City to celebrate day of the older person

THE City’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department has organised a two-day event to celebrate the International Day of Older Persons yesterday. It will host 200 senior citizens in Retreat today and tomorrow.

The Cape Peninsula Organisation for the Aged (CPOA), the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), the Department of Home Affairs and the police will attend the event.

Michael Zipp, the chief executive of CPOA, said: “There are currently 6 million people over the age of 60 in South Africa and this number will rise significantly over the coming years. We acknowledge the contribution of these seniors to society and draw inspiration from what they have achieved in their lifetimes.”

JP Smith, mayco member for Safety and Security, and Social Services, said: “Many times we forget that older people come with a wealth of experiences and skills. They have often lived through situations that others would find unimaginable… we need to care and support our elders and use these lifetimes of experience to enrich our lives.”

A variety of entertainment has been planned for the day. Seniors can also expect assistance from Sassa and the Department of Home Affairs who will be on call to provide insight on old-age pensions.

The police will inform them on the rights of seniors and how to deal with challenges such as elderly abuse.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – held on June 15 every year – highlights this global issue.

“The abuse of elderly people may be of a physical or psychological nature that involves emotional or verbal aggression, or it may even involve financial or other material maltreatment,” said Smith. “As a society, we need to ensure that the elderly are informed of their rights and that they are able to deal with the situation should they find themselves in such a predicament.”

Gavin Weir, of The Neighbourhoods Old Aged Homes (Noah) in Woodstock, said older people and, in particular, social pensioners faced a number of challenges based on the fact that they were expected to live on R56.33 a day.

“On this daily amount, social pensioners are expected to clothe, house, feed themselves and pay for any other essential needs such as transportation,” said Weir. “The events on October 2 and 3 are a symbol of the Department of Social Development’s ongoing commitment to citizens 60 years and older.”