Retirement village Elphin Lodge has come of age.

The Rand Aid Association-run, Lyndhurst based complex celebrated its 21st birthday recently. Although maturing well, Elphin is a mere baby compared to Rand Aid itself, which is over a century old, having come into being shortly after the Anglo Boer War.

Over 160 people packed the main hall at Thornhill Manor Retirement Village at Modderfontein for the third annual Line Dance Show.

Substance abuse is not the domain of youngsters only, says Adèl Grobbelaar of Lyndhurst-based Wedge Gardens Treatment Centre.

"Addiction difficulties among seniors is a silent epidemic, especially with regard to alcohol and medication," says Grobbelaar.

www.wilgersaftreeoord.retirenow.co.za

The launch for Wilgers Retirement Village in the east of Pretoria by Central Developments, market leaders in the development of retirement villages in Gauteng, has been a huge success.  52 units have been sold in the first 5 days and 100 units in the first month!  This clearly shows that buyers see value in this new retirement village.

Wilgers Retirement Village is located in Willow Park in the east of Pretoria, 1,8 km from Life Wilgers Hospital and in close vicinity to The Grove Mall, Willows Crossing Shopping Centre and Equestria Shopping Centre.

The retirement village is planned to provide total peace of mind to both residents and their concerned families.  The main priority of the development is to provide retirement housing with full access to 24-hour frail care and all the essential support services older people might need in a later stage of their lifes   A complete service centre and frail care centre that will be 100% functional from the day the first residents move in, will provide in this need.  In this regard Wilgers Retirement Village distinguishes itself from many other retirement villages where no or limited frail care is available on site, or where frail care services is only promised by the developers at a later stage in the development process.

The Service Centre at Wilgers Retirement Village offers on site support services like:
              *   24-hour Frail Care with
                           - midcare 
                           - home based care
                           - 24-hour emergency support (panic buttons)
              *   Medical consulting room on site
              *   Dining hall offering 3 meals per day
              *   Shuttle service
              *   Hair salon
              *   Laundry & cleaning services
              *   Library facility
              *   Postbox facility for each unit

A wide variety of units that will suit the needs of every retiree are availabe at Wilgers Retirement Village.  Different apartments (bachelor, one and two bedrooms) are avaible at prices ranging from R445,ooo.  The apartments are located in apartment blocks right next to the service centre and offers immediate access to all the facilities in the service centre.  Apartment blocks consist of a ground and first floor and are conveniently equipped with lifts.  Wilgers Retirement Village also offers a variety of houses in different sizes and price categories. Prices for houses start at R695,000.  The units are all sold with full ownership which allows younger buyers to already buy now for later use.  Buyers are also allowed to rent their units out.

Central Developments is proud to announce that there are still a variety of units available in this new development that promises to be one of the most prestigious in Pretoria.  Prospective buyers are welcome to visit the show houses 7 days a week from 09:00 to 17:30.  Call the Call Centre at 0861 36 46 16 for more information or visit the website at www.wilgersaftreeoord.retirenow.co.za

A hearty celebration was had by all at Olive Sutton’s 100^th birthday gathering that was recently held at Rand Aid’s Tarentaal retirement village in Edenvale.

Rand Aid has a three-night stay for two at the 5 Star Simbambili Game Lodge, courtesy of Investec and valued at R36000, up for grabs at only R20 per raffle ticket.

The draw will take place on 15 December 2011. To get your ticket, visit Rand Aid’s stand at the first-ever Retirement Expo to be held in South Africa, at the Coca-Cola Dome from 28 to 30 October 2011.

When Rand Aid launched its Hip Op Granny earlier this year its intention was to ensure that she became the non-profit organisation’s champion, so that it can continue to raise the much-needed income it needs to take care of the elderly in need.

The rich reward of giving is payment enough for a group of Inyoni Creek retirement village residents who have 'adopted' the frail and financially vulnerable senior citizens who live in nearby Thembalami Care Centre.

Both Inyoni and Thembalami are part of non-profit organisation Rand Aid Association, whose mission it is to provide quality care and accommodation for senior citizens from all walks of life.

A sense of sadness is unavoidable when visiting the dementia unit at Ron Smith Care Centre, but felt just as strongly is the immense love with which the patients are surrounded.

Set in the tranquil gardens of Rand Aid Association's Elphin Lodge in Lyndhurst, the care centre offers quality care for frail senior citizens. Off a wide passage, a sunlit-room is filled each week day morning with a circle of people not only in need of frail care, but a little extra stimulation and love too. These are the people who have found a place of safety in the care centre's dementia unit.

Rand Aid Association’s Wedge Gardens Treatment Centre has seen an integral need for its holistic focus on the substance abuse problems we are faced with every day in South Africa.

Men of all ages come to Wedge Gardens Treatment Centre seeking the help that they have not been offered before.