Tulips, clogs, stroopwafels and traditional dance characterised the armchair travel visit to the Netherlands by residents of Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre.
With Covid-19 restrictions in place for the foreseeable future, the care centre is finding interesting ways to keep residents engaged and entertained.
Last year, it launched its Armchair Travel Series, with separate ‘trips to China’ being held on each wing of the care centre to comply with social distancing.
This month, residents immersed themselves in all things Dutch. Mark Verhoogt from De Backery in Edenvale sponsored Dutch-baked treats that were ordered for the two travel sessions, including Dutch raisin bread, speculaas cookies and stroopwafels.
Mark also lent traditional Dutch items to the care centre, including a giant wooden clog, which helped create a more authentic experience.
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Before their ‘trip’, residents and staff made their Dutch hats, using a paper-folding method. The first event was held in the Lakeside wing on February 5, where residents and staff learnt more about the Netherlands, the land of tulip fields, flower gardens, gabled houses, windmills, canals, wooden shoes, bicycles, Van Gogh, Gouda cheese and herring.
The programme started with pleasant music and a video: The Second Waltz, from the residents’ favourite musician, Andre Rieu, who was born in Maastricht, the Netherlands.
“We then took a whirlwind tour through the highlights of Holland, including special sights and places to visit and a learn-to-speak Dutch language session. The staff performed a Dutch folk dance called hakketoon (heel-toe), much to the residents’ delight. “There was lots of fun and laughter as first the staff then the residents did the traditional koekhappen competition, where participants had to eat a doughnut which hung from a stick with their hands behind their backs,” said Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s manager of recreational programmes.
Residents Olive Jew, Marge Trinder, Molly Matroos and Ellen Quinn were good sports who had a go at the doughnut, with Olive getting the prize for finishing first.
“Staff nurse Shaka Mahlangu was the winner of the staff competition.”
The next instalment, in the Cedar Park wing, took place on February 12, with Phumudzo Nephiphidi winning the doughnut-eating competition.
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