Dewcare Families

I cannot thank Dewcare enough for the exceptional care they provide to my mother. From the very first day, their team showed genuine compassion, patience, and professionalism. My mother is treated with the utmost respect, and I can see how much they truly care for her well-being. The staff goes above and beyond, not only attending to her medical needs but also offering her companionship and comfort. They create a warm and nurturing environment that allows her to feel safe and cared for, which brings us so much peace of mind. I am forever grateful for the outstanding service, and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for loving, dedicated care for their loved ones.

Dear Mandie and Dawie

We were so fortunate to be introduced to you to arrange to care for my late sister.

You made her last days as comfortable as possible. It was a pleasure dealing with you.

You were prepared to consider our requests and made your own suggestions to assist.

The hospital bed and mattress in particular were excellent ideas which made Madeleine as comfortable as possible.

Both of you contributed to making a very difficult process so much easier to cope with.

Dawie was prepared to come out at all times, even when not on duty, and deserves a special word of thanks for his care – he is a very special human being.

Thanks also to Hospice and to both of you for coordinating so seamlessly.

Special thanks to Nosi for her love and care – she was there at the end and I could see had grown to love my sister and was truly hurt when she was gone.

Many thanks – we felt so comforted with your company.

Kind regards

We cannot begin to express how grateful my sister and I are to Dewcare, particularly Dawie and Mandie, for their unwavering support and sensitivity in helping us care for our father. When Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and still living independently, we were overwhelmed and didn’t know where to turn. That’s when Dewcare entered our lives and became our lifeline.

Dawie formed a special bond with Dad, providing him with the companionship of a fellow man and someone to talk to. He exhibited infinite patience, understanding, and compassion, treating Dad as if he were a member of his own family. During the difficult transition from independence to care, Dawie was there every step of the way, offering comfort, reassurance, and genuine care. We will be forever grateful to him for his presence during that trying time.

Now that Dad resides in his new home, he is adjusting well, thanks in large part to the care he received from Dawie and the rest of the Dewcare team. Having someone like Dawie by his side, who Dad could trust and rely on, made all the difference. It allowed us, his daughters living abroad, to breathe a little easier knowing that Dad had someone keeping a watchful eye on him when we couldn’t be there ourselves.

Even when we had last-minute requests for pop-ins or doctor’s appointments, Dewcare never let us down. They went above and beyond, ensuring that Dad’s needs were met promptly and efficiently. Their dedication and commitment to providing exceptional care truly set them apart.

I can honestly say that there is no way we would have been able to cope with the challenges of Alzheimer’s without Dewcare by our side. Their professionalism, kindness, and genuine concern for Dad’s well-being were truly invaluable. We cannot thank them enough for the peace of mind they provided and for treating our father with the dignity and respect he deserves.

To anyone who finds themselves under Dawie’s wing, consider yourselves blessed. Dewcare is more than just a care agency; they are a lifeline for families like ours. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you, Dewcare, for everything you have done and continue to do for our father.

Dear Dewcare,

You have been providing me with carers for over a year now and I should like to express my gratitude for the service you have given.

A few years ago when I was my wife’s only carer, I suddenly became ill and in 2019 Dewcare provided 24hr carers at very short notice until I recovered.  Then, there inevitably came a time when I could no longer manage to look after my wife safely, and you stepped in to provide carers all day and all night.  I had always been very apprehensive about engaging with carers because we didn’t want anyone else intruding into our daily life.  In practice, we soon got used to them and they became part of the family, only coming to help when we called them and being careful not to get in our way.

Obviously, the relationship between the carer and the client is of the greatest importance and we were fortunate in finding two carers, working one week off and one week on, who formed an excellent rapport with us.  Both carried out tasks to help us of which were not strictly in their job description.

Just before my wife died a few months ago, I fell over and broke my hip.  Fortunately, our carers have been able to stay on and are looking after me now.

So thankful for all your help and kindness and I wish your Dewcare organisation all the best for the future.

Sincerely,

My late husband, Henry, fell and broke his hip 3 years ago and since then I have been wife and carer to him.

More recently he was transferred to Spescare as he could not walk or speak properly. After a period of two weeks at Spescare, they released him from hospital and I brought him home. I then discovered that I was not be able to assist him on my own. At this time I was unsure of what to do and this is when I contacted Dewcare and was introduced to Mandie who arrived at our home with help and advise and since then, Dewcare has been of tremendous support to me.

For three months Dewcare staff and carers helped Henry to walk and do the necessary and he got a little stronger. I then took over the caring on my own for a while, with some assistance when required from Dewcare.

Henry was diagnosed with Dementia and hence could not hold a conversation with family and friends over the last few months. For most of last year, I’ve been trying to do everything on my own but it became so strenuous and almost impossible to help him. Sometimes when he walked with the walker his legs just gave way and he had several falls as a result of this. I would then have to pick him up off the floor, which was extremely taxing and difficult. He was unable to assist me in any way to lift himself and try and get up on his own.

I then decided to find a facility to move him to namely “The facility” in the Strand.  Unfortunately, not mentioning the facilities name, he was there for two days and they thought it would be in their favour to give him sleeping tablets and use a fan on his body while sleeping.  When I arrived on the third day, after been told to stay away for the first couple of days, he had already contracted Pneumonia and I had to rush him to hospital by ambulance.

The damage to his body was severe and the doctor subsequently arranged for Henry to come home on the Friday and be peaceful in his environment. Again, my utmost respect and thanks to Mandie, Chrystal, Megan and Jaxx of Dewcare, for their unbelievable assistance at this time. I will always treasure their kindness in my heart.

Mandie’s team arranged a hospital bed, linen and a full time carer when we arrived home that day. Megan also took a blood test and monitored his heart and he was stable. Mandie inferred that Henry was happy to be with his loving wife in their home and in an environment where he would feel comfortable, and although he could not speak, he did acknowledge us all with a smile.

Unfortunately, Henry passed away on the Monday morning and again Mandie and Dewcare staff were at my side to organise everything. I did not have to do anything and it was a great burden to have lifted off my shoulders at this trying time.

Thank you for being here for us each time we needed you, with the best care and professionalism and kindness.

GOD BLESS DEWCARE non-medical care services!

Dear Amanda and Dewcare staff,

We would like to officially thank Dewcare Non-Medical Care  Services  for the care and kindness shown to us when we needed it most.

We were involved in a car accident on 11^th October 2022, during which my right clavicle was badly broken and my husband sustained both neck and back vertebrae fractures.  We were both operated on and when my husband returned from hospital on 26^th October, he had lost a lot of weight, was weak, wearing a neck brace and could barely stand on his own, let alone use the walker which the hospital had provided.  We had both undergone surgery.  My clavicle bone was fixed with a steel plate and my arm needed to be in a sling for 6 weeks.  My husband underwent an 8 hour operation during which his neck and back vertebrae were fused with steel plates.

If not for Dewcare, I do not know what we would have done.  At short notice, after my husband was discharged from hospital, Amanda, Dewcare’s Managing Director, arranged a 24/7 caregiver to be with us.  We arrived home at 9pm and they were ready for us!  The carers were fantastic, helping not only with caring for my husband, but also with household chores, since my arm was in a sling.

After two weeks of this care, we were able to make use of a carer three times a week, until my husband was strong enough to do things for himself.

When it was time for our stitches to be removed, this was done in the comfort of our own home (since neither of us could drive) by Megan, the nursing sister employed by Dewcare.  She also advised us how to care for my husband’s post-operative wounds and regularly came to see how we were doing and gave us both wellness checks.

Amanda was a star, taking constant personal interest in our well being and also offering to do shopping for us.

Well done Dewcare!  We thank God for birthing this company and may you go from strength to strength and from blessing to blessing!  We can highly recommend your service.

With our love and appreciation.

My wife Valerie (Val) had a spinal fusion operation in August 2021 and after a two week stay at Spescare in  Hermanus she returned home. She was experiencing a great deal of pain and was unable to shower herself. I am in my late seventies and also have back problems. I am able to do the shopping and cooking but am not able to assist her with showering.

We contacted Dewcare homecare and requested assistance. Val is a very independent person and was reluctant to have help. Dewcare homecare were fantastic. The manager came to meet us to explain how they worked and later brought the carer around to meet Val and to view the facilities at our house.

Since September we have had an exceptional carer Elzane around twice per week to help Val with showering and hair shampooing. The carer is experienced in blow drying hair and was also able to shave Val’s legs when needed. Elzane who is such a kind person arrived punctually on Mondays and Thursdays and had an excellent relationship with us. She is part of the family now.

We are going to use Dewcare homecare’s other services as Val is now able to shower and do her hair and is a bit more independent now.

We would highly recommend Dewcare homecare for any assisted living help that you need. They are brilliant!

Following the first strict COVID lockdown in 2020 I saw a marked difference in my octogenarian parents who went from active to sedentary overnight. They used to walk to the gym in their retirement village three times a week to swim and exercise. Overnight this facility had to close, they were not permitted to go for walks and we were not permitted to visit them. The effect was a devastating decline in their physical and mental well-being and we spent many anxious moments trying to solve little crises from a distance.

At this time Dewcare was recommended to us and having discussed their services with manager Dylan Lok, we opted for a monthly Wellness Pop-in and two Social Pop-ins per week. For the Wellness Pop-in one of Dewcare’s professionally qualified staff checks their temperature, blood pressure, sugar, heart-rate, urine and weight and report back on these. The idea behind this invaluable service is that any possible health problems would manifest in these readings, upon which further action can be taken in the form of a visit to their GP or other specialist. My mom’s high blood-pressure was detected during a Wellness Pop-in, and we were prompted to arranged a GP visit to get a prescription for chronic medication. Several times the start of a possible UTI was detected and could be addressed before becoming a bigger problem.

 The Social Pop-ins entailed a social visit to ensure their general well-being, including a check of their chronic meds to ensure that these were taken regularly. This was essential as we detected that my dad was forgetting to take his medication for type 2 diabetes.

 In December 2020 my dad had a bad fall resulting in a hairline fracture of his hip. We were fortunate that this happened while they were visiting us, as my mom would not have been able to assist my dad physically. His rehabilitation team at the sub-acute facility where he was convalescing recommended that we move to a more comprehensive homecare plan for them. My parents have made it very clear that they wished to be cared for in their home if that becomes necessary, rather than moving to the frail-care section at their retirement village. At this point it was so reassuring to already have a relationship with the Dewcare team and we managed a smooth transition to full time carers. Despite both parents initially objecting to such a drastic change, they soon realized that it was essential and have come to accept and indeed enjoy the indulgence of being cared for 24/7. When my mom fell and broke her arm, her carer immediately sprang into action and arranged with Dewcare for an ambulance to take her to hospital, while another carer remained behind to look after my dad who would never have been able to cope on his own.

 More recently, at a monthly Wellness Pop-in, Dylan noticed that my dad had an irregular pulse during inflation of the BP cuff and confirmed this by manual palpation, suspecting arrhythmia. This, as well as a rather slow heart rate, was indeed confirmed at a later Wellness Pop-in and Dylan recommended that we book my dad a consultation with his cardiologist. It happened at a time when I could not be there myself to take my dad, and Dylan jumped in to assist, with the added benefit that he was able to discuss his own observations with the cardiologist. As a result a few weeks later my dad received a pacemaker which has improved his health and quality of life tremendously.

 We find it hugely comforting that in addition to having our parents’ daily routine and general wellbeing overseen by the dedicated Dewcare team, there is an invaluable element of regular, controlled health supervision alerting us when further steps are necessary. This makes it possible for them to remain in their home, their safe haven, maintaining their own routine, while we have the peace of mind that their every need is taken care of.

When my late Wife, Corrie, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in 2012, care of any kind was the least of my worries. At that stage my concern was to learn all I could find.

2015: Corrie at her 75 birthday bash.

As time went by, the signs appear that Corrie can do less and less even if she tried. The wife that read for hours on end and struggled to put a book down, was sitting there with a book or newspaper on her lap,  aging while staring out of the window – into her own world! Sad sight for a loving husbandturned-carer remembering all that she did during her life and what she accomplished. During a talk on AD it was mentioned that at some stage the patient fades into the background and the “carer” becomes the one that needs help and support. It was then that it dawned what lays ahead. People mentioned Dewcare and introductory meetings with Mandie were arranged. During this period friends in Vermont used carers from Dewcare and the service rendered could be evaluated. Needless to say that Corrie (already showing serious signs of AD), was totally disenchanted with any suggestion of “CARE’’ of any kind. She was adamant that we stay in our house in Vermont. She liked to visit some friends, but when she started to get lost, we moved to a retirement village in Hermanus – she kicking and screaming “Old-age villages are only for old people!” She was 77 at that stage. By the middle of 2019 she became totally dependent on me. Being a live-wire and involved all over town the burden to be available when she needed me, stressed me out. But the promise “till death do us part” spoke hard and I kept on going. By early 2020 the going got very, very tough. But as the saying goes “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going!”, but only to a point. Just after Covid-19 lockdown kicked in, her situation turned for the worst and organ failure exacerbated the already dire situation. Initially a carer helped out every second or third day, but within weeks she needed a carer daily. Later this service (but from another agency) was extended to cover weekends also. It was during this last months that I learned that there are angels walking the earth and are amongst us. The carers that came to help were angels in flesh and blood. Beautiful people with the most incredible knowledge, motivation and sympathy for the patients. It was then that I realised, that I should have involved them earlier and saved me a lot of heart-aches and stress. Thank you Dewcare Management and your entire Team  or being there when the burden became to tough to handle and above all thank you for what you did to make the last days of my Corrie’s life, comfortable and maybe even bearable . With absolute care and professionalism and kindness you attended to every need and managed crises as they occurred! You, the angels, were in control! May you build on this reputation and keep up the good work.

Thank you.

Our wonderful mother and grandmother to many grandkids, died recently just before Christmas after a beautiful, fulfilled life of 99 years, lived to the brim, and enjoyed with her amazing husband ‘’Fransie’’ for most of her 70 plus years.

Ouma , as most people knew her, was truly the most amazing woman who was insatiable in her craving for exploring anything that was remotely interesting and making sure she excelled in whatever she undertook. She was remarkable and a formidable example for all to follow!

Sooo….after dad passed away in 2012 our mom remained stoic and remained on at Berg n See determined to make it alone and continue life as usual! Myself and my brother were however far away in Gauteng and worried about her constantly until we decided in 2017 that Mom needed to have some kind of looking after, even if it was only in the day. Dewcare was recommended to us and I explored the options.

Needless to say Mom was totally disenchanted with any suggestion of ‘’CARE’’ for heavens sake, you are taking away my independence and why on earth do I need any help?!

It was not an easy transition, and I must say Dewcare were unbelievable in understanding and coping with the whole process, and slowly but surely, Mom progressed from part time day care to full on 24 hour companionship, which eventually culminated in 100% full time experienced carers being with her until the end. She was at times really objectionable to her wonderful carers, but eventually accepted the situation and grew to love them all.

My message to whomever is interested , is that I put my complete trust in the Dewcare Team, and their carers to look after our Mom when we were not able to do so personally, and I can never ever thank them enough from the bottom of my heart for their unwavering and constant support even through the most trying situations.

Thank you Dewcare Management and your entire Team for being there for us as a family and above all else for Mom, and managing every situation as they arose with absolute care and professionalism! I always felt you guys were in control and I could rely on you for anything!

I hope you will still be around when we may well need you!! ?

Take care,

“My husband had Parkinson’s Disease for 16 years. His condition was deteriorating noticeably, both physically and mentally. We are Germans and not used to have people around and in our space all day and night. We did not want to give up our privacy, so I was caring for my husband all by myself. I did it with love, we were married 50 years at this stage.

But then one day came where actually I needed help! I had a breakdown, physically and emotionally. I gave up! I did not know how to handle our life anymore! It was like living in a dark tunnel without light at the end. I felt totally helpless.

The family was shocked; my son took a same night flight out of Germany and my daughter immediately drove up from Cape Town. And then Dewcare popped up.

Friends recommended Dewcare to us and my children made an appointment. My husband and I still did not want to have somebody to be with us day and night. But there was no other way because I needed to get out of this situation urgently. The family arranged a meeting for the next day. When Mandie, Amelia (the owners and founder of Dewcare) and Lana (the carer) stepped a foot into our home to introduce themselves I could immediately feel the warmth of their personalities.

Long story short, I went to Germany for rehabilitation and recovery, and Dewcare started to care for my husband, our dog, the plants and flowers, they tended to cooking, dealt with the laundry, the cleaning and shopping.

It went excellent and until the day that my beloved husband passed away – 2 years later at the end of 2019. They have been family to us.

CARING WITH LOVE ❤️

There were times when my husband did not get along with the personality of some carers and Dewcare went above and beyond to find a suitable match for everyone, and sometimes that was not easy!

Besides all the sadness of the sickness that my husband had, we were laughing, joking, and singing together a lot during those difficult times. Our life changed to the best it could be in our situation and most important, the children could breathe again. My family in Germany and Cape Town were also in a constant contact with Dewcare for questions and answers, and feedback reports. ☺️

I cannot express how grateful I am for the decision to share the last part of our lifetime together with the Dewcare Team.

A BIG THANK YOU to all the lovely and very hard-working carers! You are amazing and admirable people! The last but not least, a BIG THANK YOU for you all the people working in the office and background organizing and caring as well.

LOVE YOU ALL!

As I live overseas, and have no siblings in South Africa, it became necessary for me to make urgent arrangements for the care of my 95-year-old mother who had had a bad accident. I checked several carer agencies, and eventually settled on Dewcare after meeting with the manager, Mr. Dylan Lok.

My expectations for a consummately professional, efficient and trustworthy organization were fully met. Dewcare was able to act quickly and flexibly, and I was entirely comfortable working with them remotely from overseas.

As we started to work together, Dewcare paid attention to ensuring that my mother’s needs and views were taken into account at all times. Dewcare proposed several models for the carer arrangement that could be put in place for my mother, and, once she and I had selected one, Dewcare then proposed carers who were temperamentally suited to the situation and my mother’s needs. Mr. Lok met with my mother to ensure that they got to know her and understand her needs. The two carer women that Dewcare proposed were both excellent, and my mother bonded with them both, despite initially resisting the principle of having carers living with her. Financial arrangements were promptly, transparently and efficiently handled.

In short, and especially living overseas, I was looking for an organization that was responsive, trustworthy and adaptable as my mother’s situation changed as it did. Dewcare met all these features in an outstanding manner. I would not hesitate to recommend Dewcare as a carer organization.

Your sincerely,

When our mother, Margot, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease three years ago, we realised that we needed extra care for her. Our search led us to Dewcare. Their team of carers lived up to their slogan ‘”We’re here when you can’t be” with grace and excellence. Domma, Lidia, Rae and Liza not only brightened up our mother’s days, but they always treated her with compassion and respect – keeping her dignity intact and making her feel like the intelligent woman she was. They sent us messages and even videos of how she was doing, letting us know if she needed anything or if they were in any way concerned. The best testimony for their care of her was to see her face light up when they entered the room and greeted her as an old and beloved friend.
We heartily recommend Dewcare and cannot thank them enough.

The ladies of Dewcare have served my wife and I as a beacon of support in times when we needed reliable, compassionate and timeous support. For me to isolate any particular individual at Dewcare would be unfair to the entire team who work together tirelessly, harmoniously and efficiently to fulfil their role as a unique, personalised Caring Service that they offer to the community of Hermanus.

Our first experience with Dewcare was when I needed to be transported to and from the life-giving medical treatment that required that I was at the facility by 5am three times a week, every week. Dewcare were there for me each and every morning three times a week, on time, every time and to return me home and still do so now that I have been accommodated on a later, more relaxed time schedule. They also saw to it that my wife was conveyed to and from the Spescare Hospital when she required eye surgery to replace her lenses dimmed by cataracts. There have been other occasions when I have needed to be taken to and from Somerset West for urgent medical treatment and Dewcare have been there to support me all the way.

I cannot over stress the fact that my wife and I are thoroughly at ease with the knowledge that Dewcare will be there promptly to offer us their exceptional service, whether it be to transport us to Medical Practitioners, hospitals or even a trip to the new Whale Coast Mall, or to provide us with a well-trained and reliable Carer day and night, we know we will be in good caring hands.

I’ve used Dewcare for the past 18 months for the assistance of the care of my 79 year old Mother who is in a wheelchair.

From moving her from room to room, lunch dates, shopping trips, airports trips etc etc,I can only commend Dewcare.

Always punctual, always reliable, always full of love, support and care for the whole family.  Their experience and determination shines and it is an absolute pleasure to have Dewcare as an instant “lean on” in times of need.

You can use me as a reference anytime, happy to spread the word of your excellent work.

Much appreciated AS ALWAYS.

Mandie en Team.

I reside in Pretoria, while my father (86) and mother (84) lives in Hermanus. We communicate via telephone, hence it is hard to give physical and emotional support on a daily basis, as we only see each other 3 times a year. It was heartbreaking that  holding my parents hand, giving them a hug, taking a bouquet of flowers or just having a coffee by the seaside, was impossible to do.

Until we met Dew Care and started making use of their services. All this is now just a phone call away, and the sadness replaced with joy! Thank you Mandie and Rene, you are my heroes!

My parents are happy because they are treated with love, care and patience. Any time of the day (or evening) you are always just a phone call away, no task is too big or too small. We are thankful for the service you provide, from helping my mother to get ready for the day to securing the house for their safety. We can see the passion that you have for working with the elderly, our parents LOVE you!

Sid Viljoen (jr.)

We have made use of Dew Care since August 2015, they have been like Angels that were sent to us. Since then they have cared for our parents, Pieter (88 years old) and Hepsie (80 years old) Crous daily. Originally we decided on using a Packet service, but a change in circumstances has led to us deciding to use Dew Care’s services every day. The personnel in Dew Care’s employ are professional, reliable and caring and we can wholeheartedly recommend them.  Dew Care regularly gives us feedback and reports on how our parents are doing. It is comforting to that someone visits  our parents in the morning and evening to make sure they are cared for. Through the level of care, love and attention that Dew Care gives the elderly, we can see that it’s not just a job, but a true calling for all the personnel.

We thank Dew Care and wish them all the best.

Marita Vollgraaff.