Society reaches out to the elderly
Local burial society, Old Lasting Generations stretched out their hands on Saturday when they donated brooms, mops and cosmetics included face cloth, teeth brush, bath soap, Colgate, and cleaning chemicals to the aged at the Tembisa Old Age Home.
Members of the local burial society , Old Lasting Generations, stretched out their hands on Saturday when they donated brooms, mops and cosmetics including face cloths, tooth brushes, bath soaps, Colgate and cleaning chemicals to the aged at the Tembisa Old Age Home.
During this occasion Old Lasting Generations members did not only donate to the elders, but also helped to clean the centre.
According to the vice-president of the organisation, Brenda Mabuza, on arrival at the home, they found the home facing a water crisis because a water pipe had burst on the Friday night.
“We felt we should then dedicate our Mandela Day’s 67 Minutes to clearing out the water that was worst in the sleeping rooms of the aged,” said Mabuza. She explained the society will be celebrating its ten years of existence in September, and they wanted to give back to the community.
“It is the first time we have come to donate to the home and we are hoping that God will make it possible for us to donate more in future. We wanted to share our achievement of this year with the elderly by showing them support, love and care. They shouldn’t feel as though they are abandoned as we are there for them,” she added.
Meanwhile the chairperson of the society, Thabo Radebe, said it was a privilege not an opportunity for them to be with the elders. “We love our parents and as long as we have something in hand to give, we will do so. I was very touched by the elders on our arrival, when I saw them in such a crisis – especially during this cold season. I felt we should visit more often, just to check on them and help where it is needed.
Motsu based, Tembisa Old Age Home has 34 senior citizens but has 56 beds.
Sister-in-Charge at the home, Suzan Tladi, said Old Lasting Generations’ visit was a godsend because they did not know what they would do with the water crisis on Saturday. “We are very grateful for the generous donation and more especially for their help to clean the elders’ home. We do not have cleaners on weekends and the water disaster made us even more vulnerable. We appreciate every effort of help contributed to the home. We wish other stakeholders would follow in the footsteps of members Old Lasting Generations and give to other centres,” added Tladi.
Tladi said they are appealing to children whose parents and grandparents stay at the home, to visit them frequently. “We are very concerned about people who just dump their parents and grandparents in the home without coming to check on them. It is not acceptable. It is inhumane to just leave your parent in the care of someone and not visit at all,” she said.
