The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development is removing 28 older persons from the Katlehong Older Age Home owing to poor financial management by the previous management board, and the current management board's inability to attract donor funding to augment the departmental annual subsidy of R400 000. Affected residents would be accommodated in various Old Age Homes in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan area. The department interviewed both service-recipients and their families and gained their support to move older persons to alternative old age homes.
The decision to remove them was informed by a desire to act in the best interest of the older persons, as their health was compromised and threatened by the shortage of food and unhealthy living conditions, as a result of a lack of basic necessities such as cleaning detergents. The department has a constitutional, political and moral obligation to ensure that older persons are cared for in a manner that restores their dignity.
Given the poor financial state of the home the department has offered to pay the salaries of 30 full time and seven part time employees of the home for the months of November and December this year, including additional salaries in January 2010. This is despite the fact that this is the responsibility of the board.
The decision to remove the residents was preceded by several interventions such as consultative meetings between departmental officials and the board. Closely tied to this between May 2008 and December 2009 the department contracted the Germiston Association for the Aged to mentor the board and the administration staff of the home said home.
Enquiries:
Mr Simon Zwane
Head of Communications
Cell: 082 551 9892
Issued by: Department of Health and Social Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
14 December 2009
