Profound Appreciation

Gwen Podbrey – September 2017

I’d like to place on record my profound appreciation for the wonderful treatment and caring my partner has received at Orchard Lodge in Garden Road, Orchards, in Johannesburg. He was diagnosed with sudden-onset diabetes Type 1, which disabled him completely in his lower limbs, so he was completely unable to walk or do any of the basic things a human being needs to do in order to be independent – go to the toilet, wash or shower, etc. To make matters worse, he suffers from chronic pancreatitis, which added to his suffering and really rock-bottom morale.

We had heard about Orchard Lodge, but were not sure what would happen once my partner was admitted or whether the staff would be able to give my partner the kind of fundamental care and, above all, encouragement he desperately required in order to recover.

We need not have worried: from the moment we arrived (four hours later than we were supposed to, due to a delay in the ambulance service), we experienced nothing but the warmest, most welcoming and reassuring reception from all who work there. My partner was immediately taken to his (clean, airy and well equipped) room, settled in, made comfortable and the nurses and the Operations Manager, Ms Shireen Omar, reassured us that he was in good hands.

He has been making remarkable progress since he was admitted there just a week ago, thanks to the excellent physiothe****** who helps him every day (including weekends) and the wonderful nurses, who respond at all hours of the day and night to his needs. He is showered, medicated, dressed, checked up on and helped to do whatever he wants to do regardless of the time, and even on days when he feels despondent about his situation, he is quickly made to feel better and more positive by the staff. They also contact me immediately if there is any change in his condition or any problem. The fact that there is a pretty garden for him to sit in, as well as a comfortable lounge if he feels like being indoors or chatting to other patients, good food, friendly people, professional nursing and a really personal, caring atmosphere makes it feel a lot more like one’s home than a hospital. The place is not too big, so it offers very specialised attention and there is none of the depressing, sterile atmosphere one so often finds in hospitals or other rehabs.

Despite her very busy schedule, Shireen always makes time to come and have a chat with the patients, say a few encouraging words, share a laugh and cheer them up if they are anxious or worried. Her own background as an occupation the****** makes her a very observant and knowledgeable manager who is immediately aware of why a patient may be stressed or anxious, and she offers excellent, insightful advice to all of them.

What is more, when my partner and I ran into difficulties with obtaining authorisation extensions from his medical aid, she and her wonderful doctors immediately helped by making the necessary phone calls, sending the required documents and smoothing the way for us. They could not have been kinder.

I have seen many a rehabilitation facility in my time, and many a hospital, since my partner has suffered from ill-health for numerous years. But only very seldom have I experienced the caring, efficiency and genuine compassion that Shireen Omar and her team at Orchard Lodge provide. It really is a place of healing, on every level.

I hope everyone who ever needs a step-down/rehabilitation facility finds their way there. I am deeply grateful that we did and recommend it wholeheartedly.

Thanking you.