THE Gelvan Park Frail Aged Home will be hosting its annual Mandela Day Nappy Drive-by on Sunday, July 17.
Disposable nappies are one of the institution’s most costly items next to salaries and food. In one week, residents use close to 2 000 nappies, as over 70% of the 100 residents at the frail care facility are dependent on nappies.
According to Gishma Johnson, chairperson of Gelvan Park Frail Aged Home, the weekly nappy bill is more than R12 000. “This is a huge cost to our facility where the only source of income of our residents is a state pension.
“The Department of Social Development subsidises residents with R2 000 per month, but this is not nearly enough to cover all the costs associated with caring for frail older persons,” said Johnson.
Last year’s drive-by raised almost 400 bags of disposable nappies through the extraordinary efforts of community members, the Radisson Blu Hotel, SANZAF, The POPS Foundation and other organisations. Johnson said the aim is to exceed this total this year. The required adult nappy sizes are large and extra-large.
One of the largest frail care facilities in the Eastern Cape, Gelvan Park Frail Aged Home is a non-profit organisation that offers 24-hour residential nursing care to 100 frail residents over the age of 60. Johnson said the majority of residents are from extremely poor communities and next-of-kin seldom have extra funds to support their family members.
“We invite the community, sports clubs, biker clubs and businesses to once again support our Mandela Day initiative,” Johnson pleaded.
The centre is situated in Olea Street, Gelvan Park. Drivers will enter by driving straight down towards the bottom of Kobus Road, turning into Olea Street, drop nappies at the gate entrance and exit through Kobus Road. The drive-by takes place on Sunday, July 17, between 10:00 and 13:00 or drop off on Monday, July 18 at the institution.
– ISSUED ON BEHALF OF GELVAN PARK FRAIL AGED HOME
