At Livewell Bryanston, we are committed to providing holistic care that supports the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical well-being of each resident. As part of this commitment, we are excited to announce the addition of Erika Richardt to our Occupational Therapy team. Erika’s expertise and compassionate approach will further enrich the services we offer, ensuring that our residents continue to experience a superior quality of life and live out their retirement with dignity and meaning.
Meet Erika Richardt
Erika brings a wealth of experience to Livewell, having completed her studies in Occupational Therapy at the University of Pretoria and starting her career at Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital. Since joining Livewell in January 2025, Erika has been dedicated to providing personalised, holistic therapy for our residents. She is passionate about helping individuals overcome challenges and enhance their lives by addressing not only their physical needs but also their emotional and cognitive needs.
Erika is known for her warm and caring nature, treating each resident as family. She is also deeply committed to exploring the interests and passions of each individual to create a therapy plan that fosters independence, autonomy, and self-worth. Outside of work, Erika enjoys exploring the outdoors, from the bush to the beach, and has recently completed her first marathon. She values the power of art, problem-solving, and spending quality time with family.
Why Occupational Therapy is Essential at Livewell
At Livewell, we understand that each resident’s needs are unique, and Occupational Therapy is a key element in our holistic care approach. Occupational Therapy takes a comprehensive view of care, addressing cognitive, physical, social, and emotional needs. The goal is to ensure that each resident can lead a fulfilling, independent, and purposeful life, even as their health needs evolve.
Group Therapy
Group therapy plays an important role at Livewell, promoting social interaction between residents and stimulating various cognitive, physical, and emotional areas of well-being. Group settings provide opportunities for residents to engage in a wide range of activities, encouraging mental stimulation, fun, and connection. The benefits of group therapy are endless, and it helps make therapy an enjoyable and enriching experience for residents.
Individual Therapy
While group therapy offers many benefits, some residents may not have the motivation, or the cognitive or physical abilities, to participate in such activities. That’s where individual therapy becomes crucial. Through personalised one-on-one sessions, our Occupational Therapists, including Erika, can assess, manage, and treat each resident’s specific needs in a more controlled environment. Individual therapy may include:
- Sensory Stimulation and Engagement: For residents who struggle to participate in more complex activities, sensory stimulation provides a valuable tool to engage them.
- Maintaining Independence: Erika will help residents maintain their independence in daily self-care, hygiene activities, and mobility through activity adaptation, environmental modifications, and supportive equipment.
- Leisure and Meaningful Activities: Erika will facilitate activities that are personally meaningful to each resident, promoting emotional well-being.
- Promoting Autonomy: By providing more opportunities for choice and individualized activities, we aim to empower our residents to take control of their routines.
- Chronic Disease Management: Regular participation in functional, purposeful activities can help delay the progression of chronic diseases, while simultaneously promoting the resident’s overall well-being.
The Impact of Occupational Therapy at Livewell
At Livewell, we prioritise occupational balance, occupational justice, and the meaning and purpose that residents find in their daily lives. Our Occupational Therapists work with each resident to create personalised activity profiles that reflect their preferences, functional abilities, and cognitive capacity. These profiles ensure that each resident’s routine is as close as possible to the life they would have led outside of Livewell, while incorporating the therapeutic principles necessary to meet their evolving needs.
Many of our residents have experienced remarkable improvements in their functional and emotional states thanks to the specially curated routines and activities designed by our Occupational Therapy team. These programs are created in close collaboration with our healthcare team and take into account the fluctuating nature of dementia, promoting autonomy while ensuring therapeutic flexibility within daily routines.
Success Story
One powerful example of the impact of personalised Occupational Therapy at Livewell is the story of one resident. When she first arrived at Livewell, she was emaciated and entirely dependent on her home-based carer for mobility. She had spent more than two years isolated at home, refusing to wear anything but pyjamas. After a tailored therapy plan was implemented, this resident has since become one of our most elegant residents. She now has a healthy appetite, enjoys walking with the assistance of a walking frame, and takes pride in wearing stylish clothing. Her journey highlights the profound difference that individualised Occupational Therapy can make in a resident’s life.
As we expand our Occupational Therapy team, we are confident that our residents will experience even greater levels of autonomy, purpose, and happiness. At Livewell, we are committed to providing care that enhances every aspect of life, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of Erika and our growing team on our community.
Get in touch with Livewell Bryanston for a holistic dementia care approach that includes occupational therapy by Erika.