Care centre takes up Jerusalema dance challenge
Charge professional nurse Leanie Bessinger then spread the idea to the staff of the five other wings and dance practices were set up with Debbie Christen, Recreational manager, teaching the choreography to various groups.
Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre (RSCC) in Lyndhurst has experienced a challenging time over the past few months. Even though its elderly frail residents have handled the restrictions necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic with grace, matron Avril Maltman said that all care centre staff have found themselves working in stressful times and under extreme pressure.
Nevertheless, they are totally dedicated to giving wonderful, loving care to the residents and have worked tirelessly to curb the spread of infections and to keep everyone’s spirits up. Local artist Master KG’s Jerusalema has become a global sensation and videos of people dancing to the hit are spreading positivity far and wide.
When enrolled nursing auxiliary Evelyn Shilubane, who works on the River Lodge 3 residential wing of the care centre, first found out about the Jerusalema dance, she thought that RSCC should take up the challenge and promoted the idea to her colleagues. Charge professional nurse Leanie Bessinger then spread the idea to the staff of the five other wings and dance practices were set up with Debbie Christen, Recreational manager, teaching the choreography to various groups.
Christen said, “Staff from all departments – nursing, housekeeping, kitchen, maintenance, admin and the coffee shop – were encouraged to join in, making this dance challenge a fun and spirit-filled team-building exercise, which really brought the whole care centre community together in such a joyous way. In a sense, this was also a chance to relieve some of the stresses of the lockdown period and to celebrate survival of Covid-19.”
Greg Fine, the husband of Rand Aid’s in-house doctor, Dr Carmella Mielke, assisted with video footage using his drone, and Sister Bessinger edited and put together some 59 video clips from staff to create the final version. She said, “Unity and light relief are much needed in the world right now and I want to put out the challenge to other care centres to join the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge.”
When Zabeth Zühlsdorff, Rand Aid general manager Advance Division, saw the video, she was blown away and responded, “I have watched it three times already! Many thanks to everyone who organised, participated and supported this fantastic initiative. You are an awesome team and I am privileged to work with each and every one of you.”
Families on the various WhatsApp groups started by the care centre to enable enhanced communication with the families of residents, also commented favourably.
Related articles:
https://www.citizen.co.za/rosebank-killarney-gazette/314122/ron-smith-care-centre-celebrates-dedicated-volunteers/
https://www.citizen.co.za/rosebank-killarney-gazette/349923/watch-nelson-mandela-childrens-hospital-staff-dances-to-master-kgs-jerusalema/
