The City commemorates the elderly

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Each year the City of Johannesburg commemorates Older Persons Month aimed at raising awareness around the challenges facing older persons.

Throughout the month of October, the City’s Targeted Beneficiaries Unit will host a number of programmes aimed at raising awareness on the rights of older persons with a build-up to the annual Gogo’s and Mkhulu’s gala event on 31 October at the Soweto Theatre.

According to the City,  as a society, we need to take care of and listen to our elderly people who often become more vulnerable to ill health, the deterioration of their well-being and becoming socioeconomically disadvantaged.

Therefore, the City’s Targeted Beneficiaries Unit continues to prioritise the provision of basic needs of older persons.

The City currently runs and subsidises retirement villages which provide security, care, nursing and other services to more than 5 000 elderly people. There are about 2 300 residents at the City’s  29 villages and homes. The residential accommodation consisting of Privately Funded Units (PFU’s) or rented rooms and flats at most villages. Eight of the homes have residential care sections which provide day-nursing care facilities.

All retirement village residents have access to nursing care facilities, either where they reside or at nearby homes. Support care is also available to residents in their cottages and flats, and our frail care sections are controlled by qualified nursing personnel with extensive experience in geriatric nursing.

To cater for older persons, the City has also made available the Expanded Social Package programme (ESP) which is a basket of benefits that the City offers its most vulnerable citizens based on their level of need. It focuses on the unemployed, youth, persons with disabilities, displaced persons, older persons, women and children. Based on the assessments of needs, individuals will further qualify for referral for programs and services offered by the City’s departments such as Skills Development and Social Service Interventions.

According to a statement by the City, the ESP programme has had a significant impact on the lives of older persons because of the provision of free essential services such as water, electricity, health-care, and housing. “In order for the City to achieve an enabling environment for the protection and promotion of rights of older persons, we need the active participation, cooperation and support of the community. We especially need support from civil society and faith-based organisations.

“We call on all residents of Johannesburg to respect, protect and promote the rights of older persons as contained in our laws. We also call on the youth to play a key role in the development of a caring society, particularly for older persons.”

Older persons who need the assistance of the City can contact Carina van Zyl who’s responsible for the City’s Older Person’s Unit on 011 582 1651.

https://fourwaysreview.co.za/302516/rand-show-2019-celebrating-elderly/