Faircape Health Institute
BRIDGEWATER MANOR NEWSLETTER September 2026
FROM THE DESK OF THE HEALTHCARE MANAGER Dear Residents, Families and Friends, There is quite literally a lot happening at Bridgewater Manor at the moment. Anyone who has visited recently will have seen, and certainly heard, the building work underway. I know that construction is disruptive, and I would like to thank our residents, families, visitors and staff for the patience and good humour you continue to show us. The reassuring part is that all of this disruption has a purpose, and what is taking shape is something we are truly excited about. We are expanding Bridgewater Manor to create additional healthcare accommodation, including new rooms with en-suite bathrooms on the first floor. The expansion will allow us to welcome more residents requiring long-term care while also improving the environment for those who already call Bridgewater home. The upgrades will include areas such as an additional private family room, and a modernised interior and exterior – not simply to make the facility bigger, but to make it better. We hope that by the beginning of 2027, the major work will be behind us. In the meantime, we will continue doing everything we reasonably can to minimise disruption and keep residents comfortable.
Our nursing, care and interdisciplinary teams continue to work together around each resident’s individual needs, and our activity programme continues. Long-term care should never become only about medication and medical appointments; there should still be conversation, laughter, celebration and things to look forward to. Thank you for your patience, your trust and for being part of the Bridgewater Manor community. As always, please keep talking to us – we welcome all feedback! If you have a question, concern, suggestion or simply something you would like to discuss, please feel free to reach out to me directly. Warm regards,
Dané Nagel Healthcare Manager | Somerset West Director of Faircape Health Institute hcmanagernorth@faircapehealth.co.za
NEWS FROM OUR DOCTORS In older adults, illness doesn’t always present in the way we expect. A significant infection may not necessarily cause a high fever, and dehydration may first appear as tiredness, dizziness or confusion rather than thirst. Often, the first sign that something is wrong is simply that a person is “not quite themselves”. These symptoms don’t always mean that something serious is wrong. However, noticing them early gives us an opportunity to assess the situation before a relatively small problem becomes a bigger one.
Hydration and nutrition matter more than most people realise As we get older, our sense of thirst can become less reliable. Some people may also deliberately drink less because they are worried about needing the bathroom frequently. Unfortunately, inadequate fluid intake can contribute to low blood pressure, constipation, confusion, urinary problems and impaired kidney function. A sudden reduction in appetite can sometimes be an early sign of illness. Adequate nutrition, particularly sufficient protein, helps maintain muscle strength, supports recovery and allows residents to participate more fully in daily activities and rehabilitation.
Changes in function are worth paying attention to If someone who normally walks to the dining room suddenly needs considerably more assistance, struggles to get out of a chair, or stops participating in activities they usually enjoy, we want to know why. A change in function can sometimes tell us more than a single blood pressure or temperature reading.
Families play an important role You know your loved ones well and may notice subtle changes in personality, energy or behaviour before they are obvious to anyone else. Please feel comfortable mentioning these observations to the nursing or medical team. Good care is often not about one dramatic intervention, but rather about noticing the small things: eating a little less, drinking less, walking more slowly, becoming more tired or simply seeming different from usual. Those small observations can make a significant difference.
Dr Nicole Jacka Faircape Health Institute Doctor (GP) northdoctor@faircapemedical.co.za
A NOTE ON OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY As we are now just over halfway through 2026, I would like to inform you that I will be away on maternity leave until the end of November. During this time our OT programme will still continue as normal. As everyone knows, our wonderful Activity Assistant, Anchen Pharo, will still be present on the premises, and we have a lovely locum, Shivani Naidoo, standing in for me during this period. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to her at bridgewaterot@faircapehealth.co.za
Outside of work, Shivani enjoys crochet, baking, and running, which reflect her creativity, balance, and commitment to personal well-being. She looks forward to getting to know each of the residents and working with them over the coming months. We are excited to have her on board and believe she will make a valuable contribution during her time at Bridgewater Manor Healthcare centre.
A little bit about Shivani Naidoo Shivani graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2024 and completed her community service in Gauteng in 2025. She has a longstanding passion for working with the geriatric population, developed through volunteering at several residential homes for older adults and organising charity initiatives during her high school years in Durbanville. She is dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centred care that promotes dignity and quality of life.
CELEBRATING MOTHER’S DAY “A mother’s love is the heart of a family, and her wisdom is a gift that lasts a lifetime.” This Mother’s Day, we took the opportunity to honour and celebrate the wonderful mothers, grandmothers, and special women in our healthcare facility with a relaxing spa-themed experience. Residents were treated to soothing hand soaks and hand washes, followed by nourishing hand cream and beautifully painted nails. These small acts of pampering were a way of expressing our gratitude and appreciation for the love, care, strength, and wisdom these remarkable women have shared throughout their lives. To all the mothers and mother figures in our care, thank you for your lasting legacy of love and kindness. We were honoured to celebrate with you.
Annaleen Voges Occupational Therapist bridgewaterot@faircapehealth.co.za
CELEBRATING FATHER’S DAY We celebrated the gentlemen in our healthcare facility this Father’s Day and showed our appreciation for the important roles they have played as fathers, grandfathers, mentors, friends, and role models. We hosted a small gathering at the village just for them. While the celebration was simple, it was a meaningful way to acknowledge and thank the men who have contributed
so much to their families and communities throughout their lives. We are grateful to have shared this special occasion with them and hope they felt valued and appreciated.
“A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you grow.” Happy Father’s Day to all the remarkable men in our care!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE QUARTER The past quarter has been filled with a variety of enjoyable activities, special celebrations, and meaningful opportunities for social engagement for our residents. In February, residents celebrated Valentine’s Day with a fun cupcake decorating event. Creativity was on full display as residents decorated their cupcakes and enjoyed spending time together in a festive atmosphere. Easter brought another opportunity for residents to express their artistic talents. Residents enjoyed painting and creating beautiful Easter egg centrepieces, which added a colourful and cheerful touch to our facility during the Easter Holiday period. We also celebrated St Patrick’s Day with a themed lunch and arts and crafts where residents could have some fun and enjoy a few laughs together during a beer tasting session. Alongside these special events, our regular activity programme continued to provide residents with opportunities for engagement, stimulation, and enjoyment. Arts and crafts sessions, scenic drives, physical games, and our weekly bingo sessions continued to bring excitement and friendly competition. Additionally, our reminiscence groups and discussion sessions encouraged conversation, social connection, and the sharing of treasured memories. “The joy of life is found in shared moments, meaningful connections, and creating memories together.” We look forward to creating many more special moments together with our residents in the months ahead.
FROM THE NURSING TEAM When you visit a loved one in our care, you see a snapshot – an hour, perhaps two. What you might wonder, quite naturally, is what happens in all the time in between. The honest answer is: quite a lot.
We notice the small things Nursing care is, of course, about medication, observations, wound care and responding when someone becomes unwell. But in long-term care, some of the most important work happens in the patterns and rhythms that build up over days and weeks of knowing someone. We know who finishes every meal, who needs a gentle nudge to drink enough water, who walks with confidence in the morning but tires as the day goes on, and who would never willingly miss an activity they love. These details matter because they help us notice when something shifts. In healthcare, a shift is often the first sign that something needs attention.
Sometimes behaviour is the message Not every resident is able to tell us directly when something is wrong. A person may become restless because they are uncomfortable. A resident living with dementia may express pain, fear or frustration not through words but through the way they move, respond or withdraw.
Our role, in those moments, is to ask a different kind of question: What might this person be trying to tell us? This sits closely alongside the work of our Social Work team, who remind us that what someone says – or doesn’t say – can reflect any number of things: pain, loneliness, confusion, a fear they cannot name, or simply a need to feel more in control. Good care means holding all of that with curiosity rather than assumption.
You know your loved one better than anyone If you visit and something feels slightly off, like if Mum is not quite herself, or if Dad seems more withdrawn than usual, please tell us. You don’t need a medical explanation. Your instinct is valuable information, and we take it seriously. The same goes for the good days. If your loved one seems brighter, is eating better, mentions that their pain has eased or tells you about an activity they enjoyed, we want to hear that too. Every piece of the picture helps us care for them more fully.
There is joy in this work too Healthcare is not solemn every minute of every day. There are jokes at the nurses’ station, residents who keep us thoroughly on our toes, birthday celebrations that brighten the whole ward, strong opinions about what should be on the lunch menu and no shortage of stories that stay with us long after a shift ends. The clinical side of nursing is essential, but knowing the person behind the diagnosis – their humour, preferences, history, and the things that make them feel like themselves – is just as important. In long-term care, that is the heart of our work.
FAIRCAPE HEALTH PHARMACY SOMERSET WEST Your Pharmacy Is Closer Than You Think
Christelle Erasmus Pharmacist at Faircape Health Institute Pharmacy, Somerset West pharmacist2@faircapehealth.co.za | (021) 815 5700 | Hazelden Drive, Heritage Manor, Somerset West
Located on-site at Faircape Health Institute Heritage Manor, Faircape Health Pharmacy is a fully operational retail pharmacy open to healthcare residents, village residents, families, and the broader community.
WHAT WE OFFER • • • • • • •
Prescription transfers handled on your behalf Free home delivery within Heritage Manor and Bridgewater Manor Blister packing for safer, simpler medication management Chronic and acute medication dispensing Specialised product ordering Over-the-counter products, vitamins, and supplements Registered with all major medical aids
WHY THIS MATTERS Our pharmacy works directly alongside our nursing team and doctors. This means that medication changes, reviews, and queries are handled quickly, collaboratively, and within the same care environment. It’s a connected, coordinated approach that benefits every resident in our care. For village residents, medication can be delivered directly to your door. If you are visiting a loved one, you are also welcome to fill your own prescription while you are there.
10 THINGS I WISH MY FAMILY KNEW ABOUT LIVING IN FRAIL CARE
Liesl de Kock Social Worker socialworker1@faircapehealth.co.za
A resident’s perspective 1. I still want to make my own choices Even if I need help dressing, bathing, or walking, I still want to make decisions about my daily life. Let me choose what clothes I’d like to wear, whether I’d like to join an activity, or what I’d like to eat. Maintaining independence, even in small ways, helps preserve my dignity, confidence, and sense of identity. 2. Your visits matter more than you realise You don’t have to plan elaborate outings or bring expensive gifts. Simply sitting with me, sharing a cup of tea, telling me about your day or about my grandchildren, looking through old photographs, or holding my hand can brighten my entire day. Your presence reminds me that I am still loved, valued, and an important part of your life. 3. I am more than my diagnosis Whether I live with dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or physical frailty, these conditions do not define who I am. I am still the parent who raised you, the spouse who loves you, the grandparent who spoilt the grandchildren, the friend who loved to laugh, the gardener, the teacher, and the baker. Please continue to see the whole person, not just my illness. 4. I still want to feel useful Having someone do everything for me can sometimes leave me feeling as though I’ve lost my purpose. If I can water plants, feed the birds, pour someone a glass of water, or encourage another resident, let me. Feeling useful reminds me that I still have something valuable to offer. 5. My world has become smaller, but my need for connection hasn’t As mobility decreases and friends pass away, opportunities for social interaction become fewer. A phone call, a video message from the grandchildren, a handwritten note, or hearing about everyday family life helps me feel connected to the people I love.
6. Some days are harder than others There may be days when I feel confused, tired, anxious, or frustrated. My emotions may change quickly. Please don’t take it personally if I seem withdrawn or upset. Meet me where I am that day, with patience and understanding. Tomorrow may be completely different. 7. Please don’t treat me like a child I may need more help than I once did, but I am still an adult with a lifetime of experiences, wisdom, and opinions. Sometimes, when people begin speaking for me, making decisions without including me, or using a childish tone of voice, it can leave me feeling invisible or diminished. Please continue to speak to me, not about me, even if someone else is helping with my care. Needing assistance does not mean I have lost my dignity or my voice. 8. Please allow me my little pleasures I know a glass of wine or an extra helping of pudding may not be considered the healthiest choices, but I have already lost many of the freedoms I once enjoyed. Sometimes, these small pleasures bring comfort, familiarity, and joy to my day. 9. I still need your patience You may need to repeat yourself. I may tell you the same story more than once or move more slowly than I used to. Please remember that I am not trying to be difficult. I am doing the very best I can with the abilities I have today. Your patience gives me confidence instead of embarrassment, and reassurance instead of fear. 10. Love me for who I am today You may miss the person I used to be, but I’m still here. I still smile, laugh, enjoy music, appreciate kindness, and treasure time with the people I love. While my abilities may have changed, my need to feel loved, respected, and accepted has not.
FAIRCAPE Health Institute
DEMENTIA SUPPORT GROUP For families with a loved one living with Dementia Bridgewater This group offers a supportive space to share experiences, ideas, and strategies for navigating life with a loved one who has dementia. We aim to enhance your understanding of dementia, explore effective coping approaches, and foster meaningful connections with others facing similar challenges.
Dates for 2026 • • •
Wednesday 16 September, 10h00 - 11h00 Wednesday 21 October, 10h00 - 11h00 Wednesday 18 November, 10h00 - 11h00 (Final Group)
How do I sign up for this group? Send us an email today!
Liesl de Kock: Bridgewater and Onrus Social Worker (socialworker1@faircapehealth.co.za or 060 9977 346) To join, email one of the facilitators who will confirm your attendance.
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Please do not hesitate to contact Faircape Health Institute Bridgewater for more information: bridgewaterHCAdmin@faircapehealth.co.za or 021 850 2251 Main Road and Andries Pretorius St, Somerset West, Cape Town, 7130 Stay In Touch | @faircapehealthinstitute