ANCHORED in a 60-year history of care for Durban’s elderly, The Association for the Aged (Tafta), commemorates yet another milestone in its legacy of elder care in Durban this year – the establishment of its community service based programme, home based care, which was initiated in 1964.
Launched in an attempt to address the lack of resources to assist frail elderly in the community, Tafta began using its social workers soon after it was established to visit those members of the community for whom treatment and care was inaccessible. In one of its earliest report backs on the service, Tafta’s annual report for the year 1966 reports that 1 816 home visits were made during the period 31 March 1965 to 31 March 1966.
Tafta CEO Femada Shamam said 52 years later, the Home Based Care programme has made a significant contribution to caring for elders in communities within Tafta’s areas of operation including Clairwood, Wentworth and the Ilungelo Labadala village of Amaoti in Inanda, where Tafta established an outreach programme to assist vulnerable community members in 2003.
“In the previous reporting period, our Home Based Care visits totalled a staggering 31 905, more than 10 000 more visits than the previous reporting period. Over the years, the Home Based Care service has grown to become one of our most vital community service programmes with a range of services being offered to frail members of the community who have no other resource to turn to for assistance,” she said.
Explaining the programme, Shamam said each person requiring Home Based Care is referred by a social worker conducting community visits to the Home Based Care Department. “Assessments are conducted to determine whether a client requires full-time care in one of our care units or whether they will manage in their own homes through support of the Home Based Care programme. Charges are assessed according to income.”
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The range of services offered to the Home Based Care client includes the offer of personal hygiene services such as bathing, washing, dressing etc; making beds and tidying rooms and daily medication issue if you are based in a Tafta residence. Community members can attend weekly clinics run at Tafta’s wellness centres to have their blood sugar levels checked. They can also have their blood pressure checked. Those in need can also reach out to Tafta for the temporary loan of medical equipment such as wheelchairs and walking frames.
The programme has not only given much needed support to house-bound elders, it has also assisted unemployed community members with an income, paid via a stipend.
To learn more about the Home Based Care programme, contact Tafta at 031 332 3721 or email info@tafta.org.za.
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