Ladies’ Christian Home – Case for Support
1. The Need which Exists
As people get older and are unable to live on their own and care for themselves, they need a place to stay at a reasonable cost that will provide the care they need including medical care. This applies particularly to ladies who are single or widowed and have no one to provide them with this level of care. It is to meet this need that the Ladies Christian Home was established back in 1876.
2. History & Background
Some 140 years ago, a group of concerned Christians from various denominations, met together and decided to establish the Ladies’ Christian Home in Wandel Street in Central Cape Town. The purpose was to provide secure, comfortable residential accommodation with compassionate care for elderly ladies. It was decided to appeal to the public for funds for what was then called ‘The Christian Home for Aged, Infirm and Indigent Ladies and for Christian Workers.’ Within a few months, nearly 700 Pounds had been raised. With this initial amount and further funds which were received, the house of a merchant, known as ‘Buckingham House’ was purchased for 100 Pounds. A further 350 Pounds was spent on alterations and furnishings and in February 1877, the first occupants moved in. By the October of that year, there were eight residents. An executive committee was later established which included clergy from all of the inner-city churches as well as a number of prominent businessmen.
In 1878 a store adjoining the property was purchased and in 1938 the land in Vrede Street, Gardens adjoining the existing home became available and was purchased. A new home was constructed on this site and this is where the Home is located today.
3. Mission
“The Ladies Christian Home’s primary concern is for ladies who are elderly, infirm and needy; to respect their rights; to accord them dignity; to attend to their welfare and to ensure their freedom from danger, care or fear.
It recognises the importance of material things and of humanistic concerns, but its primary motivation is neither materialistic nor humanistic. In all its endeavours it is motivated by a love for God and an expression of that love in tender, compassionate, benevolent and charitable acts, for the benefit of the physical, mental and spiritual welfare of those for whom it cares.”
“Nor are its only concerns for the elderly, infirm and needy, but also for those whose task it is to minister to them, to serve, to help and to offer succour and aid. It believes that the welfare and security of the elderly, infirm and needy are best served by staff members whose own rights, dignity and well-being are recognized, respected and advanced.”
4. Staff Members
The Home has a dedicated team of staff members and also employs a number of nursing agency staff. The staff complement as at January, 2016 is:
Catering Staff: 13
Cleaning Staff: 10
Laundry Staff: 3
Maintenance & Garden Staff: 4
Nursing Staff (Day & Night): 50
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5. Residents:
At the present we have 129 residents living in the Home. Of these, 43 are in the Frail Care, 27 in the Dementia Wing and 14 in the Alzheimer’s Unit, 21 on Ground Floor (Physically frail but mentally fine) and 24 on the second floor (degrees of frailty but mentally fine).
6. Management and Administration
The Home has an effective and competent management and administration team as follows:
Management:
General Manager: Lindsay Long
Nursing Operations Manager: Vanessa Warden
Accounting Manager: Joan Jerram
Administration: Pat Evans
Catering: Maureen Osch
Maintenance & Garden: Edwin Abrahams
Laundry: Jasmin van Wyk
Cleaning: Lelanie September
7. Board Members
The Board comprises a dedicated team of men and women who seek to fulfil the mandate of those who established the Home and ensure that the home is run effectively and the care provided is maintained at a high standard.
Rev Brian Wood - Chairman
Mrs Lindsay Long – General Manager
Mr Clive John Edwards – Treasurer (JE Financial Services (Pty) Ltd.)
Mrs Alison Louw – Trustee (JE Financial Services (Pty) Ltd.)
Mrs Eve Bailey – Trustee / Methodist Church Rep.
Rev Anthony Potter – Trustee / REACH SA (CESA) Rep.
8. Present Programmes of Care and Nursing
The Home provides full board and lodging with three nutritious meals each day in a tranquil environment in a well- maintained facility.
8.1 Continuous Nursing Care - The Home also provides comprehensive health monitoring and nursing care at the specific level required by each resident. This is provided by 2 Staff Nurses and 15 Carers during the day. At night there is a Sister/Staff Nurse on duty plus 6 carers.
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The Nursing Staff are fully equipped to provide the health and nursing care that is required. A care plan is drawn up for each resident and they are regularly monitored for blood pressure, blood sugar level and other health aspects. The nursing staff ensures that the residents take their medicine as prescribed and monthly clinic health assessments are conducted.
8.2 Frail Care
There is a well equipped Frail Care facility and no extra charge is made when a resident is moved into Frail Care.
8.3 Social Activities /Services
The Home provides regular transport by Kombi to Gardens Shopping Centre and Howard Centre. It also provides residents with the following activities:
Music Mornings, Weekly Showing of DVDs, Reading Group, Card Making
Activity, Knitting, Crocheting, Bead-making, Pottery, Scrabble and Exercise Classes.
There is a Tuck Shop for use by the residents.
8.4 Spiritual Needs
Being a Christian institution, the spiritual needs of residents are catered for as follows:
- Daily Devotions in Dining Room
- Weekly Church Services – Tuesdays (Led by Pastors of various denominations)
- Weekly Ladies Meeting – Led by the Salvation Army.
- Weekly Bible Study
9. Why the Ladies Christian Home is Important?
The Ladies Christian Home was born out of the concern which prominent citizens had for the welfare of elderly ladies in the Cape Town area. This need still exists and the present Board wishes to continue to uphold the care and concern of the founders. There is a critical shortage of suitable accommodation for elderly ladies at reasonable cost so a home such as this fulfils a real need in the community, even some 139 years after its establishment!
10. Our Immediate Needs
There is an urgent need to supplement the fees of those who are unable to pay the full fees and also to fund certain urgent projects for which funds are needed:
· Subsidise Fees for those who cannot pay full amount
· Frail Care Refurbishment ± R1 million
· Roof needing to be retiled ± R300 000
11. What Funds are needed?
Please see Funding Requirements as outlined by our Treasurer.
12. How the Donor can help.
· Special Gifts toward Operating Expenses
The Home welcomes special, undesignated gifts towards the operation of the Home.
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· Sponsor a Resident (Regular Gifts)
There are a number of residents who are unable to pay the full fees and for which sponsorship would be welcomed by monthly Debit Orders.
· Support of a Capital Need (See Item 10 above.)
There are always needs for funds for capital-type gifts in order to replace equipment or upgrade facilities. Gifts for this purpose are welcome and for major gifts, some form of recognition may be considered.
· Gifts in Kind
Gifts in kind such as furniture, wheel chairs, equipment, etc, are also welcome but these must be suitable for use and in good condition.
· Bequests
Donors are encouraged to consider including the Home in their Will in order that the good work being done may continue.
13. Accountability
The Home holds itself accountable for the use of all donations for the purpose for which they were given and the reporting back to all donors of how the funds were utilised.
14. Tax Status
The Home is registered with the SA Revenue Service as a Public Benefit Organization: PBO No. 930007461 and donors are exempt from Donations Tax.
Banking Details:
Ladies Christian Home
Standard Bank
Thibault Square
Branch Code: 020909
Account No: 070885176
Swift Code: SBZAZAJJ