Home care and assisted living | Home care and assisted living | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Home-based%20care%20and%20assistance%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <div class="ExternalClass7345A417B7F041E18F1BC846AF10F5BD"><p>You may find that as the older person you are caring for ages, they are unable to get around as easily as they used to, including performing tasks such as grocery shopping and preparing meals. There may be times where you need help in caring for them. </p></div> | <h2 class="sectHeading">Safe home </h2><p>While retirement homes are often fitted out to cater for seniors, many older persons prefer to stay at home, which is often a more economical option. If this is the case, it is best that the home environment is safe and easy for them to get around in. Ageing loved ones may become frail – losing the agility they had in their younger years. </p><p>Health problems, poor eyesight, and side effects from medication could increase the chance of injury in the home. By taking these ailments into consideration, and with a little preparation, your home can be a safe haven, allowing elderly loved ones to be as comfortable as possible. For helpful tips, please see
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Family-care-and-support/Elderly-family-members/Creating-a-safe-home-for-seniors">Creating a safe home for seniors</a>. </p>
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<i class="info toptip"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Top tip</h4><p>
<b></b>The
<a href="https://www.westerncape.gov.za/dept/health" target="_blank">Western Cape Government Department of Health<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> provides a service that supplies, prescribes, maintains, and repairs assistive devices, including wheelchairs, walkers and hearing aids.
<a href="https://www.westerncape.gov.za/directories/facilities/944" target="_blank">Find a facility<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> near you that provides these assistive devices.</p></div></div></span>
<h2 class="sectHeading">Home-based care and assistance</h2><p>Older people who prefer to live in the comfort of a familiar home, yet require assistance from a carer or healthcare professional, may benefit from home-based care services. Usually, your elderly friend or family member will live in his or her own unit, assisted by services such as domestic cleaning, a carer assisting with personal hygiene and the administration of medicine, a nurse on 24-hour call, and meals.</p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy light-blue bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border">
<i class="info fastfact"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Fast fact</h4><p>Assisted living is also known as midcare or supported living.</p></div></div><p>
<strong>Western Cape Government home community-based care programme (HCBC) </strong><br>The Western Cape Government provides rehabilitative care to those who need home care, under the
<a href="https://www.westerncape.gov.za/service/home-community-based-care" target="_blank">Home Community-based Care (HCBC) Programme<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>. This includes a nurse visiting your elderly loved one at home to assess their immediate health care needs.<a href="https://www.westerncape.gov.za/service/home-community-based-care" target="_blank"><i class="icon link-external"></i></a></p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border">
<i class="info toptip"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Top tip</h4><p>Meals-on-Wheels may assist you by delivering warm meals directly to your home. Find the Western Cape Government endorsed Meals-on-Wheels service closest to you for warm meals
<a href="https://www.westerncape.gov.za/search/node/meals%20on%20wheels" target="_blank">delivered directly to your home<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>.</p></div></div>
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<h2 class="sectHeading">Senior citizen complexes</h2></span>
<p>Senior citizen complexes provide safe, comfortable housing for persons over the age of 60. </p><p>Find a<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/See-all-City-facilities/Our-service-facilities/Senior%20citizen%20complexes"> Senior citizen complex</a> near you, or visit our
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/family-care-and-support/elderly-family-members/homes-for-the-aged">Homes for the aged page</a> to find out more about the various facilities available for older people. </p>
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<i class="info note"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Please note</h4><p>Criteria and requirements for admission vary depending on the facility.</p></div></div></span>
<h2 class="sectHeading">Counselling and support</h2><p>Caring for a loved one who is frail can be stressful. It is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed both physically and mentally while looking after another person. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) offers a number of support groups and hotlines, for various needs. </p><p>Find more information on their<a href="https://www.sadag.org/" target="_blank"> website<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>. </p><p>You can also contact the Adcock Ingram Depression and Anxiety Helpline on
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<a>0800 70 80 90</a></em>. </p><p>Feelings of loss and sadness are natural when an older loved one passes away. Bereavement counsellors can be very useful in guiding you through the process of grief. Griefshare offer group counselling meetings, where participants meet with a group to share your loss.
<a href="https://www.griefshare.org/findagroup" target="_blank">Find a Griefshare meeting<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> in your area.</p><p>FAMSA provide individual, group and family counselling services to loved ones of the deceased. Visit the
<a href="https://www.famsawc.org.za/" target="_blank">FAMSA website<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>.</p> | | GP0|#85ce90eb-2135-4ee5-8a53-a6e354115065;L0|#085ce90eb-2135-4ee5-8a53-a6e354115065|Home care and assisted living;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#a947ad31-e011-494a-9f96-d7b10ee12b2f;GPP|#063a6668-d6cb-4c45-adaf-f559697b85fd;GPP|#245ec7aa-a528-4cd3-bcac-597c292db711 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Make your senior’s home life more comfortable by following these guidelines to home care, assisted living, and counselling and support. | 0 |