Bethesda Care Centre opens doors in city
The Bethesda Care Centre recently opened its doors to the bereaved and ill-of health residents in the city.
POLOKWANE – The centre is run by two registered nurses, Marthie du Toit, and Jeane Venter.
“We came up with the idea to open a care centre when we still lived in Louis Trichardt. Things did not work according to our plans and we both moved to Polokwane. Now, eight years later, that idea has materialised in the form of the Bethesda Care Centre,” explains Venter.
“We planned to open at the beginning of next year but things came together sooner than we planned and we were happy to open five months earlier than originally planned,” Venter continues.
She says there are seven rooms at the centre which can house up to 10 patients. There are medical assistants available around the clock as well as care givers who see to the overall care of the patients.
“We look after people who are bedridden, suffered a stroke and patients who are recovering from heart operations. Unfortunately, we cannot house people suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia,” explains Du Toit.
“We also offer home-care services; our care givers visit patients at their homes and care for them there. We also train at-home caregivers to help their ill and frail employees, “ she continues.
The centre offers training for at-home caregivers. Although it is a private centre, they do not accept medical aid payments yet. They prefer that patients be referred to the centre by a medical doctor.
Venter says they are not too strict in this regard but they prefer working on the recommendation of a professional. The centre is open to patients whose at-home caregivers are on leave or cannot tend to them due to unforseen circumstances
“We want to offer patients a place where they can heal or live out their last days with the least amount of discomfort. We even allow for pets to visit their owners,” Venter explains.
She further says a private ambulance company is interested in renting a spot on their premises. “This is ideal since our patients can then be transported between the hospital and the centre with ease. We also plan to renovate the garden to create spots where patients’ families can have a place to catch up outside the centre’s walls,”
Bethesda Care Centre is situated on the corner of Potgieter Avenue and Van Nispen Road.
maretha@nmgroup.co.za
