It is currently looking after nine people and has space for 19 more. According to the manager of the centre, Hannie Geldenhuys, the situation started going downhill at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. “There was a time when the lockdown regulations did not allow for friends and families to come to visit their loved ones and that is when most families decided to take them back home.

“Now the restrictions have been eased down, we are ready to help you take care of elderly family members in need of help. “We have capable caregivers, including Sr Yvonne van Zyl on-call and are in direct contact with Dr. Gaynelle Makhubele, who is able to assist should a medical emergency arise at any time.

“To take care of the elderly in need of care, can be difficult, especially when life gets busy. But here we are available 24 hours to make sure that they are safe and well taken care of,” she explained. Friends and families can visit their loved ones twice a day, between 09:00 and 11:00 and 15:00 and 17:00, but they have to set an appointment in advance.

The tenants are also given three nutritious meals a day and tea four times a day to keep them hydrated. According to Geldenhuys in most cases the elderly don’t like water as they age, hence they are given tea to keep them hydrated. Every Wednesday a pastor holds a service
with the tenants and they also have exercise classes appropriate for seniors. “The centre also has a library and a TV room to relax in.

Also read: Residents open their hearts to Noah’s Ark

As a non-profit organisation they rely completely on the income they generate from the elderly staying at the centre. “We are very determined to keep our doors open as we cannot find it in our hearts to close the centre and send these frail and elderly people away from their loved ones. “ They will have to move away from loved ones with no one to visit them. It will be so hard on them.

“Some of our tenants have Alzheimer’s and this will also not be good for their mental well-being. “It will also not be viable to get a smaller building as we will have to do work on it to be able to assist those in need of mobility assistance. “To take a bath, get into bed, eat, and get
dressed are not easy or possible for some of our tenants. We have to have the staff (caregivers) assist them.

“We know that more tenants will help to keep the doors open, but at the moment there are just not enough elderly and frail people in town and some just cannot afford it,” Geldenhuys added. For more information contact Geldenhuys on 072 018 7394 or email her at hannie@bfrailcare.co.za. Also, follow their crowdfunding page via this link www.backabuddy.co.za/hanniegeldenhuys.