Springs Retirement Village welcomes new manager
Sheree strives to bring fun to the village while making it feel like a home.
Springs Retirement Village welcomes a new manager into the fold
The energy that surrounds the reception area of the Springs Retirement Village is a home away from home.
That is the aesthetic Sheree van Heerden brought when she was appointed as the new manager of the village two months ago.
Sitting in her office, Sheree exudes calmness as she reveals her journey.
Living in Alberton for most of her life and working in the cleaning industry, Sheree decided she needed a change.
”I needed a change of pace and to start loving my job.
“I went through four rigorous interviews before I got the village manager position. I wanted this job because it brings me purpose,” she said.
“It is more than a job, more than managing staff, and more than a job for money. We connect with the residents and walk a path with them.
“I am passionate about the elderly, and in as much as children are important also are the elderly. For the first time in my life, I finally found a job that I wanted and am passionate about,” she said.
She highlighted how settling into her new role was easy, as everyone was welcoming.
“As the village manager, everything ends with me. This requires me to be in constant communication with all residents and staff. It’s about being friendly and welcoming towards everyone, which makes it easier to do your job and establish relationships,” she said.
She said the residents are also people and need to feel like they are home.
Sheree is not oblivious to the challenges in managing a retirement village, including the stigma associated with care centres, but strives to work towards changing those perceptions.
She said due to various reasons families don’t always come to visit. It becomes sad as the residents often feel forgotten.
She encouraged the residents to make friends with each other and socialise.
“I am trying to tackle the biggest problems in retirement villages – loneliness and boredom – with activities. There is also a stigma surrounding the care centre.
“We are planning to make it look like less than a hospital because some of the elderly are there for quite a while and nobody likes the isolated feel of a hospital environment.
“I have made a lot of changes, as new curtains and linen and we will be painting it to make the space look more homely,” she said.
Sheree said the fear lies mostly within the residents themselves.
“When I speak to the residents who need more assistance, they are so afraid of the care centre, and I don’t want that. I want them to feel welcome and safe. I don’t want them to feel like they come to the village to die. I want them to leave the depression behind and come out of their cottages to socialise” she said.
Sheree is big on giving everyone the same quality of experience when they become residents of the village.
“It doesn’t matter what your background is when you arrive here. We are all equal.”
