Our office has been arranging tours for older persons since 2006 as a strategy to encourage active ageing and to combat loneliness, isolation, boredom and even abuse and/or neglect of older persons. The tours organised are not just for the affluent. ANY person over 60 years old qualifies to join the tours that we organise. We have been to Cape Town on two occasions - just last year the entourage travelled to Cape Town via the Premier Class Train. We have also organised trips to Durban.
This year, however, on the recommendation of those who have been part of the Valentines tour via train last year, we are organising a boat tour from Durban to the Portugese Islands. This is very exciting and as you can imagine, the older persons are excited to be part of this touring group. At present there are a minimum of 30 persons interested to be part of the boat tour. The tour is open to any age group - as possibly this is a once -in-a-lifetime event for most people. The fact that they have to go to Home Affairs to renew or apply for a passport (some doing this for the first time) is not at all a deterent to the determination of the older generation to make the most of this opportunity. When questioned about seasickness, this is shrugged off with a simple attitude of 'We'll cross that bridge when we get there'.
For more information click here or contact our office at 041 457 1466.
Approximately 402 547 persons over the age of 65 years live in this
province - the highest number in the country. 85.5% of the total number of aged is black.
The province, which includes the former homelands of
Only 0.03% of the elderly receive a basic service in a residential setting, housing or community service. This is the lowest in the country. 24% of white elderly, however, receive one or more of these services which is the highest in the country. It is evident that racial inequality is most prevalent in this province. Frail care facilities in rural areas are basically non-existent, causing thousands of frail persons staying at home, many of whom are abused and neglected. Under the auspices of the Organisation, a reasonable number of luncheon clubs and community health projects were established, of which much more are needed especially in deep rural communities.
We have 9 staff members servicing 123 affiliated organizations and 50 volunteers throughout the province. The volunteers are actively involved in coordinating activities at clubs, assisting with the lending depots, rendering motivational talks to emerging organizations and the youth.
Although partnerships were formed with other stakeholders (such as the Department of Social Development, Gelvandale Development Initiative, Volunteer Services Overseas, our biggest challenge is funding to retain staff and to effectively and efficiently implement our strategic plan.
Finally, attitudes of ordinary citizens on older persons are generally considered as positive.
The province is serviced by a Provincial Director, Community Developers, Auxiliary Workers and secretarial staff rendering services to clubs/service centres and organisations throughout the province.
Community Based |
Service centres, community health care, lending depots, senior volunteer
programme (Volunteer Management Programmes), educare, affordable medical scheme,
meals-on-foot, Home Based Care Training |
Therapeutic |
Counselling, group work |
Residential Care |
Old age homes, interim homes/safe homes, assisted living, housing |
Honour the Aged Week
Golden Games
Pretty Things
for Little Things Competition
World
Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Silver
Surfers (Older Persons and digital inclusion)
Operation
Dignity
TRAINING COURSES
(Being offered by Age-in-Action,
Victim Empowerment Training
Basic
Management & Budgeting
Home Based
Care
Parental
Skills
Sangala
Training