Family day at Resthill is a BIG event. Twice a year, we try to bring as many of our residents’ families as possible to spend the day with us at Resthill. It goes with lots of food, starters, salads, and other side dishes to go with our braai (BBQ but on real coals)
The preparation for this event is huge. On Monday, the gardeners started by trimming trees, mowing all the lawns, cutting the edges, and cleaning the walkways. All the fly-catching stations were inspected as the weather predicted a very hot day, and we all know what flies do when it is hot. On Thursday, all the tables and chairs were moved to the visiting area. On Friday, they were all washed and placed in the dedicated areas.
The housekeeping manager, with her support staff, made sure that there were absolutely no spots on the milk white tablecloths and that there were enough to cover all the tables. They assist with the cleaning of the tables and chairs. On Friday, they started bringing out the cutlery and crockery, set up die coffee station, and made sure there were enough electrical connections for coffee and music.
During the week, Esmarie was working on the playlist. Music is selected to fit the mood of the day and to enhance the residents’ experience. This is a tricky business because not two people love the same music all the time, and you must try to cater to everyone.
The caregivers were sorting out the residents’ clothes for the big event. It promised to be a very hot day at Laezonia, so clothes had to be carefully selected to keep our Residents comfortable. They were painting toes and fingers, and on the morning of the event, lips were lightly colored, and some residents even had a bit more makeup just because they wanted to. They had their hands full because the residents were excited and knew that their families were on their way.
On Thursday, the groomers arrived and every doggie at Resthill was dipped and bathed, clipped, and blow-dried. The owners brought their pets on a leash, one by one, to the mobile doggie salon for this treat.
What a week it was for the kitchen staff. They were so busy. Food for 70-plus visitors, food for all the residents, and enough food for the 30 staff members. Three salads had to be made, and only one of the salads could be made a day or so before. The traditional pap with chakalaka is always very popular, and they made big pots full for the occasion. They had to make proper preparations to make sure their portions were correct, so that everybody would have enough to eat. Tables were laid; serviettes and flowers were arranged. Two huge glass containers with a variety of sweets and a container with ice were placed and stacked with cold drinks for the children. Coffee cups were packed out, and a tower of koeksisters was positioned between the cups. The staff in the kitchen were cleaning, cutting, and chopping vegetables in preparation for the chakalaka and the salads. And yet, after all this, when they appeared Saturday morning at the event, they all looked beautifully fresh and wide awake. I really do admire their resilience.
As the families arrive, they will choose a place to park for the day, and the care workers will bring their loved one to the table to enjoy the rest of the day with the family. Our residents were all so happy to see their loved ones and enjoyed the day lazing around, talking and eating, and drinking together. The families get to know each other as they gather around the fires to braai their meat, and they visit one another’s tables. Some have made very close bonds.
This writing today is to say thank you to all our wonderful staff who worked so hard together as one great machine to make this day such a huge success, AND to our appreciated Resthill families. Thank you for being here to fulfill our day, but most of all, to make this once again a beautiful experience for our residents and a memory for you to treasure.