Emphasis on the elderly at Stonecroft tea
Angie Meek who celebrated her 70th birthday and was gifted with a fabulous cake.
Focus was on caring for the elderly at this month’s Stonecroft morning tea.
The event saw a fantastic turnout, giving community members a much needed chance to socialise.
Guest speakers were brother and sister in law, Jono and Shelley Downham.
The two work at Genesis (an outreach project of the Norwegian Church) and while they fulfill two very different roles, they share the same sentiment when it comes to the elderly.
Jono spent the morning explaining how the Genesis Hope Care Centre came into existence.
This was after the leadership team at Genesis identified the dire need to offer services to the elderly both in rural and urban communities.
After brainstorming for a while, the centre transitioned from March last year into a private facility that operates as a step down, frail care, palliative and assisted living home.
It operates on a home away from home model, ensuring that residents are comfortable and well looked after at all times.
Jono also stressed the importance of providing quality care to the older people within communities.
“There is a wealth of knowledge that sits amongst the elderly,” he said.
Shortly after, Shelley took to the mic in more ways than one as she performed a beautiful song on the piano.
She thereafter shared stories of three instrumental people in her life, all of whom were elderly.
Shelley highlighted fond memories of her Aunty Phyllis, whose one gift of generosity changed her life for the better.
“Aunty Phyllis gave us a piano when I was five, and it was that piano that helped bring joy through music back into my life,” Shelley explained.
She went on to work in the music industry, performing in shows and with other musicians, and claims that singing helped her express herself unlike any other means could.
Shelley also spoke of her grandparents who played a key role in her life too, and pointed out that we will all at some point leave a lasting impact on somebody, whether we are aware of it or not.
Meanwhile, it was a further celebration of life that morning for Angie Meek who celebrated her 70th birthday and was gifted with a fabulous cake.
The next Stonecroft tea will be confirmed in due course.
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