The tide is turning at Shepstone Place Home for the Aged. This was the synopsis from the committee during the annual general meeting (AGM) held at the Home on January 24.
Reflecting on the past year, chairman Angus Patterson said that due to the hard work and dedication from the staff, Shepstone Place had reached its goals. Support from the community, service clubs, as well as businesses saw the Home complete maintenance projects, as well as acquire assets like a Jojo tank and a washer / tumble dryer.
Additional maintenance projects will be ongoing as funds are received. Speaking about the fraud case against former Home administrator Debbie Potgieter, Patterson said it was out of the committee’s control. He said that committee members and staff members were often questioned by residents about the progress of the case.
“A trial date was set, but the National Prosecuting Authority has postponed. It is very frustrating. “We have no control over it and this needs to be realised by anyone who is criticising,” he said.
A report from the cottage residents followed, with Bruce Crathorne relating maintenance requests, as well as reporting a sewage leak and loud music played by people parking in the street over weekends.
He thanked the committee and staff for their hard work. Richard Tarr went through the finances, saying that the previous year had caused financial strain, with low occupancy rates as the country shrugged off Covid-19.
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He added that due to losing nursing staff to government institutions, the committee had taken a decision to increase salaries. He described the financial situation as ‘cash positive’, with a tidy sum of cash in the bank. “We had a good year, thanks to service and other clubs that have been assisting. Fund-raising also helped with cash flow,” he said.
Gail Hols and Tim Jeebodh were elected as new members on the committee.
In closing, resident Dot Perrin (who has been a resident at Shepstone Place for 23 years) said, “I have seen a change and I am very happy. “This is my home,” she said.
Naomi Feather echoed these thoughts as she praised the committee and staff for their dedication. “We have a happy home. You have always helped when there is a problem and no problem is too big,” she said.
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