Ron Smith Care Centre will soon offer a day-care facility for people who are either physically or mentally frail.
“This is aimed at those families who are not yet ready for the full-time care option, but who desperately need either some time for themselves or whose loved one can benefit from spending time in a nurturing environment with daily occupational therapy activities,” said Ron Smith Care Centre’s occupational therapist, Mr Stephan Fourie.
Builders are currently hard at work extending the care centre’s occupational therapy (OT) department to not only make it a more stimulating environment, but also to allow Ron Smith to offer a day-care option to members of the public. Construction should be finished by mid-December.
“Caring for someone who is unable to be left alone, or who needs constant watching over, is emotionally and physically draining. Now they will be able to bring their loved one to us for a morning, afternoon or entire day. The visitor will be cared for, join in on OT activities and have their mid-day meal and tea breaks with us,” said Mr Fourie.
The care centre, which is set in the grounds of Elphin Lodge, started accepting day visitors recently. This was well received and it was decided to officially extend this service. Mr Fourie explained that placing someone in full-time care is a huge step and the day-care facility will also serve to allow families to gauge how their loved one will fare in a care centre. “Should they later join us as full-time residents, or even on a respite or recuperative basis, the move will be less daunting given the familiarity of the people and environment,” he said.
The new OT department will have a comfortable lounge with recliner chairs to allow day visitors to rest when needed, a new, purpose-built therapy room, a conservatory to allow residents and day-care visitors some quiet time, a kitchen, and wheelchair-friendly toilet facilities. Attention will be paid to the decor, so that the rooms are inviting and interesting but still restful.
Apart from Mr Fourie, the department has two OT technicians and two porters. Activities offered include creative (beadwork, weaving, collages, etc), cognitive (puzzles, spelling bees, current affairs discussions, etc) and leisure (armchair travel, baking, singing, etc). An art therapist visits on Wednesdays and walks in the beautiful grounds are enjoyed on Fridays.
“We have a weekly programme of activities so it would be wise to identify which activity would best suit your loved one and arrange for a visit on that day,” said Mr Fourie.
“The wife of a man who has been spending three days a week at the care centre says she can feel the improvement in her own health and mental well-being. She can now meet a friend for coffee or pop out to do some shopping and as a result, she is coping better with the constraints of caring for her husband,” he said.
For more information, contact Mr Fourie on 011 882-6296.
