It is difficult to imagine how many words Matron Paulina Namo has exchanged with colleagues and residents in the more than 14 000 days that she has worked at Rand Aid Association. How many lives has she positively touched, and who has influenced her life?
At Rand Aid’s long service awards in August, the nursing services manager at Thembalami Care Centre was rewarded for an amazing 40 years of service.
She shares her journey with us, from her first impressions back in 1984, when she was first employed and based at the Bramley Complex:
“The grounds were beautiful and the atmosphere with all my colleagues was serene.
“The residents had access to Dr Paul Wright, the house doctor, with consultations from Mondays to Fridays. Dr Wright was on call 24 hours a day and I remember him telling me, “You are not alone at any time; I am just a call away for your residents’ concerns.”
“That inspired me as it indicated that the senior citizens were still of value and highly appreciated.
“The occupational therapy department was fully functional and the nursing staff participated at all times. Meals were prepared on the property and there were never any issues raised by the residents.
“There was a good working relationship with the residents’ family and staff. I remember retired Constitutional Court judge Edwin Cameron, who placed his father at Bramley, was always thankful and polite towards the staff. He never threw his toys out of the cot.
“Being promoted to the night superintendent post motivated me to interact with the residents in both the flats and the cottages. I was inspired when the day staff acknowledged my ideas and input regarding residents’ well-being. We had Helen Blocks 1 & 2 for assisted living, where the residents were transferred when they needed more care. There was continuity of care without stressing the residents.
“They were able to visit their friends in both the flats and the cottages. This resulted in the independent residents’ willingness to move to the assisted-living blocks before their health deteriorated too greatly.
“I drew up a schedule whereby all the residents were visited in the flats and cottages between 7pm and 8:30pm on a nightly basis 4, from Monday to Sunday. Then we would concentrate on the residents in the frail care sections until 6:30am. In the morning, I daily consulted with Matron Lynne Kuhlenthal and raised my concerns about any residents.
“I conducted a lot of in-service training for the carers and two of the staff members were registered with the Nursing Council as enrolled nursing assistants. One of the staff members eventually joined me at the Old Wedge Gardens, after taking a retrenchment package when Bramley was closed. She is currently working at Thembalami Care Centre.
“I was mentored by Ayanda Matthews, now Rand Aid’s GM of compliance and the social react division, at the Old Wedge Gardens. There, I was allocated as a charge professional nurse in the detoxification unit and Reid/detox ward, before once again enjoying interacting with the senior citizens after another post allocation.
“I gained a lot of experience and Rand Aid Association facilitated a Primary Health Care and Pharmacology course that I attended. This was under Wits University and the practicals were undertaken at the current Hillbrow Hospital.
“I was able to apply my new knowledge in the treatment of residents, especially after-hours and when it came to transferring emergency cases to Edenvale Hospital. Our relationship with the staff at the Edenvale Hospital was excellent and we were always contacted for feedback.
“My saddest moments were when family members disowned or lost contact with their loved ones. I ensured that residents never passed away alone and there was a staff member present at all times.
“Adèl Grobbelaar, who heads up SANCA Wedge Gardens, then requested that I screen the detox patients to determine who met the criteria for sheltered work with Rand Aid. That was a blessing as it gave them a purpose to live and to give back to the elderly. The commitment and the love bestowed on the senior citizens were of paramount quality.
“Two of the residents from Ken Corder, the Wedge independent living section, were proved invaluable. One accompanied the more independent residents to hospital for their medicines or check-ups, while the other accompanied residents to the Sassa office for their social grant applications and reviews. A carer was on hand for the frailer residents.
“The nursing staff were fully committed to the care of the residents We were a bunch of old-school nurses and nursing was a calling. Professionalism and ethics were of profound importance.
“Rand Aid Association bought the Old Casa Serena building in Lombardy East, in part with Lotto funds. This became the home of Thembalami Care Centre and, later, the Max Ordman Deaf Association.
“I did not hesitate to be transferred to Thembalami as my passion was always caring for the elderly. The residents are well provided for at Thembalami in terms of their health and well-being.
“My late grandmother was my mentor as she gave me love, spoilt me and imparted her knowledge.
“Rand Aid Association has thrived and continues to assist, uplift and care for all residents, irrespective of race, culture and upbringing.”