What does Nakekela offer?

AT OUR HOSPICE AND STEP-DOWN FACILITY WE OFFER:

IN-PATIENT CARE
Patients admitted to Nakekela Christian Community Centre receive 24-hour physical, emotional and spiritual care from qualified and trained care workers. 

In-patient care includes:
    Regular meal times
    Daily monitoring of medication
    Regular check-ups from the Doctor and Staff Nurse
    Pastoral visits
    Visits from a qualified Counselor
    Weekly physiotherapy sessions
    Art lessons

MEDICAL CARE
Patients are referred to Nakekela and prescribed medication is closely monitored, as well as ongoing nutritional needs, care requirements and rehabilitation. Patients have access to a doctor and cases are referred to specialists as needed.  

PHYSIOTHERAPY
Patients have access to weekly physiotherapy sessions with a qualified therapist. Over the years we have seen the benefits of this exercise in that many patients come in using wheelchairs and are able to walk out by the time they are discharged.

COUNSELLING
Through God’s Word, we wish to guide individuals to a better understanding of themselves and who they are before God. The Bible also is our basis in providing comfort and encouragement during their stay.
Local pastors and a counselor visit weekly in order to care for the emotional and spiritual needs of our patients and staff and the local community through discussions, prayer, and Bible reading.

ART THERAPY
Patients receive weekly art classes in painting, card making and other crafts. This activity provides patients with the enjoyment of creating something special and unique. Many of these pieces of art decorate the walls at Nakekela. We believe this type of therapy gives a feeling of accomplishment and hope to keep going on.

SUPPORT GROUPS FOR PATIENTS, EX-PATIENTS AND FAMILIES
The support groups meet weekly. We've found that providing safe spaces for our participants to share their stories, challenges and victories has been so beneficial to all who participate. Different groups have different foci; for instance, our child support group has helped children work through struggles, emotions, anger and fear. Some of the children have parents who are sick, and some children are themselves sick. Family members also need support when a loved one is ill. 

NAKEKELA ALSO ACTIVELY WORKS IN THE COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE HEALTH

HOME BASED CARE
Working with the local government clinics, our Home Based Care teams go out and care for patients in their homes.  Their duties require bathing, feeding, monitoring medication, assisting with clinic appointments on an as needed basis. If carers feel that they are no longer able to care for their patients at home, they suggest admission to Nakekela, where the patient can receive 24hr care. Depending on the availability of beds, we assess situations according to the need and admit patients to our facility.

COMMUNITY AWARENESS
Our goal is to involve the community in our project. We hold Open Days where churches, schools, clinics, police and government officials can come to Nakekela and learn more about who we are and what we are doing in the Greater KwaMhlanga area.

STUDENT ASSISTANCE
Many students from the local schools come to our facility to seek assistance with homework and school projects. Some of these projects require the use of internet which many families in the community do not have. We have also begun participating in helping various groups of students fulfill their community hours required in the Life Orientation subject.

COMMUNITY RECIPROCITY
Each year, government officials and community members gather at Nakekela to perform 67 minutes of voluntary work to commemorate Mandela Day. Much work is completed and bonds are created, solidifying our efforts to work more closely with the government clinics and programs, as well as local leaders and businesses.

DIGNITY FOR GIRLS & DARE FOR BOYS
Nakekela uses material developed by The Dignity Campaign to reach out to youth, helping them to identify identity, belonging and purpose. Topics covered in one day workshops include becoming a teenager, hormones, body changes, emotions, friends, peer pressure, menstruation, what it means to be a man, the role of a woman and more. Dignity and Dare Days are followed up by mentoring groups which are safe spaces for boys and girls to continue to grow in friendship and apply what they have learned, becoming change agents in their schools and families.

Admission criteria for patients at our step-down

The procedure on admission at Nakekela is as follows:
  1. The patient MUST be a member of one of the local clinics.
  2. The patient must also be a member of a burial society.
  3. The patient must have been tested for HIV (and if possible TB), with his/her certificate and if possible be in possession of his/her CD 4 count.
  4. The condition of the patient must have been assessed by either the Medical Consultant or the Home Based Care Manager or staff nurse, and on grounds of the seriousness of his/her condition referred and listed by the named for admission at Nakekela.
  5. A family member or friend of the family should preferably accompany the patient when he/she is admitted in order to provide the Nakekela Staff with all the relevant information concerning the patient on admission.
  6. An admission fee of R850.00 is payable on arrival and thereafter, should the patient stay with us longer than a month, the amount of R850.00 is payable on the first of every month.
  7. The family of the patient will be responsible when the patient is required to go to the hospital or clinic or in case of obtaining grant money—Nakekela cannot take full responsibility for these actions.  If the family cannot assist alternative arrangements have to be made.
  8. Patients must also hand in all medication, clinic card and ID on arrival at the Centre.  This is so that the staff nurse can monitor proper administration of medication and clinic dates.
  9. No smoking or alternative medication as received from traditional healers will be allowed when admitted at Nakekela.  If any patient uses traditional remedies on weekends at home, Nakekela has the right to discharge such a person, especially if his/her condition deteriorates because of this.
  10. No food may to be provided by family to the patient except if previously consulted with the staff nurse or doctor.
  11. Patients must hand in all money to the staff nurse to be locked away, and accessed at the patient's request.  No responsibility can be taken by staff for money in cases where patients keep their money in their rooms.