ALTHOUGH Sunshine Old Age Service Centre in Jeffreys Bay, which offers day care services to at least 40 senior citizens in the area, was vandalised during the nationwide lockdown period, the centre has been able to repair minor damages and has recently opened its doors again.
According to Francis Faulkner, project manager and co-founder of Sunshine Old Age Service Centre, the centre was established in 2014, to provide a facility for elderly people in the area to stay active three times a week, instead of being home alone.
“The elderly people needed an old-age service centre in our community, where they were kept safe during the day. I wanted to provide them with a comfortable place where they could relax and enjoy themselves with people their age,” said Faulkner.
She said the centre currently provided day care services to at least 40 elderly people aged between 61 and 85.
The centre has a total of three care workers and one volunteer care worker who does COVID–19 screening, blood pressure monitoring and provides counselling when needed.
For a joining fee of R50 and a monthly fee of R20, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, when the centre is open, the senior citizens are provided with at least one meal a day, while they also enjoy crocheting, needlework, sewing and physical training.
In addition, they go on regular walks, master the hula hoop, play soccer, run and dance.
“Our members are always happy to be at the centre. During the nationwide lockdown period, when the centre was closed, they often contacted me to find out when the centre would open again because they could not wait to get back,” said Faulkner.
During the nationwide lockdown, the centre fell victim to vandalism, during which the doors and windows were damaged, the gas stove and safety gate were stolen, and important documents were damaged, after they were left outside in the rain.
“Since the centre was established, this was the first time that it had been vandalised. We lost a lot due to the vandalism,” said Faulkner.
Fortunately, they have been able to replace the doors inside the centre, windows, and safety gates which has provided them with the safety needed to welcome back their members recently.
Thankfully, the centre has received a gas stove and a cabinet for their kitchen from Jeffreys Bay Rotary Club.
However, they still need to repair the outside doors and safety gates for the various rooms inside the centre.
In addition, they need tables, chairs, a gas can, pots, furniture, office equipment and cooking utensils.
In the future, Faulkner said, she hoped the centre would expand and provide elderly people in the community with a retirement village and frail care centre, but admitted they needed sponsorships to reach their goals.
In addition, they hoped to provide unemployed caregivers the opportunity to work at the centre.
As part of the centre’s COVID-19 safety protocols, all members have to wear a mask, wash their hands regularly and maintain social distancing.
