Pensioners helped through clean-up initiative

The plight of senior citizens came under the spotlight again when Carletonville Home Based Care workers recently dedicated three weeks to cleaning the home of one such person in Khutsong.

Social workers identified a partially blind Sassa pensioner from Ward 10 who struggled to clean his house. The resident, who lives alone, is healthy and active and volunteered to assist with cleaning materials. The man has no one to take care of him, cook or do the washing. A member of the team volunteered to look after the man.

The caregivers reported to the manager and submitted pictures throughout the process.

Ideally, such pensioners should have a personal caregiver or live in an old age home. Carletonville Home-Based Care wants to involve local councillors because many more community members have similar problems.

Another concerning social issue is (many) family members who take advantage of these senior citizens by claiming their pensions. The old folk often cannot walk and always depend on their relatives.

Caring for the elderly is not all the organisation does, however. Among other services, it also assesses the needs of children, hosts holiday programmes and hands out food parcels monthly.

The NGO appeals to the public for volunteers, donations, and sponsorship to help more disadvantaged families. Its needs include personal protection equipment, food for the children, school resources, and sports equipment.
Importantly, they also want a playground and another office in Ext. 3 to accommodate the caregivers necessary to meet the enormous need. Their message to the community is that they need volunteers for their activities.