Meet Our Team

The Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) consists of a group of professionals and specially trained volunteers who act as “Companions” to patients and their loved ones. The MDT works together to offer the best possible care to patients, which include the physical, psychosocial and spiritual aspects. Apart from the physician and nurses, the team also consist of a counsellor, occupational therapist, and clergy and the companions visiting families.

Nurses:

The hospice care team is a multi-disciplinary team. But the nurse is the care team member that patients and families see and communicate with most. Thus, the hospice nurse must wear several hats to deal with so many different situations. Caregiver, teacher, consultant, confident, advocate, and so many more. Nurses everywhere provide an invaluable service to this world. They balance empathy and compassion with complex skills that help transform lives. The hospice nurses, in particular, deserve all the accolades they receive! You inspire us with your devotion, working long hours and sometimes unsociable hours.

Sr. Elsabé Oberholzer has joined Hospice Bloemfontein the beginning of January 2020, after working as HR Manager at Rosepark Hospital for many years.
Sr. Elsabé Oberholzer

Our appointed professional nurse | Sr. Elsabé Oberholzer has joined Hospice Bloemfontein the beginning of January 2020, after working as HR Manager at Rosepark Hospital for many years.
LINETTE PELTZER Our oldest, or wisest nurse, who at 80 is still going strong!
Sr Linette Peltzer

Volunteer Nurses | Our oldest, or wisest nurse, who at 80 is still going strong!
Also responsible for training and supervision
Sr. Joan Marston

Volunteer Nurse + Co-Founder | Also responsible for training and supervision

Volunteer Nurse | Sr. Hester Austin who has been part of Hospice Bloemfontein from it’s beginning, and ‘retired’ at the end of 2020.
Sr Hester Austin

Volunteer Nurse | Sr. Hester Austin who has been part of Hospice Bloemfontein from it’s beginning, and ‘retired’ at the end of 2020.
Volunteer Nurse
Sr Jennifer Groenewald

Volunteer Nurse
Volunteer Nurse
Sr. Hannie Arnold

Volunteer Nurse

So to all these nurses – we salute you!

Accompanying these nurses, is Dr. Dalene van Jaarsveld, our palliative care physician, who, despite having a full time job, often visits the hospice patients – over weekends, or after long working hours, and sits in on MDT meetings discussing the best care for the patients. She is also a member of our Board of Directors.
Dr. Dalene van Jaarsveld

HOSPICE PHYSICIAN | Accompanying these nurses, is Dr. Dalene van Jaarsveld, our palliative care physician, who, despite having a full time job, often visits the hospice patients – over weekends, or after long working hours, and sits in on MDT meetings discussing the best care for the patients. She is also a member of our Board of Directors.
The counsellor focuses on the social and psychological aspects of the patients and their loved ones, and offers support to those affected by a serious illness.
Hanneke Lubbe

COUNSELLOR | The counsellor focuses on the social and psychological aspects of the patients and their loved ones, and offers support to those affected by a serious illness.
Occupational therapy is concerned with promoting wellbeing through the use of occupation – those tasks and activities in your daily life that you find meaningful. For our Hospice patients, their ability to participate in all areas of life (work, self-care and household tasks, hobbies and leisure activities, social interaction and even sleep), is influenced. “...As an Occupational Therapist (OT), my aim for patients is to maintain optimum independence and quality of living. I identify which functions and activities are important for each specific patient and find simple ways to adapt the activity or environment to enable the patient to continue the activity, keeping his level of functioning in mind. One patient required plans to be able to take a bath, whilst another was looking for a way to continue reading with decreased vision and doing a crossword puzzle with poor hand function. Suggestions for re-organising rooms to allow for easier movement or to decrease fall risks are also made and support is provided to the patient’s family. All of these plans are made WITH the patient as far as possible, to promote their autonomy. It gives me great joy to be able to assist patients to continue participating in a meaningful life, until the very end of it.'
Carli van Staden

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST | Occupational therapy is concerned with promoting wellbeing through the use of occupation – those tasks and activities in your daily life that you find meaningful. For our Hospice patients, their ability to participate in all areas of life (work, self-care and household tasks, hobbies and leisure activities, social interaction and even sleep), is influenced.

A chaplain’s most important job is to provide spiritual guidance and counseling to those in need, which include the patients, their families as well as the hospice staff.
Rev. Tlagu Molokoane

CLERGY | A chaplain’s most important job is to provide spiritual guidance and counseling to those in need, which include the patients, their families as well as the hospice staff.
The volunteer coordinator works closely with the nurses to find the right companion for the patient and his / her family. She also supervises them, and ensure good communication between the companions and the nursing team.
Carla Heyns

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR | The volunteer coordinator works closely with the nurses to find the right companion for the patient and his / her family. She also supervises them, and ensure good communication between the companions and the nursing team.

Companions:

Companion: A person you spend a lot of time with often because you are friends or because you are travelling together. - The Cambridge Dictionary.

Some specifically trained volunteers act as companions to the patients and their loved ones. They travel with and care for people during the last stretch of their journey. They become friends who support, listen, and care – unconditionally and compassionately.

Some of the companions also fulfil other tasks, like doing fundraising, organising social events, and creating items and crafts for sale.