... and the costs just keep rising
WHILE some people are finding it difficult to get into an old-age home or frail-care facility, others who already have a place are experiencing financial challenges.
Some of those living at the pensioner flats in Verulam, north of Durban, run by the eThekwini Municipality, are struggling to pay their rent and electricity bills.
After his house was repossessed by the bank in 2013, a 79-year-old resident said he felt as if his entire world had come crashing down on him.
“I transferred my property into my son’s name and he failed to make the monthly payments. My 76-year-old wife and I were forced to move in with relatives.
“We are both pensioners, and between us, the only income we receive is our old age social grants, which increased by R90 to R1 600 during the Budget speech last month.”
The grandfather-of-eight said he had heard about the pensioner flats and decided to apply for one.
“The only challenge was that we had to wait for someone to die in order to get a flat. We waited more than a year.
“Then in 2015 we moved into a one-bedroom open-plan flat, which included a kitchen, dining area and bathroom.
“The rental and electricity bill came via the mail from the eThekwini Municipality. It reflected a rental amount of R700 and an electricity charge of about R200.”
He said the amount was affordable, but over the past three months it began to escalate.
“My rental remained at R700 but the electricity went up by R300, so now I pay R1 200 a month and I don’t have much money left from my pension.”
He said his wife’s grant was used to run their household.
“We struggle every month and things are not getting better.
“The cost of living is high and we don’t get any extra help.”
The man said other elderly residents faced the same predicament.
“The monthly rental must be reviewed and lowered. There are times when residents don’t even have food to eat.”
He said he had placed his name on the waiting list, hoping for a better life, but instead now had more financial stress. “I have no choice now because my wife and I have no place to go.”