Older Persons

Older Persons

Millions of older people in Cape Town’s townships are living in abject poverty and regularly experience isolation, abuse and neglect. This is exacerbated by weakened family ties, financial insecurity, limited mobility, and a lack of access to quality healthcare. Dire living conditions are the norm for many older people who live in neighbourhoods rife with crime and with limited access to basic services such as water, electricity and emergency services. Many are also unaware of their rights and lack the resources or information to seek help when they need it. Despite this, many older people still support large families on their pension of just R1,980 per month and are often the sole breadwinner in the household.

Together with community leaders, Ikamva Labantu has developed two community-based interventions that promote active ageing and allow older people to live with dignity.

Senior Clubs

Five days a week, hundreds of older people are provided transport to and from Ikamva Labantu’s Senior Clubs where they access a range of activities addressing health, nutrition, and cognitive stimulation. Importantly, they are able to be among their peers in a social environment, away from the stress and isolation of their homes. Ikamva Labantu senior members also have access to health and psychosocial support that the field workers provide.

The Umelwane Project

For an older person who is bedridden and alone, accessing help can be nearly impossible.

Ikamva Labantu’s home-based model provides an essential safety net to support both frail older people and their caregivers. The fieldworkers walk door-to-door throughout Cape Town’s townships, searching for older people in need of support. These fieldworkers are called Umelwanes, which means ‘neighbourhood friend’ in isiXhosa.

The Umelwane team, made up of fieldworkers, nurses and social workers, provides seniors with regular health check-ups, delivery of chronic medication, and assistance in getting to and from the clinic. In addition, Ikamva Labantu assists older people in accessing government grants that they are entitled to.

Crucially, Umelwanes offer emotional support for older people and educate them about their rights. This has given some older people the confidence to speak out about any abuse or injustice that they are facing.