Old are vulnerable to abuse in SA's fragmented state and uncaring society: SAHRC

South Africa’s elderly are increasingly being mistreated‚ neglected and abandoned by family members and state officials who are primarily responsible for protecting them.

This is according to a South African Human Rights Commission investigative report on ‘challenges facing older persons’.

According to the most recent census‚ South Africa’s older population (classified as those who are above the age of 60) constitutes roughly 8% of the country’s population.

Its report‚ released today‚ found they continue to lack access to adequate health and basic education‚ and suffer from gender discrimination and abuse.

The commission said that regulations around the Older Persons Act to protect the rights of the elderly were published in 2010‚ four years after it was passed in Parliament‚ and yet "there is still no overarching coordinating mechanism to ensure that all levels of government and other stakeholders in civil society execute their mandates".

Civil society came in for a tongue-lashing too‚ with the commission stating that in its view one of the biggest challenges is the general attitude of society towards older people‚ as reflected in the way they are treated.

"In light of the fact that the traditional family set-up‚ which used to provide primary care to the elderly‚ has been eroded‚ it has become incumbent upon the State to take on this responsibility for protecting and realising the rights of older persons in South Africa."

While poor pensioners are entitled to a monthly social grant of R1‚260‚ the SAHRC said "this has not been adequate in alleviating the levels of poverty experienced by the majority of older persons".

Due to the country’s high unemployment rate‚ it said many elderly have become responsible for financially supporting their family members. This is exacerbated by the impact of HIV/Aids‚ and the fact that so many children are left orphaned by the premature death of their parents.

The SAHRC expressed concern about the care that the elderly received in institutionalized care facilities.

There are only eight government and 410 NPO-managed care facilities for the elderly in South Africa‚ the commission heard.

An audit of state-funded residential facilities‚ conducted by the Department of Social Development in 2010 in order to identify the services provided and assess their quality‚ demonstrated that the majority of these residential facilities do not comply with the provisions of the OP Act‚ and that they in fact require major financial investment‚ the report showed.

"Non-profit organisations (NPOs) who manage these facilities and are dependent on the state for funding‚ have complained of inadequate funding by the state or a failure on the part of the government to pay subsidies that have already been allocated.

"Further‚ there is inadequate monitoring of care facilities‚ which affects the maintenance of such facilities‚ and abuse of residents is being overlooked.

"Furthermore‚ in conducting inspections in loco at various residential facilities as part of its investigation process when handling complaints‚ the Commission also found that many older persons were unaware of their rights‚" the report said.

The wide-ranging investigation began when in March 2013‚ the Human Rights Commission received a complaint from the South African Older Persons Forum (SAOPF) relating to the progress and implementation of a register listing people convicted of abusing older persons by the Department of Social Development.

Its recommendations include that:

•The National Department of Social Development must propose‚ to Parliament‚ an amendment of the definition of residential facilities as stated in the Act

•Department of Trade and Industry must appoint a task team to investigate a new dispensation and legislation policy framework of housing of older persons that would provide protection of older persons‚ accreditation system code of practice and the appointment of Retirement of Housing Commissioner.

•In the next budget cycle‚ special ring-fenced funding is allocated to residential facilities to ensure that they comply with health and safety standards in the Older Persons Act and National Building and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.

•The Health Department must undertake a costing survey covering critical pharmaceutical and medical supplies for the care of older persons‚ including but not limited to‚ oxygen supply‚ food supplements‚ and incontinence products to all older persons; and come up with a strategy for the supervision of care for frail older persons in communities.

•Social Development must develop a comprehensive database of all caregivers in communities‚ within eight months of receipt of the HRC report‚ and provide intensive training for community caregivers in caring for older persons in their homes within 12 months after that

•Care of the aged should be included in the curricula for all medical and nursing students.

•SASSA must introduce specific measures to ensure safety and protection of the elderly at pay points and specifically against exploitation by micro-lenders.