OLDER PERSONS CARRY THE BURDEN OF HOUSEHOLD SURVIVAL

By Lerato Khateane.

• Research shows older persons are primary breadwinners in households of more than five members, placing heavy strain on their grants.
• Radebe calls for stronger community-based and home-based care systems to uphold dignity, family preservation, and reduce abuse.
• Recommendations include reinforcing the Older Persons Act, restructuring NPO funding models, and ensuring affordable access to residential care.

Mthakathi Kwini Radebe has served at the Free State Department of Social Development in Lejweleputswa District office for 11 years. His passion for social work was inspired by his own childhood experience of foster care and the vital support he received from social workers. Motivated by this, he pursued social work at the University of the Free State in 2014. Today, he is an acting Social Work Supervisor, responsible for strengthening the quality of social work services, supporting colleagues for greater productivity, and ensuring that services remain accessible to all community members.
At the recent ASASWEI Conference, Mthakhathi presented his abstract on the challenges facing elder persons. He highlighted barriers such as limited access to healthcare, inadequate transport, and long waiting times at government service points. His findings revealed that many semi-frail older persons are breadwinners in households of more than five members, which puts financial strain on their limited social grant. Financial mismanagement of the older persons’ grant often results from household unemployment, which can also contribute to abuse, limited social support, negative perceptions, neglect, and social isolation. Many older individuals face limited access to affordable infrastructure, including personal residences or retirement facilities, and rural areas often lack social programs such as Golden Games or luncheon clubs. This absence of supportive resources can contribute to the continuation of social challenges they experience.
Radebe further observed that despite the considerable decrease in physical and mental capacity amongst the elderly, they still maintain ambitions for well-being, respect, long-term care systems through the Community-Based Care and Support Services, which is centre-based for the able and home-based support of other elderly with deteriorating health and capabilities. Semi-frail elders are frequently placed in residential care facilities, a practice that may result in weakened family bonds and a diminished sense of belonging for older adults. Nevertheless, both semi-frail and independent older persons consistently express a preference for Home-Based Care and Support Services, as these arrangements uphold their basic rights, freedoms, and human dignity within the community.
HBCSS should be strengthened and given priority to support family preservation and reduce the incidence of unreported or hidden abuse and maltreatment of older persons. Additionally, for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, a familiar environment or familiar objects play a crucial role in maintaining calmness.
Most older individuals and their families are unable to afford the additional payments required to match the fees charged by other registered old age homes. The recommendations include strengthening the Older Persons Act to enhance the promotion, care, and protection of the rights of older persons, as well as restructuring the funding model for non-profit organisations to align with that of state-owned residential facilities. Alternatively, it is suggested that the department ensures access to residential facilities remains affordable for the majority of impoverished older persons who are unable to utilize Home-Based Community Support Services (HBCSS).
Mr Radebe concluded that active aging requires promoting physical, mental, and social well-being for all. “Never assume an older person to be needy, as they possess resilience to choose happiness over comfort,” said Mthakhathi in conclusion to his review.