The Rand Aid Association recently shared its knowledge on the long-term care of older persons at the second Africa Region International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) conference in Nairobi, Kenya,
The conference, held in December 2016, saw the 114-year-old non-profit organisation hosting demonstrations and providing case studies in connection to the care of the elderly.
Ms Zabeth Zühlsdorff, the general manager of services and advance division, said their first presentation explained the development, growth, the management structures, continuum of care and the funding model of Rand Aid.
She said the second presentation focussed on the culture change and the use of a person-centred approach via the Eden Alternative model.
“The African attendees were particularly interested in the person-centred model and the emphasis on close and warm relationships between staff and residents, and forming small ‘family’ groups in a larger facility,” said Ms Zühlsdorff.
Ms Ayanda Matthews, the general manager of the compliance and social react division, said delegates were interested in the Rand Aid funding model and the extent of welfare services the organisation is able to provide as a result of this.
“The North West University in particular has a strong focus on ageing research and we were approached about the possibility of providing research opportunities to post graduate students,” said Ms Mathews.
Ms Zühlsdorff said the conference organisers had set aside a third day of private discussions to which they had pre-invited academics and representatives of international organisations to deliberate on the conference outcomes and to determine research agendas for the future. She said the Rand Aid model (funding and quality of care) was one of the items selected for these deliberations.
Ms Matthews explained that the conference was motivated by Africa’s steadily increasing aged population.
“Developments in the last century have caused Africa to face the same problems of ageing that have been experienced globally, including a rapid increase in the number of older persons, an increasing trend of very old persons with chronic diseases/functional impairments, a rapid increase in medical and care expenses for older persons and rapid changes in the family structure and functions supporting older persons,” said Ms Mathews.
“In addition, the African situation is complicated by the traditional reliance on family care and a lack of formal systems to support older persons,” said Ms Mathews.
Ms Zühlsdorff and Ms Mathews agreed that it was an interesting conference, during which they met a number of professionals from the World Health Organisation, HelpAge International, CommonAge, Global Social Initiative on Ageing, UN Focal Point on Ageing, International Red Cross and London School of Economics, amongst others.
“These will be valuable contacts for information on ageing, service delivery models, monitoring tools and training resources,” said Ms Zühlsdorff
