Quite simply, their animal companions
are loving, funny, entertaining and, most
importantly, warm and cuddly. People
love their pets, and Livewell makes an
effort to accommodate them. Residents
can keep pets in their suites, and family
dogs can come with on family visits.
As part of the service offered, resident
animals are groomed, fed, exercised, and
taken to the vet when needed.
Livewell Bryanston
Oosthuizen explains: ‘Our real drive at
Livewell is being able to say: “What are
Leader, a registered nurse, and as many as ten caregivers. your loved one’s needs today?; Are you comfortable?; Don’t
The Quality of Life Leader is usually a social worker and fear, we are on this journey with you.” We help families
acts as the family liaison, keeping up regular correspondence find a personalised and comprehensive solution for
via email or text. Each resident is assessed by the facility’s accommodation and care. Everything we do is tailored to
occupational therapist a number of times during the year, the individual, and their overall cognitive functioning and
and the team is advised accordingly. remaining abilities.’
Ivan Oosthuizen, Livewell’s CEO, says: ‘We have a programme Livewell offers permanent residence, couples residence, day
that is tailor-made to improve quality of life. We encourage visitor care, and frail care. When residents are no longer
residents to experience social interaction and also participate independent, they receive one-on-one care.
in physical exercises. We present a number of activities such
as croquet, yoga and dancing, and we also present stimulatory Even with the best care in the world, it remains a is stressful
activities to maintain reasonable cognitive functioning. We endeavour living with a family member diagnosed with
aim to minimise the rate of degeneration of the brain. We dementia, as they may exhibit behaviour such as anger
cannot completely stop the decline, but we can try to slow and resentment, and even fail to recognise their spouse or
it down.’ children. Families that opt for a home-based care solution
need to pay special attention to their own psychological and
The activities and outings are intended to improve emotional needs. To prevent burn-out or compassion fatigue,
socialisation and provide sensory stimulation. Apart from Livewell encourages and facilitates support groups for the
the opportunity to move beyond the facilities at the village, it families and primary caregivers of people with dementia –
also helps combat frustration, loneliness and depression. All whether they are residents or not – as a community service.
activities are monitored closely by the nursing care teams.
Rehana Dada
Livewell follows a 'no restriction of movement' policy, and all
residents may roam freely within the grounds.
Association with friendly animals is shown to have
a number of positive health impacts for people,
including lowering blood pressure and reducing
stress. For dementia and Alzheimer’s patients,
it has strong therapeutic value, for example
through providing them with emotional
support, encouraging them to engage in
physical and social activities and, at the least,
alleviating tedium through their antics.
38 | www.estate-living.co.za
Livewell Somerset West