SAVF Ons Hulde Ouetehuis , one of the South African Women’s Federation’s homes for the elderly, urgently needs help. With approximately 35 staff members and 62 residents, it is a daily financial struggle for the home to make sure the elderly under their care receive what they need.
Many of the residents of Ons Hulde come from Witrand hospital and have no family to help them financially. All Ons Hulde gets from most of the residents is their pension and subsidy from the state. Stacey Fortuin, manager of Ons Hulde says it is simply not enough to meet their basic needs and the home sits with a shortfall of R 80 000 on a monthly basis.
“We have even had to reduce staff salaries in order to try to keep afloat and avoid retrenchments but we are still struggling,” says Fortuin.
Fortuin added that although they are not the only nursing home that is suffering, they have some of the poorest elderly people.” Even if someone was to contribute just R 100 every month will already make a difference,” she says
But Fortuin says it isn’t just monetary donations that the home is in need of. Ons Hulde has a particularly big problem with diapers at the moment. “The department only gives 14 diapers per patient per month. It’s not even a diaper a day,” she says. A patient needs 3 to 5 diapers a day.
Therefore the home would truly appreciate donations raging from diapers, milk, food and other essentials.
” We invite people to get more involved and help make these residents’ lives easier.” Ons Hulde currently has open rooms and people are welcome to make an appointment with Fortuin to find out more about the facilities they offer. They do not only provide services to the elderly, but also to children, families and communities.
The SAVF has a Facebook page and a website where more information can be found. Send an email to onshulde.ontvangs@savf.co.za or call 018 297 5260.
