Elderly treated to a special visit
Staff from Netcare Sunward Park Hospital visit SAVF Kowa Pienaar Old Age Home.
Residents of the SAVF Kowa Pienaar Old Age Home, in Elspark, recently received an exciting visit and surprise gifts from the Netcare Sunward Park Hospital’s management team.
Salochni Naidu, nursing services manager for Netcare Sunward Park Hospital, said: “We get an opportunity to engage with patients when treating them, but we feel that it is so important to also engage with the community outside of the hospital on a deeper level and form lasting relationships.”
To this end, Naidu and her team are taking the time to help to support members of the community.
She said that the event aimed to strengthen bonds and support the hard-working staff and elderly residents of Kowa Pienaar.
The residents were surprised with new duvets and goodie bags containing face cloths, soap, sweets and biscuits to brighten their day.
Dina van Staden, a resident of Kowa Pienaar, expressed gratitude for the visit.
“It was such a treat to be spoilt like this by Netcare Sunward Park Hospital’s management and staff; I can’t wait for the next visit.
“I had a lovely chat with some of them and it was very kind of them to bring us such heart-warming presents,” she said.
Taking the time to get to know the residents of this home and keeping them company is important to Netcare Sunward Park Hospital’s staff and management, and they have planned weekly visits for the rest of the year.
By all accounts, the hospital staff and management are as enthusiastic about these visits as the Kowa Pienaar residents.
Naidu said: “The residents were so thrilled by the visit that they asked to be given extra time to get dressed to the nines before we started in the morning.
“I think I understand why – this is such a special interaction.”
It’s not just the residents of the retirement home who Netcare Sunward Park Hospital’s staff and management are getting to know.
The care staff of Kowa Pienaar will be receiving additional specialised training from the hospital staff in areas such as wound care, bathing and pressure point care and evacuation planning, with the elderly in mind.
Future events arranged by Netcare Sunward Park Hospital’s management and staff include a braai on Mandela Day, redecorating the Kowa Pienaar dining room and replacing some of the residents’ beds and mattresses.
Netcare Sunward Park Hospital staff taking part in the initiative include personal assistant to the nursing services manager Marinda Sardinha; paediatric ward unit manager Stella Ndebele; patient liaison officer Nicole Pierre; pharmacist assistant Hanli Steyn; occupational health and safety officer Santie Benade; orthopaedic ward unit manager Anne Midwood; emergency department unit manager Cheryl Nagel; high care unit manager Vera Greco; maternity unit manager Linda Ruiters; intensive care unit manager Ruby Masoen and pharmacy shop front assistant Sinned Schmulian.
“Life is never about ourselves, it is always about serving and supporting others, especially those in our community, with competence, confidence and compassion,” said Naidu.
Other Kowa Pienaar articles:
Mother’s Day celebration at Kowa Pienaar
All about the SAVF Kowa Pienaar Home
