AGEING WITH DIGNITY

Cuma Pantshwa

• The Department of Social Development (DSD) commemorates the International Day of Older Persons under the 2024 theme, “Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide.” The event is part of Older Persons Week and Social Development Month in South Africa.
• The day highlights the contributions of older persons to society while raising awareness about issues like ageism, healthcare challenges, and financial support needs for the elderly in South Africa, where over 9% of the population is aged 60 or older.
• DSD is committed to promoting legislative policies that protect older persons’ rights, addressing issues like elder abuse, housing shortages, and the caregiving burden placed on elderly people, particularly in families affected by HIV/AIDS.

On October 1, the Department of Social Development (DSD) joined the global community in commemorating the International Day of Older Persons, which is observed in South Africa as part of Older Persons Week and Social Development Month. Under the 2024 theme, “Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide,” the day highlights the valuable contributions older people make to society and raises awareness about challenges such as ageism.

In 2022, over five million South Africans were aged 60 or older, representing 9.2% of the population. Ms Louisa Mmutle, Deputy Director of the Older Persons Directorate at DSD, remarked that the theme resonates strongly in South Africa, where older persons play a vital role in their communities. “This day promotes the importance of ensuring that people can age with dignity and purpose,” she said. “Older persons are integral to our communities as workers, carers, volunteers, activists, and connectors.”

Despite their contributions, the elderly often face ageism and other barriers that limit their rights and freedoms. Ms Mmutle stressed the need for legislative policies and interventions to safeguard the rights and dignity of older persons. She also highlighted some implications of an ageing population, including:

• Increased demand for adequate housing;
• A growing need for financial support, such as old-age grants;
• A rising demand for long-term and chronic healthcare;
• Greater reliance on economically active persons (15-64 years old) to support an expanding elderly population.

“The ageing population places a significant strain on healthcare systems, a challenge worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Ms Mmutle added. “During the pandemic, social workers dedicated themselves to supporting older persons, ensuring their protection even when other services were paused.”

As the population ages, South African families often struggle with the additional caregiving burden. Ms Mmutle noted that many older people, particularly those caring for grandchildren orphaned by HIV/AIDS, receive minimal government support despite qualifying for social grants. Few older persons benefit from government-subsidised housing, even though policy stipulates they are eligible for the subsidy.

In closing, Ms Mmutle affirmed the DSD’s commitment to raising awareness in both rural and urban areas. She emphasised that Older Persons Forums will continue to be empowered to act as advocates for the elderly and report cases of abuse. “Older persons deserve to enjoy their day. One day, each of us will be older and will need these services. All government departments must commit financial resources to protect older persons and prevent abuse.”

The Active Ageing Programme

Guided by the Older Persons Act (Act 13 of 2006) and the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing, the Department of Social Development in partnership with the Departments of Health, Sports and Recreation and the South African Older Persons Forum introduced the Active Ageing Programme to transform the ageing experience and empower senior citizens to stay active and engaged so that they can continue to enjoy healthy and purposeful lives.

The active ageing programme seeks to improve the quality of life, health, and well-being of older persons by instilling dignity, peer social integration, as well as promotion of senior citizens’ voices and the creation of awareness concerning their ability to express themselves through dialogue, music, sport, and recreational activities.