Engaging with Older Persons: NWU Nursing Students Bring Presence to Groenwilgers Retirement Village in Potchefstroom

First-year nursing students from the North-West University (NWU) (Potchefstroom Campus) recently had the rewarding opportunity to implement Day 1 of the programme “Presence and Good Care to Older Persons: A programme to facilitate presence practices” at Groenwilgers Retirement Village in Potchefstroom. Developed by Dr. Petro Benadé, the programme focuses on cultivating presence practices and fostering meaningful, professional relationships with older persons.

While students do Work Integrated Learning (WIL) at Groenwilgers throughout the year, this initiative was an additional Older Persons Project, giving them a unique opportunity to focus specifically on presence-based care and reflection.

During the day, students practised essential skills such as establishing professional relationships, understanding residents’ needs, and applying presence in care interactions. Their learning was guided and supported by Mrs. Anna-Therese Swart, working alongside Dr. Petro Benadé to ensure a hands-on, reflective experience for both students and residents.

Groenwilgers Retirement Village provides comprehensive nursing services, including 24-hour care, ongoing health supervision, advice and consultation with doctors, assistance with medication, blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring, urine and blood tests, injections, nail and foot care, and emergency support. The students were able to engage with these services while applying presence-based practices, gaining real-world experience in geriatric nursing and holistic care.

The day was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, with snacks for the older persons, Groenwilgers staff, and NWU students. A small gift for the older persons donated by Life Health Care Hospital added to the sense of celebration and community.

This Older Persons Project not only strengthened the students’ professional skills but also reinforced the importance of compassion, attentiveness, and meaningful engagement in caring for older persons. It exemplifies the NWU’s commitment to social responsibility, community engagement, nurturing future nurses who are not only clinically competent but also deeply present and empathetic in their practice.