khaya Lethu Care for the Elderly is a non-profit, non-governmental organization.

 Ikhaya Lethu Care for the Elderly is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, established by dedicated Social Workers and community activists. The paramount aim is to improve and transform the lives of the elderly in our communities (retirement villages and old age homes). To improve the quality of life of the Senior Citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing through providing support for capacity building. 

The elderly are the most vulnerable group in our society. The organization offer services in line with the Older Persons Act no.13 of 2006. The Bill of rights, enshrined the rights of Older Persons to include: Right of independence, Right of participation, Right of care and Right of dignity. Ikhaya Lethu Care for the Elderly render the following services to the Senior Citizens in the communities of region B and surrounding areas. 

Healthy Lifestyle: Healthy lifestyle include of the following: Administration of flu vaccine, Diabetes talk, Alzheimer, Arthritis education, First Aid and Eye tests, Fitness exercise, Nutrition, Alcohol and substance abuse, Reproductive health, Sports for Older Persons, Sports games and Community based care. Empowerment Programmes: These are programmes aimed at empowering older persons with important information relevant to them and to their circumstances.

 These are:- Human rights issues, Financial management of income, Administrations of estates on the importance of Will, Awareness on Social grants, Victim empowerment (pension abuse issues), ABET empowerment, Book clubs/ story-telling, Consumer rights issues, Food gardens, Skills development training in knitting, sewing, etc. Social Support Programmes: These are initiatives meant to assist older persons to take ownership of processes that will ultimately address their issues/circumstances.

 These will include: - Luncheon clubs/Social support clubs, Excursions (Educational and leisure), Bereavement support and debriefing through Social workers and Auxiliaries, Bulk buying in their groceries, Fundraising initiatives in their senior clubs, Meals to the luncheon clubs, Spring day celebrations and Picnics, Christmas parties, Cultural day like heritage months, Hobbies faire, Arts, Culture and Older Persons’ month celebration in every October. Economic Development and Income generation programmes: 

It is important that older persons must have something to keep themselves busy with, and to augment their social grant. The following activities are embarked to enhance their coping capacities: - Beadwork, Hanger-making, Patch work, Knitting, crushing, Sewing, Food gardens, and Detergent making. Nutrition: The Senior citizens are the most malnourished age group in society. The programme must close that gap and the following will be done: Food gardens, Daily meals at Day care centers and Luncheon clubs, Regular nutritious food parcels.

 Above all, these are programmes for encouraging active and productive ageing and providing intuitional as well as non-institutional Care and Services to Older Persons. Older people who are active, stimulated and involved in the community enjoy a better quality of life and suffer fewer age related illnesses. Ikhaya Lethu Care for the Elderly promotes the concept of active ageing, both in the community and within our residences, by providing a number of programmes and activities designed to engage and inspire older people physically, mentally and socially. 

Active ageing is built on four pillars: health, participation, security and lifelong learning. Our programmes make a valuable contribution to the quality of life of older persons in terms of the following services: Assessment, referral and counselling by social workers. Information and awareness campaigns. Support to family members. Service Centers that provide meals, transport, medical support and socialization to enable older persons to live independently. 

Home-based care. Safe, appropriate and affordable residential care or assisted-living accommodation. In conclusion: Often older people express a need for spiritual up-liftment as they negotiate the challenges of ageing. Here are five ways to achieve this: Gratitude – being grateful for what we have, what we do and who we are. Generosity – giving back and helping others makes us feel happier and more content. Reframing – ageing includes its share of losses and sorrows, but it's how we deal with these that makes all the difference. Every negative experience presents opportunities to learn or to take a new path. Curiosity – we are never too old to learn new things ... about nature, about how things work, about ourselves. Being curious is what keeps us 

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