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www.thevillagenews.co.za
20 November 2019
A warm heart and helping hand for Seniors Writer Elaine Davie
O
ver the past 80 years or so, advances in communication and other everyday technology seem almost to fall into the realm of science fiction for those whose extent of technical mastery may have been to learn to use a manual typewriter instead of relying only on the trusty fountain pen. No wonder then that many older people feel as if technology has left them behind. They might be able to cope with Skype, e-mails and Facebook to keep in touch with children who live far away; they may even have learnt to do internet banking, but that’s about it; for the rest, total confusion. There are other lifestyle shifts with which they may also struggle: For example, in days of yore, if one had financial issues to deal with, you could make an appointment with your bank manager and sort it all out amicably over a cup of tea. The same could be said for your insurance agent. Not anymore. Now you speak to someone on a help line who seems not to care about you or your problem. Well, fear not, help is at hand. Di Möhr, a Stanford resident, whose mother of 80-plus lives with her has taken all those irritating and confusing tasks off her hands, relieving her of a great deal of stress and anxiety. In the process, she has begun
to realise how many seniors there are in these parts who have no one to help them with these finicky, time-consuming and frustrating jobs and for whom she could provide similar assistance. “What I have in mind,” she explains, “is to be neither a carer, nor a live-in companion, but to provide a personalised support service to help seniors deal with intellectually and sometimes physically challenging management tasks.” She calls her nascent business the ‘GentleWoman Executive Assistant to Seniors’ and with an MA and MBA behind her name and many years of management experience in running her own environmental systems consultancy, as well as working with demanding high flyers like Patricia de Lille and Dr Mamphela Ramphele, she has bags of experience to draw on. Importantly, she believes she has the judgement, integrity and business acumen seniors and their children would need in such a person. The sky’s the limit when it comes to the kinds of tasks she would be prepared to carry out, depending on the specific circumstances and needs of individual clients. They may indeed include sorting out technological glitsches, but could also ensure that licence, credit card and insurance renewals take place timeously and that medical aid claims are submitted and tracked. Or what about the wife whose husband of many years passes on? Not only is she bereft, but she
now needs to pick up all the financial and administrative tasks which he handled so efficiently throughout their marriage and which she knows nothing about. On the other hand, her client may want her to take the pet to the vet, have the car serviced, or oversee service providers like garden services, plumbers or electricians. “I’m also thinking of an elderly person who has had a bad fall or a stroke, for instance, and who would need someone to make the necessary arrangements for transport and admission to hospital, as well as notifying the family, sorting out the house and pet care and sourcing mobility aids after release from hospital”, adds Di. “Another scenario might be a need to downsize and move to a retirement or frail care centre. This is often a hugely traumatic and stressful process for the person involved and I would see myself taking a lot of that responsibility off their shoulders.” But then, it may also be something as simple as driving them to the hairdresser, the library or on a shopping trip; even just to have a cup of tea at a coffee shop. Older people who live alone sometimes feel cut off from the ebb and flow of everyday life and outings like this give them a sense of still being part of their community. The possibilities are endless.
However, the most important factor in such a relationship, Di feels, is building a strong sense of mutual trust based on recognition of the client’s sense of self-worth and continued desire for independence and privacy, as well as a need to be treated with dignity and compassion. “I would like them to know that I am a caring friend, but that whatever service I provide is not a favour; it is their right,” she says. Di Möhr can be contacted on di.mohr@iafrica. com pr 082 5583916
Lighthouse Ladies walk for Movember O
ver 50 people joined the members of the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Ladies committee on their third practice walk for the year in Betty’s Bay on Sunday 17 November. The walkers were treated to beautiful vistas and perfect walking weather – little wind and rain, some sunshine here and there, and cool temperatures. The Betty’s Bay practice walk wasn’t the only one held this weekend as the Lighthouse Ladies are spread throughout the whole of South Africa, even though the headquarters
are based here in Hermanus. The ladies who were unable to make it to Betty’s Bay on Sunday hosted their own practice walks in their areas to show their support and to get ready for the big 100 km walk in March 2020. Those attending the practice walks were asked to wear blue and to dress up in moustaches to show their support for Movember, an annual initiative that encourages the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men’s health issues. There was also a gift bag of tasty
goodies and a bottle of wine for the best-dressed walker, which went to Marlinda Wright who rocked a large horseshoe snor. The next practice walk will take place on Sunday 8 December in Hermanus from Grotto beach to Sopies Klip and back (12 km). The walk will start at around 07:30 at low tide to allow for easier walking on hard sand. The walk is free and open to everyone.
Visit the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Ladies Facebook page for more information on the December walk. Walkers who joined the Lighthouse committee for the practice walk in Betty’s Bay on Sunday wore blue to show their support for Movember.
The walkers were treated to beautiful sea and mountain vistas and were challenged with a variety of terrains. PHOTOS: Ronelle van Zyl
Veterans of the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse walk, Cathrine Nkonyane, Leslie Clark and Marlinda Wright. Marlinda won the prize for the best-dressed walker with her massive moustache.
