Friendship is brewing between village sister and Tarentaal residents

Jana Bezuidenhout joined the Rand Aid Association Tarentaal retirement village in May this year and has since become part of the family.

The village’s new sister has been warmly welcomed by residents, who feel at ease and comfortable with the empathetic, caring professional.

“I love my job and have huge respect for older persons, who have so much to contribute to society,” Bezuidenhout said.

She added that elder people are the keepers of tradition and hold immense wisdom from the many life lessons they have learnt.

“Building relationships with the residents is essential because by knowing our elders – their needs and concerns – we get to improve their ageing process.”

Bezuidenhout completed a four-year diploma, general nursing, community, psychiatry and midwifery, at Ann Latsky Nursing College in 2004 and did her experiential training at Johannesburg General.

Before joining Rand Aid, she was the charge sister at Medicross Roodepoort, Edenvale and, lastly, Boksburg.

She has gone out of her way to make residents feel welcome in her consulting rooms. One of the first things she did was to set up a coffee station to create an atmosphere of the home.

“Our coffee machine at home was just gathering dust so I brought it to work and set it up in the front room of my office. Even though they were not asked to contribute, two residents happily donated coffee, milk, sugar, and tea and became the first two residents to join me for a cuppa,” she said.

Details: Rand Aid Tarentaal Village 011 882 2510.

Related article:

https://northeasterntribune.co.za/233680/help-raise-funds-for-retirement-village/