FROM THE DESK OF THE HEALTHCARE MANAGER
Five Years at Faircape Health Onrus: What Working With the Elderly Has Taught Me
As I reflect on my past five years as healthcare manager at Faircape Health Onrus, I realise that working with the elderly has been as much a personal journey as a professional one. These years have offered daily lessons, some subtle, some profound, about care, humanity, and what truly matters.
I have learned that ageing is not a uniform experience. Each resident arrives with a lifetime of stories, values, habits, strengths, and vulnerabilities. To care well means to look beyond diagnoses and routines and to recognise the individual behind them. When people feel seen and respected, their sense of dignity remains intact, even when health or independence changes.
I have learned that dignity is central to quality care. Small things matter deeply, like being addressed by name, having choices respected, and being listened to patiently. True care is not only about meeting physical needs but also about preserving autonomy, pride, and identity.
Working with the elderly has also taught me about loss of health, independence, and, often, loved ones. Yet, alongside loss, I have witnessed remarkable resilience. With the right support, compassion, and environment, older people continue to adapt, connect, and find meaning.
I have learned that behaviour is often a form of communication. Anxiety, withdrawal, or frustration usually reflects unmet needs, fear, or discomfort rather than unwillingness. Understanding this has shaped how we approach care, always asking residents not what is wrong but what they are trying to tell us.
Equally important has been learning the value of teamwork. Quality care is delivered by dedicated staff who bring patience, empathy, and professionalism to their work every day. Supporting, guiding, and valuing our staff is essential, because the care they provide reflects how supported they feel.
Finally, these five years have reinforced the importance of compassion in systems, decisions, and everyday interactions. Working with the elderly constantly reminds us of our shared humanity and the responsibility we carry to treat one another with kindness and respect.
As we move into 2026, I remain grateful for the trust placed in Faircape Health Onrus and for the ongoing opportunity to learn from those we care for. Our residents do not simply receive care but they teach us how to care better.
Christelle
du Plessis
Healthcare Manager onrusnsm@faircapehealth.co.za
MEET YOUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY TEAM AT ONRUS
Creating Moments That Matter
Quality of life remains a central focus in my role as an occupational therapist. While medical and physical care are essential, emotional well-being, social connection, enjoyment, and maintaining a sense of purpose are equally important. Structured activity programmes play a valuable role in supporting residents’ mood, engagement, and overall well-being. Familiar and enjoyable experiences often help reduce anxiety, encourage social interaction, and create opportunities for positive emotional moments.
Josline, my activity assistant, and I plan and adapt group activities to ensure residents of varying abilities can participate meaningfully and safely. Our approach is centred around getting to know each individual. We begin with each resident’s unique life story, preferences, past hobbies, cultural background, and current abilities, and then design activities that feel familiar and personally relevant. This way of working honours each individual’s identity, supports their sense of self, and helps preserve dignity even when health or memory changes occur.
A large portion of the community at Faircape Health Onrus is from the generation born roughly between 1928 and 1945. This generation is frequently characterised by discipline, loyalty, respect for tradition and authority, a strong work ethic, and a deep appreciation for stability, family, and community. They often prefer structured routines, face-toface interactions, and understated dignity rather than rapid change or high stimulation.
We draw on these characteristics to make our programme feel comfortable, affirming, and engaging. Reminiscence activities are carefully linked to experiences they lived through to evoke pride and shared understanding.
Predictable weekly schedules provide the reassurance of routine they value. Music selections focus on the sounds of their era, like big band, jazz, crooners and light classical melodies.
Through carefully chosen activities like pet visits, music, outings, and special celebrations, we continue to offer opportunities for enjoyment, comfort, and connection tailored to each resident’s interests and abilities. Small, thoughtful choices like a favourite melody, a preferred walking route, and time spent with a pet help maintain pride and identity. Our residents show us daily that shared humanity and well-being flourish through compassionate, team-driven care.
Ageing is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength. Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving. We just get stronger and more resilient.
We remain dedicated to creating these meaningful moments that matter so deeply.
Marijke Scrooby Occupational Therapist onrusot@faircapehealth.co.za
PET VISITS
Regular pet visits remain one of the most cherished parts of our programme. Gentle dogs and cats offer unconditional companionship, sensory stimulation, and a calming presence that many residents find deeply soothing. These interactions frequently evoke memories of past pets or family life. Touching and interacting with dogs and other pets is known to have measurable effects on endocrine levels in human bodies. Scientific studies have shown that animal interactions stimulate the release of feelgood chemicals in our bodies. This can help us become more alert, improve our sleep and improve our sense of self-esteem and happiness.
Angel Paws is our latest collaborator for our animal-assisted activities. They are a registered South African non-profit organisation, and their therapy dogs live with their human families in their home. They believe that therapy dogs are born and not made and that the temperament of the animals is key and the love of human contact is most important. The dogs have basic obedience training, as good manners are important for safe visits. The dogs are non-judgemental in their approach to people and are trusting and accepting, which gives everyone the chance to engage in a gentle, stress-free dialogue.
We are looking forward to expanding this experience with planned outdoor walks in our natural surroundings, where residents and visiting pets can enjoy fresh air, gentle movement, and social connection together.
MUSIC CONCERTS AND SOCIALS
Music has been a cornerstone of our recent programme.
Lara Kirsten delivered a beautiful piano concert featuring well-known classical pieces that stimulated memories and brought widespread enjoyment. The Joy Group, made up of village residents along with members of the United Church, led a lively Christmas carol sing-along that filled the room with seasonal cheer.
The Gospel Bells, a men’s a cappella group, had residents clapping, dancing, and tapping their feet to familiar Christmas and New Year songs, creating an atmosphere of energy and shared delight. Every second Friday afternoon, Happy Hour is enlivened by Des Poole on guitar, playing jolly tunes that encourage movement, singing, and dancing.
Familiar melodies also feature in regular music afternoons and sing-along sessions throughout the week, providing consistent opportunities for reminiscence, emotional connection, and gentle physical activity.
CHRISTMAS LUNCH FUNCTION
Our annual Christmas lunch always stands as a highlight for residents. Families and friends join residents for a festive meal complete with seasonal decorations, traditional food, familiar music, and warm conversation. The event honours lifelong rituals and is a joyful shared experience that brings people together across generations.
OUTINGS
Part of our schedule includes weekly bus outings, supplemented by bi-weekly excursions utilising our wheelchair-accessible bus. These regular outings are carefully planned to allow residents to safely and comfortably engage with the wider community and the natural beauty of the local environment.
Taking full advantage of the recent stretch of warmer, sunny weather, we seized the opportunity to disembark and fully explore. Residents enjoyed time on the coastal pathways, indulged in a refreshing ice cream next to the sea, or simply soaked up the lively atmosphere of the local town. Critically, the accessibility of these trips has provided our wheelchairbound residents with the chance to revisit places they have not been able to access recently.
A particularly touching highlight was including our centenarian, Mrs Lola Stander, on a trip down memory lane. Mrs Stander astonished everyone by not only recognising but also accurately naming every area and landmark, even as we approached, demonstrating her remarkable clarity about her surroundings and destination.
Through meticulous planning and the necessary assistance, these outings provide residents with moments of simple pleasure and adventure. They get to breathe the fresh sea air, listen to the rhythmic sound of the waves, appreciate the beautiful local flora, revisit familiar places and occasionally spot whales during the migration season.
SOCIAL EVENTS
Participating in social events helps recreate a sense of normalcy, making the transition to residential living feel more like a continuation of lifelong habits. These activities bridge the past with the present, allowing residents to engage in ways that feel authentic and comforting.
We recently honoured our residents aged 90 and older with a special afternoon of socialising over tea or coffee, tasty treats, and good music. The event brought everyone together in celebration and was a significant occasion, as almost half of our 50 residents are 90 years or older, including two remarkable individuals over 100 years old.
The transition into spring was marked by another celebration, designed to welcome the new season. Residents enjoyed a selection of fruit skewers and ice lollies. These simple refreshments were a huge hit and instantly transported many back to their childhood.
The event successfully combined a seasonal celebration with an opportunity for social connection and the cherished recall of fond memories.
Research shows that regular social engagement can lower anxiety, improve mood, and even support physical health by encouraging gentle movement and laughter. By prioritising group interactions, we help combat feelings of loneliness, stimulate cognitive and emotional well-being, and promote a community atmosphere.
Marijke Scrooby Occupational Therapist onrusot@faircapehealth.co.za
ALL THINGS NURSING
The Nursing Recognition Programme: Celebrating our Nursing Team
As part of our Nursing Recognition Programme, we intentionally create monthly moments to allow our nursing teams to pause, breathe, and step away briefly from the demands of their clinical responsibilities.
In February, in celebration of Valentine’s Day, we took the opportunity to send heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to an exceptional and dedicated team of nurses. Their compassion, professionalism, resilience, and unwavering commitment to patient care do not go unnoticed. The kindness they extend to patients and families each day reflects the true spirit of nursing.
With appreciation and respect, we say a sincere and heartfelt thank you. We are proud of you, we value you, and we celebrate you.
How to Keep Your Brain Sharp at Any Age
At Faircape Health, we strive to promote lifelong cognitive well-being through holistic care. As the nursing team, we believe that healthy ageing is about supporting the whole person and not just managing an illness.
Brain health plays a vital role in independence, confidence, and quality of life, and research shows it can be nurtured at any age through simple, consistent habits. The encouraging news is that small everyday choices, supported by a caring environment, can help the brain remain active, adaptable and resilient throughout life.
Here are a few points to help achieve this:
1. Staying Curious: The Power of Mental Engagement
Curiosity keeps the mind engaged and the brain adaptable. The brain thrives when it is gently challenged. Learning new things helps strengthen neural connections and supports memory and problem-solving skills. This doesn’t require formal study or complex tasks. Reading, engaging in conversation, trying a new activity or revisiting a favourite hobby all stimulate the brain.
Sr. Karin Louwrens Group Nursing Service Manager groupnsm@faircapehealth.co.za
2.
Movement as
Medicine for the Mind
When the body moves, the brain benefits. Physical movement is essential not only for physical strength but also for brain health. Regular activity improves blood flow to the brain and supports focus, memory, and emotional well-being.
Gentle, guided movement, such as walking, stretching, or balance exercises, can be highly effective when practised consistently. A supportive care environment encourages safe movement that respects individual ability and comfort.
3. Rest and Routine: Why Sleep Matters
Quality sleep plays a crucial role in memory, concentration, and emotional regulation. During sleep, the brain processes information and restores itself. Consistent routines and a calm, supportive environment help promote better sleep, an important part of holistic care and overall wellbeing.
4. Connection and Community
Connection supports not only emotional health but also cognitive strength. Social interaction is a powerful
contributor to brain health. Meaningful connection stimulates multiple areas of the brain and supports emotional resilience.
At Faircape, community, shared experiences, and positive relationships form an essential part of caring for cognitive and emotional wellbeing.
5. Nourishing the Brain Through Balanced Nutrition
The brain depends on good nutrition to function well. A balanced, varied diet supports mental clarity and longterm cognitive health. Rather than focusing on restriction, promote nourishment, enjoyment and balance and recognise that food supports both physical health and
6. A Holistic Approach to Brain Health
Healthy ageing is about supporting the whole person: mind, body and spirit. Brain health is not shaped by one habit alone, but by the combination of movement, connection, purpose, rest and compassionate care.
Supporting cognitive wellbeing means respecting individuality, promoting independence and creating environments where people can continue to thrive at any age.
The Recent Surge in Diarrhoea
At Faircape Health, we strive to promote lifelong cognitive well-being through holistic care. As the nursing team, we believe that healthy ageing is about supporting the whole person and not just managing an illness.
Brain health plays a vital role in independence, confidence, and quality of life, and research shows it can be nurtured at any age through simple, consistent habits. The encouraging news is that small everyday choices, supported by a caring environment, can help the brain remain active, adaptable and resilient throughout life.
Bacterial Growth and Food Spoilage
Hot weather allows bacteria to multiply quickly, especially when food is not stored properly. Food left out at picnics or braais can spoil easily. Undercooked meat, dairy products, and mayonnaise-based foods can cause food poisoning.
Lifestyle and Eating Habits
In summer, people eat out more and buy street food, which increases the risk of contaminated food and water. Travelling also exposes people to new bacteria, causing traveller’s diarrhoea.
People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are more affected by hot weather. Dehydration and heat stress can cause flare-ups, leading to stomach pain and diarrhoea. Heat exhaustion can also cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
How to Prevent Summer Diarrhoea
• Summer diarrhoea can be prevented by good hygiene, safe food handling, and drinking enough fluids.
• Drink plenty of clean water and oral rehydration solutions to avoid dehydration. When travelling, use bottled or filtered water and avoid unsafe ice.
• Keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot. Do not leave food out for more than two hours or one hour when temperatures are above 32°C. Prepare food hygienically and keep everything covered.
• Eat light meals and avoid very spicy or greasy food in hot weather.
• Wash hands often with soap and water, especially before eating and after using the toilet or changing nappies. Clean toilets and dirty surfaces with a bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water).
At the first sign of diarrhoea, start oral rehydration solution immediately. Seek medical help if someone shows signs of severe dehydration, such as dry mouth, sunken eyes, little urination, or extreme tiredness.
People with diarrhoea should stay away from others for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop to prevent spreading the illness.
Sr. Famida JoJo-Zungu Shift Leader onrushcc@faircapeonsite.co.za
NEWS FROM OUR SOCIAL WORKERS
Ageing with Grace: Lessons From Our Residents
Working in a healthcare environment offers a rare and profound opportunity to care for people whose lives span eight, nine, and sometimes even ten decades. Our residents carry with them rich life stories shaped by love and loss, joy and grief, hope and disappointment, resilience and gratitude.
These are lives fully lived, and they continue to teach us if we are willing to listen to them. I spent some time speaking with several residents about the lessons that have guided their lives, as well as with staff members who walk alongside them each day. What emerged was a shared wisdom that reaches far beyond age or illness.
Doug, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, reflected on the renewed awareness of what truly matters. His family surprised him with a celebration with his children, grandchildren and their partners, all making the effort to be present. For Doug, this moment reaffirmed a lifelong truth about the importance of family and faith.
For Doug, family and spirituality remain the foundation that gives his life meaning. “Unbeknownst to you, the Lord uses you throughout your life to reach others. Seek the guidance of the Lord and trust in Him. Get involved in life around you. Be part of society and community,” he said.
Rozetta spoke with deep gratitude about the life she has shared with her husband, their children, extended family and friends. She described a life lived with intention, pursuing her passions for nature, music, and travel, and sharing these experiences with the people she loves most. What brings her joy today are not only those cherished memories but also gratitude for her current health and the relationships that continue to sustain her.
Lesley shared a quieter but equally powerful sense of fulfilment. She lives with the comfortable satisfaction of knowing she raised her three children to follow their passions. She spoke with pride about their accomplishments – a lawyer, a banker, and a pilot – and expressed peace in knowing she supported them in becoming who they were meant to be. She is thankful for where she is now and that she is generally healthy and still maintains a lifelong friendship with a friend she has known since primary school.
Liesel de Kock
Social Worker socialworker1@faircapehealth.co.za
When staff members were asked what they had learnt from working with our elderly residents, many spoke about patience in caregiving, but also patience with life itself. Slow down. Take time. Don’t rush. Sr Muller shared how she has witnessed remarkable resilience in the face of sudden and unexpected health changes and how the strength of family support can make all the difference. She has also become aware of how short life is and how we must make the best of each moment, as we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
It is always amazing to see how people can be open to and accept joy in the moment. These reflections remind us that ageing is not merely a medical process but a deeply human one. Even in times of vulnerability, older adults continue to find meaning, connection, purpose, and growth. Their stories call us to practise care that honours dignity, values relationships, and recognises the whole person, not just their diagnosis.
Ageing with grace, it seems, is less about avoiding hardship and more about embracing life with gratitude, patience, faith, and connection. These are lessons our elders offer us every day, quietly, generously, and with profound wisdom.
