Older Persons Month: 500 elderly Overberg residents celebrate with MEC Fritz
The Western Cape MEC of Social Development, Albert Fritz, in conjunction with NGO partner, Age-In-Action, hosted 500 elderly residents for an arts and culture day in honour of Older Persons Month.
The commemorations were held in Ashton with the elderly residents coming from all over the Overberg region. The elderly residents in attendance held arts and culture exhibitions, and held music and drama plays, to demonstrate their activeness in old age.
The event is part of ongoing efforts to promote ‘Active Ageing’ among the 520 000 people aged 60 years and older in the Western Cape. Active Ageing is a policy approach adopted by the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) as a means of encouraging the physical, emotional and intellectual well-being of older persons.
DSD has allocated over R228-million to the Older Persons Programme this financial year, which allows the department to implement the Older Persons Act and promote Active Ageing services and programmes.
Our funding mainly goes to 355 NGOs rendering support services, residential and assisted living facilities to the elderly. Key services include the provision of frail care facilities, and specialised services, such as Alzeimer’s/Dementia care services – and the investigation of elder abuse.
DSD also funds Community Based Care and support services, such 205 Service Centres. Service Centres are key spaces which provide physical and intellectual activities for elderly residents, including social clubs.
Our services reach well over 25 000 older persons across the province, the vast majority of whom are the poorest of the poor.
We’d like to thank NGO partners, Age-In-Action, for hosting this wonderful event, and we encourage the public to donate to NGOs rendering services to the elderly. The public can access more information by contacting the DSD hotline on 0800 220 250.
Media enquiries:
Sihle Ngobese
Spokesperson for Albert Fritz, MEC of Social Development
Tel: 021 483 9217
Cell: 076 083 6543
E-mail: Sihle.Ngobese@westerncape.gov.za
