Offers assistance to all affiliated members and Welfare Organisations serving the elderly throughout the province.
Have 4 sub-offices in four regions i.e. Pietermaritzburg, Midlands, Ulundi and Durban.
According to the 1996
statistics, Kwa Zulu Natal has the highest percentage of elderly over the age of 65
in South Africa - the greater portion living in the rural and semi-rural area. The
elderly living in deep rural areas are often the forgotten ones. They have not been
exposed to any welfare services, have no infrastructures i.e. sanitation, water, transport
etc. Most of these elderly do not have a birth document. Therefore, the
starting point is often to register them so that they could apply for a pension.
Those who already collect a pension are often the sole breadwinners of the family.
The extended family is totally dependent on the pension. The elderly from
these areas often prefer to stay at home. The extended family system is still very
strong amongst this community. In addition, frail care
is very expensive and is not affordable to most elderly people.
Staff Structure:
Provincial Director, Social
Workers, Social Auxillary Workers and a Secretary.
Services and Programmes undertaken in the Community:
Elder Abuse
All cases of abuse referred via Provincial Age-in-Action office.
Two elder abuse programmes are available in English and Zulu.
HIV/AIDS Support
HIV/AIDS education undertaken on a regular basis in conjunction with the Department of Health. Programmes held on request and as part of education at Senior Citizens Club.
Community Care
Home Based Care held where there is a need.
Elderly and volunteers are trained on basic home based care.
Lending depots developed at
Senior Citizens Clubs based on needs in
the community.
Community Development
Development of luncheon clubs in areas that are unserviced or under-resourced in keeping with the new Government policy.
Screening - Screening of the elderly and submitting social workers' report on the elderly requiring admission where there are no social workers.