Alzheimer’s home crippled by Covid
The only privately run Alzheimer’s residence for state pensioners in the Southern Cape has been severely crippled by the Covid-19 economic meltdown. The Living Cornerstone (TLC) in Sedgefield, which serves needy Alzheimer’s sufferers between Plettenberg Bay and George, has lost almost half of its regular income due to the extended lockdown period. The charity runs three homes in Sedgefield housing 26 residents aged between 64 and 96. The 24-hour care facility employs two registered nurses and 33 carers recruited from Smutsville, Sizamile and Rheenendal. “Most residents are unable to pay the full fee and we often have to supplement their Sassa pensions with toiletries and nappies,” says Gilda Scammell, honorary CEO. “We rely on prayer, faith, donations, sponsorship and partial contributions from the families. During lockdown, we were unable to do any fundraising. Also, many relatives of residents lost their jobs and were unable to continue funding them. We now need to urgently raise another R150 000 a month for staff salaries alone. We also welcome any donations of groceries, toiletries and adult nappies.” She says TLC is not an institution. “Our residents live in houses and our caregivers treat them as they would their ailing parents / grandparents. We aim to provide a loving, secure, homely environment and to create dignity and independence for our residents – irrespective of race, colour or creed,” says
Scammell.
The Living Cornerstone started off in 2008 as a meal delivery service to the frail and elderly in Sedgefield. In the process, the volunteers met several senior citizens at various stages of Alzheimer’s, who were not coping with living on their own. This led to the founding of the first affordable “home away from home” for people with Alzheimer’s in 2013. Within 18 months, two more houses were established. “If someone were to give us a house today, it will be filled tomorrow. With a long waiting list, there is a real shortage of charity Alzheimer’s homes in South Africa,” says Scammell.
The Living Cornerstone is a registered nonprofit organisation and all donations and sponsorships are tax-deductible.
Find out more
You can contact Gilda Scammell, Honorary CEO or Petra Brits, The Living Cornerstone, on 044 343 1099. E-mail info@ thelivingcornerstone.co.za or visit http:// livingcornerstone.co.za. – Muriel Hau-Yoon