Nursing students spoil the elderly in their homes

On Thursday, 24 August 2017, the other half of the group of first year nursing students from the School of Nursing Science at the NWU had the privilege of making home visits to 33 older persons in the care of the nursing staff from the Potchefstroom Service Centre for the Aged.
The project started at the Potchefstroom Service Centre for Aged and, from there, seven vehicles took them to the 33 homes.
The students had to prepare a two-hour programme to spoil the elder persons at home. Among the activities they had planned were talking to the old folk and getting to know them better; looking through their photo albums with them; listening to their stories; asking if there is anything they could do for them; join them in doing something they really love; walking or exercising with them; taking pictures; knitting; reading stories; singing; putting on makeup; doing their hair; colouring in; playing board games and cards; building puzzles; listening to music; manicures; pedicures; pressure care; mouth care; body massage and a whole lot more.
The students had to adjust their planned activities according to the individual needs of each elder person. They made sure that each one, their care givers and their spouses received a handmade card, a chocolate, a cupcake and a sausage roll from the students.
The students, staff members and the seniors enjoyed their time together immensely and it is very likely that this project will be repeated in future.
The organisers offered a big word of thanks to the elderly of Potchefstroom for granting the students the opportunity to spend time with them.
They also thanked the first-year nursing students from the NWU, the nursing staff from the Potchefstroom Service Centre for the Aged and the School of Nursing Science for all their love, time and expertise to make this project possible.