It is very rare to come across an idea that makes you stop and take notice. Liselle Bouwer has managed to achieve just that with a new retirement property offering at the Ndlovu Retirement Centre in Mpumalanga. https://www.propertyinmoot.co.za/
Retirement with a Purpose
Ndlovu offers a holistic lifestyle-based approach including whole-food nutrition, medical assistance and a range of activities. Above all else, it offers a sense of community, a sense of belonging as well as purpose. The experience is personalised to each resident and the facility is unique, unlike anything on offer in South Africa at present.
“Nutrition and community are pivotal to the offering of Ndlovu” says Liselle, “With freestanding homes, people became more isolated during the Covid pandemic and this impacted many people mentally to the point that they started looking for something different.”
The lIfestyle that Ndlovu offers is integrated, inclusive and very supportive.
“Herbicides and pesticides used in commercial farming are known to adversely affect our wellbeing.
Environment, lifestyle and food choices weigh in heavily as factors that influence physical and cognitive health. According to a number of experts like Dr Dale Bredsen (author of Preventing and Reversing Alzheimer’s) up to 95% of Alzheimer’s is preventable.
Sourcing pesticide-free whole food and creating meaningful connections to others, are two of the main pillars that support healthy cognition” says Liselle.
“Ndlovu’s agriculture initiative to growing produce on-site will be a key offering at the Centre to ensure organic, wholesome nutrition to residents. The resident community will have the opportunity to get involved in propagation and harvesting produce as part of the broader range of activities offered.”
Truly Personalised
Mental health and fulfilment are ever-present aspects in everything Ndlovu does. All prospective residents are interviewed to understand their unique objectives and health needs. A customised experience is then created for them from nutrition all the way through to mental well-being and stimulation.
Activities are completely dependent on the person, and there is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The experience is personalised and very unique, unlike anything on offer in South Africa at present.
Ndlovu also caters to couples, understanding that one might have different needs to the other and aims to support the individual at their own level. For example, if one is still very active there are hikes, sports activities and more to choose from and if the other person is not so active there are options such as cooking classes, a day spa or even music sessions for them to enjoy.
The Dream of Ndlovu
The idea of Ndlovu happened organically over time. It started in 2016 when a change in the property by-law sparked the idea to innovate and repurpose existing commercial structures. Liselle being the founder of MpowerProp (advocate for sustainable property development) saw a huge opportunity in this change, and the seed leading to the repurposing of existing property was planted.
Liselle then got to know the UK caring industry from 2017 especially as it pertains to dementia and Alzheimer’s care. During this time she saw that the needs of retirement clients were not always being met by the facility. She travelled back and forth to South Africa all the while wanting to pair her acuity for property innovation and love for better healthcare.
As a long-time Lowveld resident, the process of marrying a much-loved shopping centre and hotel complex; the Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre, along with years of involvement in the UK’s Caring sector and Liselle’s passion for food as a pathway to health began to merge into what would become Ndlovu’s residential offering.
