Silver Stream Senior Park manager Deon Bruwer sits comfortably behind his desk as matron Mandy Joubert walks laughingly into the room. The pair have made Silver Stream Retirement home in Randpark a safe haven and place of easy retirement for their residents.
Both Bruwer and Joubert attributed how the home has succeeded over the years to their dedication and love for what they do, understanding, patience, humility and teamwork.
Cape Town native Bruwer comes from a background of management and social work, while Randburg native Joubert has 15 years of experience with the elderly. Their philosophy is, ‘to do everything [they] do to benefit the residents’ explained Bruwer while he reflected that he aimed to treat residents at the home like he would have expected his mother to be treated at the home she stays at.
Photo: Ofentse Moduka
“Caring or social work is something that can be there generally, but to channel that into the elderly is something that is different. It’s a calling from the beginning and I think it’s just something you just identify with,” mused Joubert, as she gestured animatedly.
The pair remained in constant communication, always thinking of ways to improve the living conditions of their residents. This was reflected in the well-maintained grounds and cheery “Good mornings!” which greeted visitors as they entered the face brick property.
Photo: Ofentse Moduka
The excitement at centenarian Margaret Watt-Pringle’s 100th birthday party on 1 April was also a testament of this. Watt-Pringle left the home after living there for 17 years and chose to return later after having lived in Botswana for a short while.
While prioritising the home and its residents, the pair emphasised a large part of their specific success was effective teamwork. On the atmosphere of the senior park Joubert exclaimed, “We have a good relationship with all the staff members and that’s how we maintain it.”
Working together with their co-workers as well as ensuring they catered to the needs of their residents is how they viewed themselves as different from other retirement homes.
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