Sunday tea at River Lodge 3
A large group of people came together for the lovely tea that was hosted at Ron Smith Care Centre's River Lodge 3.
A large group of people came together for the lovely tea that was hosted at Ron Smith Care Centre’s River Lodge 3.
River Lodge 3 is a special wing for those living with dementia. Residents were joined by their families and all the staff and volunteers working and assisting on the wing.
Families came along with children and turned out in numbers to enjoy Sunday tea with their mother, father or granny. A variety of sweet and savoury eats was provided by the wing’s special volunteers.
Ms Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s Manager: Recreational Programmes, introduced many of the people who are involved in the residents’ daily lives and who, in one way or another, give them the love, care and attention that they need and deserve.
Nursing, housekeeping, occupational therapy, kitchen, admin, and management employees, as well as 12 of the volunteers who are dedicated to River Lodge 3, were all introduced. She explained that all these people along with all the family members, are known as care partners. Ms Christen acknowledged them for their contribution to the care and well-being of the River Lodge 3 residents living with dementia.
Ms Zabeth Zühlsdorff, Rand Aid’s GM Services and Advance Division, thanked the volunteers for the support that they give to the care centre. “Their care and concern for the residents is remarkable and we cannot do without their input,” she said.
As part of Rand Aid’s commitment to practising person-centred care, each family was asked at the tea to get together with their loved one and fill out an information form which was created to help all care partners know each person and their histories, needs and interests a little better.
“This activity gave the families of dementia residents the opportunity to meaningfully engage with each other and to chat about the residents’ lives. The information recorded will help the care centre see beyond the disease of dementia and to know each elder as a whole person. The Sunday tea was a wonderful way to bring all the care partners together and to celebrate life, families and memories and to offer each other support and encouragement in caring for Ron Smith Care Centre’s special residents living with dementia,” said Ms Zühlsdorff.
