Centre brings hope and independent living
Remme-Los needs the community’s help to provide services.
Set in the heart of Primrose in Boxwood Road, Remme-Los Independent Living Centre is a place of hope and camaraderie.
The centre provides accommodation to eight disabled people where they can live independently.
Started in 1987, Remme-Los Independent Living Centre for quadriplegics was initially started by quadriplegics for quadriplegics to provide permanent accommodation, transport and other much-needed services to people with spinal injuries.
The focus of Remme-Los is to create a homely atmosphere for quadriplegics and paraplegics in which they can express themselves to the utmost of their capabilities and live a normal life.
Added to this, the centre offers specialised transport for disabled people.
“This, however, must be arranged well in advance as we only have two vehicles,” said Piet de Wit, the chairperson of the centre.
Outreach programmes across the East Rand are also run by the centre where members will visit people with new injuries and help them and their families with issues like accessibility at their homes.
“We speak to injured people and explain to them how their lives are going to be different from now on, as well as offering support to them and to their families,” Piet said.
“We receive different reactions but most appreciate the support offered.”
The centre also offers a personal assistant (PA) service where the PAs go out into the community and help people to live independently.
The PAs will come to a person’s home in the morning and help them get ready for the day.
“They will help them to get washed and dressed and then assist them with their daily tasks for example take them shopping,” said Piet.
The PAs work across the East Rand, including Germiston, Benoni, Daveyton, Brakpan and KwaThema.
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The centre does receive a subsidy from the government and this helps them pay certain things, however, it is not enough to cover everything.
“Our biggest expenses are salaries, food, electricity and water,” Piet said.
“Any donations to assist towards these expenses would be greatly appreciated.”
Remme-Los also holds fund-raisers to help make ends meet.
They are planning a bowls day in November.
For more information about the centre or how you can assist Remme-Los call Elizabeth Engelmohr on 011 828 7002 or Piet on 082 668 2161 or visit the website at www.remme-los.co.za.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist) kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za
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