Older persons

Supporting elders to live with dignity, respect, quality of life and opportunity

Older adults in many townships often care for their children and grandchildren on a meagre pension. Many experience isolation, abuse, and neglect. They are often unaware of their rights and lack information about where and how to seek support services.

Elder abuse in Cape Town’s townships frequently affects older women

Ikamva Labantu’s latest research sheds light on the alarming prevalence of elder abuse in Cape Town’s townships, revealing that older women face higher rates and more varied forms of abuse than men.

Our elderly care programmes

Social, nutritional, and wellbeing care services for our elders

Club-based elderly care

Our elder care clubs provide refuge from the struggles faced at home.The seniors we support are transported to one of Ikamva Labantu’s 17 elder care clubs, where they are provided with a warm social environment, two nutritious meals, activities for health, nutrition, mobility classes, companionship, cognitive stimulation, and innovative opportunities for income generation provided via our partnership with Relate.

The only community-based home care rehabilitation team in the Western Cape

Our home-based frail care programme

"My services bring positive change."
For bedridden older adults living in townships, accessing the care services they need can be nearly impossible. Using their healthcare skills, our community-based elderly care workers go door-to-door to find frail seniors needing help and provide in-home assistance to them as well as support to caregivers where required.

Our home care rehabilitation team

The frail seniors we support are provided with home care services as well as life-changing assistive and mobility devices from our rehabilitation team, which includes nurses, an occupational therapist, social workers, and community-based caregivers.

Providing life-changing health and psychosocial support and education

Our support programmes and services enhance dignity, quality of life and a sense of community belonging for over 1,800 elders. Our initiatives build awareness and coping capacity through workshops and training for seniors at clubs and with the support of community-based workers.

Social engagement initiatives
Health education forums
Vision health screenings
Psychosocial advice, counselling, and referrals
Nutritious meals
Wellness activities
Hearing and dental aid support
Emergency relief
Grant access and legal support
At-home frail care services

Change a life forever: support Ikamva Labantu

Thank you for supporting the work we do.
You can transform lives in Cape Town’s townships. Your donations ensure our elders receive vital support, empowering them to live out their golden years with dignity, respect, and quality of life.