Our Care approach
We believe in a holistic care approach, caring that considers the overall wellbeing of a person – which rests on physical health, mind, spirit and emotions. We understand that these parts are interdependent and that if one part is not cared for properly, the other parts will be affected negatively and the goal of optimal health, meaning and wellness cannot be achieved.
At Casa Serena this means facilities and programs to engage and challenge residents to be actively involved in the Casa Serena family and to find new meaning in retirement.
Come visit us and experience the friendliness of staff, the level of care of residents and the positive relationships among staff, residents and patients.
Ons benadering tot Versorging
Ons glo in ‘n holistiese benadering tot versorging waarvan die hoekstene fisieke, verstandelike, geestelike en emosionele gesondheid is. Ons besef dat die verwaarlosing van een aspek die ander dele negatief beïnvloed en sal verhoed dat die oorkoepelende doelwit van optimale gesondheid, betekenis en welstand bereik word.
Hier by Casa Serena beteken dit fasiliteite en programme wat inwoners betrek en aanspoor om ‘n integrale deel van die Groenkloof-familie te word en nuwe betekenis in aftrede te vind.
Kom besoek ons en ervaar ons vriendelike personeel, die kwaliteit van versorging van inwoners en die positiewe gesindhede tussen personeel, inwoners en pasiënte.
Care Facilities
Casa Serena offers modern Care Units and Assisted living apartments in the magnificent Gold Fields within a gated security community.
A mayor advantage of Casa Serena is that owners of Casa Serena have preferential admission to the next level of care required, whether it is Day-care, Assisted Living, Frail care, Hospice care or Sub-acute care. This peace of mind of being cared for is why people choose Casa Serena.
The facilities are specifically designed with the elderly in mind, and our facilities are tailor-made for the convenience and comfort of the elderly and frail.
Casa Serena's priority is to be there in case of emergency. We take this very seriously and adequate equipment and systems are in place to ensure urgent response when alerted of emergencies. All residents are issued with a panic button remote when arriving at Casa Serena.
Dementia is an illness that affects the brain. It is usually the brain of seniors that are affected, although it also occurs in younger people at times. Alzheimer’s is one of the causes of dementia.
Residents suffering from dementia will, initially and periodically thereafter, be evaluated in order to assess whether the Care Unit is able to provide adequate care for the Resident. In cases of advanced dementia, the Resident will be evaluated and if the outcome is that high-care will be needed then the Care Unit manager will calculate a private rate for the individual.
At this time Casa Serena does not have facilities to care for persons living with advanced Alzheimer’s.
Care Services
Sub-Acute Care
First let’s answer the question, what is sub-acute care?
It is treatment or care in a registered care facility (approved by the Board of Healthcare Funders). Sub-acute care is typically for an individual who undergoes an operation, hip or knee replacement, has a stroke, is in need of wound care, experience problems with heart failure, kidney failure, dehydration, lung disease, or has been diagnosed with pneumonia, bronchitis, Alzheimer’s or cancer. The care is provided at lower than the hospital (acute) rates, with the permission and authorization of your Medical Aid. The service fees of occupational-, speech- and physiotherapists may also be claimed from the medical aid, if pre-approved. Admission to the Sub-Acute Unit is normally only allowed from a Hospital.
Our 24 hour nursing team assists you through recovery or rehabilitation, in a modern well-equipped facility, in a relaxed but professional atmosphere. All of the Frail Care services are included, however since we have to comply with sub-acute standards, the additional benefit and peace of mind to the end user is:
- A resuscitation room, equipped with emergency equipment.
- Quality of service and staff are inspected by Department of Health on a regular basis.
What are the costs involved?
- With Medical Aid authorization, your stay could be paid for in full.
- Our tariffs are approved and authorized by ALL MEDICAL AIDS.
Sub-acute tariffs are much lower than a hospital, and early admission will ensure massive savings on your medical funds.
Frail Care services
The Frail care service focuses on long term care of residents who cannot be properly cared for at home or in the assisted living apartments. Even though the definition of frail is commonly “physically weak, fragile or delicate”, we experience that our Frail care is often a happy home for persons in need of less space and stuff in a safe, stimulating and caring environment. This service provides peace of mind to residents, as well as family and friends.
Services provided mainly by nursing staff:
- 24 hour supervision and standard patient care.
- Admission, discharging, counselling of patients.
- Administering of medication: dispensing, overseeing and charting of medication.
- Handling of emergencies.
- Calling out of Physician and assisting Physician on site.
- Report writing and reporting.
- Evaluating of patients: observations, physical and mental evaluation.
- All nursing procedures (wound care, drawing of blood, inserting of catheter, removal of staples or stitches and tube feeding).
- Patient activities.
- Infection control.
Services mainly provided by Caregiver:
- Bed-wash or shower.
- Toilet rounds.
- Care relating to pressure points.
- Oral hygiene.
- Hand and foot care.
- Intake and output.
- Colostomy and catheter care.
- Mobilization of resident.
- Activities.
- Physical observation.
Care above the Care Norm:
Frail care residents that cannot be left alone for extended periods of time and requires additional direct care are considered high-care patients. Extra personnel are employed to cope with workload and an alternative high-care rate is negotiated with residents to compensate for additional expenditure of the Care Unit.
Apartments are in close proximity or inside the Care Unit enabling us to provide supervision and assistance with activities of daily living. Assisted living residents have daily contact with the Care Unit and can be assisted 24 hours a day.
Apartments are considered a middle ground between independent living and the Care Unit with the aim to foster as much autonomy as the resident is capable of. It’s inevitable that as we grow older we start needing assistance with day-to-day activities and as our autonomy is precious to us, we are understandably reluctant to forfeit aspects of our independence. Someone accustomed to managing a business (or a family) can have a difficult time acknowledging that they forget to take their medication, or need help getting bathed and dressed. Because they do not need daily care at this point, Assisted Living can be a good housing option with more independence, privacy and space than the Care Unit.
Apartments are also popular among completely independent seniors who prefer the convenience of lesser responsibilities and the benefits of a smaller lock up and go accommodation solution.
- 24-hour assistance.
- Emergency call system.
- Intercom system between Assisted Living and Care Unit.
- Limited medical care, such as assistance with medication.
- Personal care assistance (bathing, dressing, grooming).
- Three meals per day (lunches are mandatory, breakfast and supper optional).
- Housekeeping, weekly cleaning of floors, carpets and bathrooms.
- Laundry, weekly service.
- Health and exercise programs.
- Social, cultural and educational activities.
- Access to lounge and common areas consisting of library, sitting room, braai, etc.
- Gated security community.
- Transportation is not included for medical or personal reasons.
- All services mentioned in home based care are provided to Assisted Living residents.
Assisted living apartments are sold on a life right basis. A monthly Apartment levy is charged for abovementioned services which also include water usage, property tax, property insurance, sewerage levy, electricity availability, water availability, refuse, garden services and administration.
Clinic services are offered to Casa Serena residents at the Care Units during Clinic hours. Services provided are ranging from small medical procedures to general care of the persons emotional, spiritual and mental wellbeing. These services range from free services to services provided at affordable rates. Typical clinic services include:
- Monitoring of blood pressure.
- Diabetes sugar level testing.
- Post-operative rehabilitative care.
- Administering of injections, removal of staples and stitches.
- Conducting observation for periods as required by the physician.
- Dispensing and administration of daily medication.
- Testing of urine, Haemoglobin and blood-sugar levels.
- Drawing of blood for testing.
A Day-care service was established mainly for residents caring for their significant other. Caring in general is physically and emotionally taxing and this day-care service provides a much deserved break to the caring spouse. This enables the caring spouse to attend to personal matters, to rest and to recharge to resume caring with new energy.
Home based care services are offered to Casa Serena residents in the comfort of their own homes. Our goal is to care for residents at their homes as long as possible.
Services provided at homes are offered at affordable rates and several of these services are performed free of charge at the Care Unit during clinic hours.
Services are provided at homes at pre-arranged times as agreed to the Care Unit manager.