IN PICTURES: Elderly have a blast at Lonehill Senior Citizen Coffee Club Christmas party

Founded on the basis to help elevate isolation in elderly, Lonehill Senior Citizens Coffee Club hosted their annual Christmas party for senior citizens at Mugg and Bean Lonehill.

Founder of the coffee club, Adele Romanis who is a psychologist, explained that when she was conducting her session, she noticed that most couple’s relationships were taking strain because they were concerned that their grandparents were either lonely or lived very far away. “I noticed that mostly some of the elderly were lonely and not talking to anyone for almost the whole day. For some this even led to depression as some had moved far away from home – so I thought I should do something for the committee.”

She explained that in 2012 she went to Lonehill Resident Association where she met Sally Pearson and told her she wanted to host a coffee club where the elderly could meet and mingle. “Sally helped me find the venue for our first gathering and it was the Lonehill Village Church. Now we have about 100 members as the oldest is 95-years-old.”

Pearson, who is also a committee member of the coffee club, explained that they got food sponsored by Pick n Pay as well.

“We had a wonderful Christmas party and without the sponsors, we wouldn’t be where we were.

“I would like to thank Mugg and Bean Lonehill for providing us with the venue and allocated waiters, we thoroughly enjoyed our buffet dinner.”

Pearson added that the Christmas party meant a great deal for the elderly as most of them don’t have families and it was a way to bring the community together. “The reaction we received from the elderly was heartwarming as most of them look forward to our Christmas party.”

She said the coffee club also holds monthly meetings at the church where they meet every third Wednesday of every month for tea and coffee as guests speakers touch on topics of interest to the elderly. “Separate from the monthly meetings, we also take them out on outings such as a red bus tour in downtown Joburg, SA Guide Dogs tea and a winter’s lunch at Dino’s at Lonehill.”

Romanis concluded that the main purpose of the coffee club is to break isolation, with no religious base, simply to bring older people together.

Details: Adele 083 635 2476; Lona Kurz 088 659 1048.