Local seniors have fun during care centre visit
The plan to play games went out the window as friendships were formed or strengthened.
What was meant to be a morning of games between the residents of Rand Aid’s Thembalami Care Centre and Tarentaal Retirement Village ended up instead as a good chinwag over tea.
Thembalami’s deputy manager Elize Raath explained that this Mandela Day they wanted to share their many blessings with the residents of the retirement village.
“We invited them over for a morning of games, tea and cake and 15 residents accepted our invitation.
“They arrived earlier than expected and within a short space of time, were happily chatting with our residents.
ALSO READ: Residents of Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre enjoy Song and dance
“The plan to play games went out the window as friendships were formed or strengthened,” said Elize.
Tsakani Shihlomule, Thembalami’s occupation therapist, managed to get a connectivity game going, with people sharing their interests and experiences.
“The residents then had to confirm if they shared an interest or went through the same kind of experiences.
“For example, if one person said, ‘I lost my partner due to illness’, others were given the opportunity to share their stories,” said Elize.
“It was wonderfully therapeutic.”
Elize explained that should a Tarentaal resident no longer be able to live independently, they might choose to move to sister Rand Aid property Thembalami, which provides nursing care.
ALSO READ: Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre residents and staff have fun in Las Vegas
“The event gave Tarentaal residents the chance to catch up with former village neighbours who have moved to Thembalami, and also allowed them to get to know the care centre, which will help remove some of the uncertainty should they have to relocate here in the future,” said Elize.
