Social Development
(a) How many cases of elder abuse or neglect have been reported to his Department over the past two financial years, distinguishing between cases (i) in registered facilities and (ii) occurring in private settings and (b)(i) what interventions or support services were provided in response to these cases and (ii) how does his Department ensure effective follow-up about and protection for the affected individuals?
(i) A total of 36 abuse cases were reported in registered facilities, and
(ii) 217 elderly abuse cases were reported in private homes.
(b) (i) Reported cases get referred to the DSD local offices to provide assistance to those who require it. Services offered by the Department to address cases of elder abuse include the following: awareness programmes, provision of psychosocial support and, where necessary, temporary safe accommodation in shelters.
In order to supplement the services to older persons rendered via DSD’s local offices, the department also subsidises the following NPOs:
- Age-in-Action: for the provision of training and information dissemination sessions on elder abuse; investigation of all reported elder abuse incidents; psycho-social support services and assistance for the elder abuse hotline.
- Dementia SA: for the provision of awareness initiatives regarding dementia and Alzheimer’s; social work intervention services, encompassing the facilitation of support groups and training programs on dementia.
- Ikamva Labantu Charitable Trust: for the provision of social work intervention services; investigation and follow-up on alleged elder abuse.
(ii) The Department offers the following victim empowerment services to the elderly and other victims of Gender Based Violence:
- Social Service organisations: funding of 19 social service organisations rendering social work services including psycho-social support services and educational workshops in communities
- Services in specific Family Violence Courts and in 10 Thuthuzela Care Centres: with containment; assistance with protection orders; referral to social work services, including rendering of psycho-social support services; referral to organisations rendering services to older persons
- services in specific Sexual Offences Courts: with containment; assistance with process; referral to social work services including rendering of psycho-social support services; referral to organisations rendering services to older persons
- Funding to 25 GBV Shelters: Dependent on criteria, these can accommodate at risk elderly victims of violence for short term periods; social work services including rendering of psycho-social support services; referral for specialised services to older persons
Educational Workshops: Funding of NPOs rendering educational workshops in communities on gender-based violence; referral to stakeholders
