerust. My father
was a school teacher who
came to South Africa from
Scotland. I grew up with
six sisters and two brothers
and attended a farm school
for the first 10 years of my
life which is where I learned
to speak Tswana. We used
to go to school on a donkey
cart! During the depression in 1932, we moved
to Johannesburg where
I attended a commercial
high school. My first job
was working for Rolstone
Motors. I met my husband
Lawrence at the local roller
rink in Malvern. When he
came swooping up behind
me and whisked me around
the rink a few times, I was
smitten! We married shortly
afterwards when I was 19,
and were married for almost
72 wonderful years! He
died in November 2013
and I still miss him very
much. We had two sons,
William and John, seven
grandchildren and five great
grandchildren. I am most
proud of the fact that after
retiring as company secretary for an oil company for
25 years, I raised a second
family, including two of my
young grandchildren. I am
so proud of the way they
turned out!
These are a few of
my favourite things:
My husband and I shared
our love for music; I used to
play classical and jazz on
our baby grand piano and
he used to play the drums
in a band.
My name is Thili
Sibiya; I am a nursing
sister on River Lodge 1.
Some things you
may not know about
me: I was born on December 21, 1980, in Venda
and currently live in Dawn
Park, Boksburg, with my
husband Alfred who works
for Eskom, and our three
beautiful girls: Phophi
(11), Wanga (8), and
Basi (5). Alfred and I met
through his cousin and it
was love at first sight! We
have been married for 13
years. As for my education
- after matric, I studied at
Pretoria Technikon and
then decided to attend
Khanyisa Nursing College
to become an enrolled
nurse. I then worked at
Sandringham Gardens for
four years following which
I studied further to qualify
as a professional nurse
in 2015. I joined RSCC
in March 2016 and feel I
belong here. Caring for
our residents gives me
so much joy and I love
interacting with the diversity of people here. The
position I’m in now is one
of my proudest achievements, but my dream is to
obtain a Masters degree in
nursing.
These are a few of
my favourite things:
I have quite a sense of
humour and love comedy and jokes. To relax, I
love watching TV (action
& romance movies and
reality TV). My favourite
music is rhythm and blues.
I love my garden which is
full of flowers and veggies.
Jogging keeps me fit and
helps keep my weight
down. My motto is: If at
first I don’t succeed, I will
keep on trying!
My name is Caroline
Booysen; I am a volunteer at RSCC.
Some things you may
not know about me:
I was born in South West
Africa (Namibia). I came
to South Africa when I was
still a baby. I grew up in
Kempton Park but did my
first years of schooling in
Middelburg primary boarding school. I came home
in Standard 1 (Grade 3)
and completed schooling
at home. I have two older
brothers; sadly I lost one
of my brothers to cancer
in 2009. I got married to
Quintin in 2004 and had
my son Aidan in 2006. He
is now nine years old. Our
family includes a miniature
pinscher called Kinny. I
completed my BA psychology degree from UNISA.
I have recently realised
that I enjoy teaching and
would like to definitely study
further towards that. I have
been volunteering for about
three months now in the
OT department on a Friday
morning assisting with the
baking group.
These are a few of my
favourite things:
Road trips, walking (hiking),
and reading. My favourite
colour is blue and I love Indian food and chocolate. My
motto is actually something
a lady by the name of Corrie
Ten Boom said. She said,
“If you look at the world,
you will be distressed. If you
look within yourself, you will
be depressed. But if you
look at Christ, you will be at
rest.”
I don’t have a favourite author but love Christian literature and reading the Bible.
The book I am currently
reading is ‘Shadows of the
Beast’ by Jacob Prasch.
Birthdays
RESIDENTS
3 July, Marie Diesel 79 (RL3)
5 July, Maria Medonca 80 (LS)
8 July, Karen Mitchell 69 (CP)
14 July, Ivan Langford 87 (CP)
22 July, Dawn Robinson 87 (WL)
24 July, Yvonne van Belkum 92 (RL1)
25 July, Rhoda De Beer 90 (RL1)
30 July, Bertha Hennings 84 (RL3)
31 July, Rosina Pretorius 85 (RL2)
VOLUNTEERS
2 July, Veronique Wilson
7 July, Jean Johnson
7 July, Loraine Ajax
9 July, Gerda Kowalski
11 July, Jackie Erasmus
16 July, Denise McGee
17 July, Elizabeth Ogilvie
17 July, Elaine Krawitz
25 July, Caroline Booysen
30 July, Jennifer Lindemann
STAFF
3 July, Dora Thwala (RL1)
6 July, Hugh Parkin (Workshop)
13 July, Eunice Lakay (CP)
16 July, Lilly Mathebula (WL)
18 July, Constance Bonoko (Catering)
19 July, Loraine Martiny (RL3)
19 July, Dorothy Mashaba (RL3)
23 July, Melta Molefe (RL3)
30 July, Dorcus Moalusi (RL2)
31 July, Sewela Letsoalo (CP)
* Staff members must remember to pop in at
reception to receive a small birthday surprise!
Lotto: Entertainment
was provided by Tony
and friends, who
Past
sang golden oldies
and really had the
events crowd
going. They
are Alexandra Mullinos, Stellar Beder,
Rene Blaauw and Tony
Bentel on the piano.
A st
r goes to...
A Star this month goes to Emily
Njiko, a night staff care worker
from Cedar Park. She is absolutely professional, always goes the
extra mile and is very proactive.
She is always very kind, caring,
patient and charming.
FONDLY REMEMBERED
n Marita Oosthuizen (03.06.2016)
n Maureen Beder (29.07.2016)
WELCOME TO
n Howard Motau (River Lodge 3)
n Irene Carr (River Lodge 2)