Special messages for mom’s at care centre
Rand Aid staff members recently made life a little brighter for residents and families of the Ron Smith Care Centre.
Rand Aid staff members recently made life a little brighter for residents and families of the Ron Smith Care Centre.
WhatsApp groups were created for each of the care centre’s wings to keep families updated about the well-being of their loved ones during the lockdown when visitors are not permitted access to the care centre.
The families were very appreciative and started sharing photos of themselves with their loved ones.
One family member messaged: “Many thanks for this thoughtful initiative, we are so grateful for any news of our beloved and desperately missed mom.”
Sister Tando Ncube and Debbie Christen, the manager of recreational programmes, were instrumental in starting the group on the Lakeside wing.
Debbie said they started the group by sending out their first video slideshow, which had an ‘everything grows with love’ theme and included a photo of each individual resident with a loving message for their family.
“There was also a photo of staff, holding up a message that said they are devoted to each and every person in our Lakeside family. Keep safe until we meet again.”.
The response from families was heartwarming, according to Debbie.
On Mother’s Day, families posted their greetings to their loved ones and staff sent out another video, which included clips of individual residents responding with loving messages of their own.
“Every single family sent their thanks and appreciation. We are generating a lot of love and gratitude through the various WhatsApp groups and they have become a wonderful platform for residents, families and staff on which to interact,” said Debbie.
Thembalami Care Centre resident Doreen Calder’s (94) day was made when her daughter Jenny Fraser passed by the centre.
They had to stand metres apart, but Doreen was left much happier after seeing her daughter whom she had been missing terribly after seven weeks.
