"I DO not want to go back home. I am happy here. We eat, they clean and do the laundry," gogo Julia Matshidiso Thabo says. Thabo is a resident at the Vakoma Old Age Home in Tsjiawelo Ext 4, Soweto, which was opened in March. Vakoma is a word that people from Komatipoort use to refer to themselves.
Mama Angel spent a delightful time at the home to deliver blankets and food for the tenants.
The community decided to establish an old age home since a number of pensioners were being abused, neglected or abandoned by their families.
The home is supported by the Age in Action to care for the grannies.
They also facilitate training of the caregivers.
"I have no one to look after me. I am 77 years old and originally from Lesotho. My husband was a South African and he and his brother were buried here. I want to be with them when I go," Thabo said.
There are nine residents in two wards. There is also a nascent frail care ward. They are cared for by four staff members who get stipends.
The home's director, Ellen Sambo, told Mama Angel that her husband, a social worker, was often called by the police to help rescue elderly people. She and her husband had to accommodate and cook for them.
"Grannies were found living in outside toilets because their sons had married and needed more room. Others were being sjambokked by their makotis for minor infringements," Sambo said.
"We found some grannies who were bedridden and were often locked up inside the houses because their children had to go to work."
Sambo said there were grannies whose families could not care for them because of the way their health had deteriorated.
"These families visit their parents all the time and help us care for them," she said.
Vakoma is building an additional ward as social workers bring more grannies to the centre. Sambo said they did not have enough room to admit elderly men at present.
"South Africa is going to need more old age homes in the future. People are dying of Aids-related illnesses and there is no one left to care for the elderly," she said.
"We thank Sowetan for the support and we pray that God will strengthen the hand that gives."
Sweet home for elderly
"I DO not want to go back home. I am happy here. We eat, they clean and do the laundry," gogo Julia Matshidiso Thabo says. Thabo is a resident at the Vakoma Old Age Home in Tsjiawelo Ext 4, Soweto, which was opened in March. Vakoma is a word that people from Komatipoort use to refer to themselves.
Mama Angel spent a delightful time at the home to deliver blankets and food for the tenants.
The community decided to establish an old age home since a number of pensioners were being abused, neglected or abandoned by their families.
The home is supported by the Age in Action to care for the grannies.
They also facilitate training of the caregivers.
"I have no one to look after me. I am 77 years old and originally from Lesotho. My husband was a South African and he and his brother were buried here. I want to be with them when I go," Thabo said.
There are nine residents in two wards. There is also a nascent frail care ward. They are cared for by four staff members who get stipends.
The home's director, Ellen Sambo, told Mama Angel that her husband, a social worker, was often called by the police to help rescue elderly people. She and her husband had to accommodate and cook for them.
"Grannies were found living in outside toilets because their sons had married and needed more room. Others were being sjambokked by their makotis for minor infringements," Sambo said.
"We found some grannies who were bedridden and were often locked up inside the houses because their children had to go to work."
Sambo said there were grannies whose families could not care for them because of the way their health had deteriorated.
"These families visit their parents all the time and help us care for them," she said.
Vakoma is building an additional ward as social workers bring more grannies to the centre. Sambo said they did not have enough room to admit elderly men at present.
"South Africa is going to need more old age homes in the future. People are dying of Aids-related illnesses and there is no one left to care for the elderly," she said.
"We thank Sowetan for the support and we pray that God will strengthen the hand that gives."
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