MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Maria van Staden has been assisting Alzheimer's sufferers and their families in the Southern Cape as a volunteer for a remarkable 20 years this year.
She was instrumental in opening Huis Elsje, a home for Alzheimer's sufferers in Mossel Bay, in 2008. That same year she even featured on television on the SABC show, Dignity, which used to run on Sundays.
As the name indicates, the show dealt with issues pertaining to maintaining peeople's dignity.
In the show Maria is remarkably poised and confident for someone who has not been on television before. "They were amazed they could do some of the scenes in one take," she says.
The particular show covered the opening of Huis Elsje, how to maintain the dignity of Alzheimer's sufferers and also included Maria's personal experience of the disease because her late husband was an Alzheimer's sufferer.
Disappeared
At one stage Maria had to take him to work with her and one day he disappeared in busy mid-Johannesburg. It was a miracle he was found, Maria says.
She goes on to explain that Alzheimer's patients have moments of lucidity. Her husband had one of those. He managed to tell someone Maria's name and where she worked and they could bring him back to Maria's workplace.
"I know there is a God," Maria says. When her husband was brought back, he said heartwrenchingly: "I wanted to go and find out what is wrong with me."
Alzheimer's patients know they have lost their mental faculties and this causes them sadness.
On the Dignity show it is striking how gentle and loving Maria is with patients. There is a scene in which she is walking with and supporting a patient and she radiates love and care.
"My whole life I did jobs I didn't really like," Maria relates. "Then I found something I was passionate about and I love."
Maria van Staden at home with her pooches. Photo: Linda Sparg
Maria had worked in a busy canteen in Johannesburg and when she moved to Mossel Bay she had a bustling Italian restaurant in Dana Bay. She was born in the province of Turin in Italy and came to South Africa when she was 17 years old.
Alzheimer's SA
Maria volunteers under the auspices of the Southern Cape branch of Alzheimer's SA. At one stage she was vice-chairperson for the Southern Cape. The various titles in Alzheimer's SA have changed over the years. Now she reports to the head of the Southern Cape branch, Hettie Theron, based in Wilderness, whose title is manager.
Maria organised the establishment of Alzheimer's disease support groups in Gouritzmond, Albertinia, Swellendam, Still Bay and two groups in George.
She counsels people over the phone and at their homes and gives practical advice on how to assist patients. Every month she organises a talk pertaining to Alzheimer's disease. It is held at Santos Haven 1 in Heiderand. People can attend the talks for free. They are only asked to give a donation.
Maria won the Rotary Citizen of the Year Award in 2011 and a woman of the year award the year before that.
If you would like to donate to Alzheimer's SA in the Southern Cape or you or a family member would like to become a member of Alzheimer's SA, contact Maria (044 698 1509 or 072 236 5488) or Hettie (044 877 0417 or 82 699 7600). Membership only costs R100 per year.
Although in her senior years, Maria is always busy and helps her friend at the Point High School tuckshop. Photo: Linda Sparg
Alzheimer's SA is a non-profit company. You can donate into the following account in the Southern Cape: Alzheimer's SA, Absa bank, Account number: 9256095672, Branch: 632005.
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