Our focus is on the importance of living life to the fullest in a comfortable environment suited to our patient's needs. The Hospice Association of the Witwatersrand was started in September, 1979 by a Johannesburg couple, Stan and Sherley Henen, who first responded to a need in their community for hospice care. Initially, care was provided by a part-time nurse from their house. In 1983, the first property was purchased on 1st Avenue, Houghton. It became known as Greendale House and was converted into a six-bed in-patient unit. By then, five full-time staff provided home-based and in-patient care. In 1985, the adjacent property was purchased with assistance from JCI, a leading mining company at that time. In 1995, our first facility in Soweto was opened on the grounds of the Mofolo Clinic. Today we have more than 150 full-time staff, including doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and spiritual counsellors. As an NPO, we have to raise our own funds. We do this through our Greendale House Thrift Shops where a variety of donated goods are sold, fundraising through generous donations from corporates and individuals, and with many events throughout the year.
