Dear Select Committee on Health Social and Services,
Thank you for the opportunity to raise my concerns. I am working for a small Old Age Home in Edendale in Pietermaritzburg. We are registered with DSD and are a registered NPO. The name of the home is Emuseni Centre for the Aged. Whilst we are a small home, offering shelter, food and care to 55 residents, Edendale has a population of some 300,000 people and we are the only service provider in this area. Our residents receive a SASSA pension of R2090, and we receive a subsidy of R3000 per resident. from DSD. Whilst we appreciate the assistance, with the rise in cost of living, - food, petrol and utility accounts - this subsidy falls short by at least R3000 per resident. We undertake very active fundraising programmes, but it is a daily struggle to provide quality care and infrastructure for our residents. They receive compassion and care, but they deserve more. We battle for simple things like decent mattresses, medical equipment and adequate staff. Emuseni is not the only home with this problem. Because our residents come from impoverished homes, it is difficult for their families to assist with the costs involved in running the Centre. It has been well documented that unless one comes from higher income sectors, the underprivileged senior citizens in South Africa are not well catered for. We are very grateful for the support of local business and charities, but we are experiencing donor fatigue, due to the somewhat stressed economic situation in the country. With all due respect, we ask that this matter be elevated and larger subsidies are budgeted for those of us trying to accommodate and serve these poor sectors. Thank you for your consideration