PRESENTATION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OLDER PERSONS ACT, FEBRUARY

INTRODUCTION The Older Persons Act, 2006 envisages to deal effectively with the plight of older persons by establishing a framework aimed at the empowerment and protection of older persons and at the promotion and maintenance of their status, rights, well- being, safety and security. 2

FOCUS AREAS 3

BACKGROUND Main objects of the Act are to – - shift the emphasis from institutional care to community- based care in order to ensure that older persons remain in his or her home within the community for as long as possible; - regulate the registration, establishment and management of services and the establishment and management of residential facilities for older persons; and - combat the abuse of older persons. 4

DELEGATIONS OF POWERS Premier Minister DG MECs HOD Official 5

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACT 6

CHAPTER 1 OBJECTS OF THE ACT Act stipulates uniform implementation The coordinating structure to ensure uniform implementation of the Act 7

PROGRESS Plans drawn with government Departments and roles clarification Provincial plans in place for the implementation of the Act Resources (officials, budget etc.) committed by provinces and some of the government department (Sports and Recreation) for implementation of some of the objects of the Act 8

CHAPTER 2 CREATING AN ENABLING & SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT The Act seeks to provide opportunities for the full development of potential and active participation of older persons on their issues 9

PROGRESS Established the South African Older Persons Forum (SAOPF) nationally and in provinces (the voice of older persons). Established local forums to ensure participation from local level Established Older Persons Desks in the Provinces (KZN and Limpopo) Developed norms and standards, for services to older persons Continuous capacity building to stakeholders on the norms and standards 10

PROGRESS cont. Charter on the Rights of Older Persons launched nationally and in provinces Guidelines for the implementation of the Older Persons Act, 2006 Training manual for the implementation of the Act Training manual for Caregivers developed Translation of the Act into some of the languages Held two annual Older Persons Conference 11

CHAPTER 3 COMMUNTY BASED CARE & SUPPORT SERVICES (CBCSS) Shift the emphasis from institutional care to community-based care in order to ensure that older persons remain in a home within the community for as long as possible; 12

PROGRESS Conditionally Registered - Service centres / established “Day Care Services” - Frail care (home based care services) - Community Base Care Services Employed caregivers trained in Module One of the Manual Continuous assessment condition of the norms and standards for Community Based Services 13

PROGRESS (Cont…) Preventative and promotion services -Developed Active Ageing Programme (e.g. Golden Games) -Intergenerational Programme 14

CHAPTER 4 RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES Regulate the registration, establishment and management of services and the establishment and management of residential facilities for older persons; 15

PROGRESS Annual audit of 412 residential facilities for quality of service conducted and were conditionally registered Condition Assessment of 58 residential facilities undertaken and to identify infrastructural risks (Attached Report) Costed the assessment on residential facilities 16

CHAPTER 5 PROTECTION FOR OLDER PERSONS The Act seeks to: Promote and protect the rights of older persons, Create a safe environment Deal effectively with elder abuse 17

PROGRESS Trained provincial coordinators on the Protocol for the Management of Elder Abuse Funded the National Elder Abuse Line (HEAL) Developed manual National Register for reported cases of elder abuse Trained caregivers on Alzheimer’s Disease and related Dementia conditions in provinces Business Requirements for the development of electronic Older Persons Register finalised. 18

CHALLENGES Insufficient funding for implementing the Act Establishing Coordinating Body (Govt Departments and Municipalities) is a challenge. There are no dedicated personnel from Government Departments for providing services to older persons No dedicated personnel for the management and coordinating of older persons services in the provinces Infrastructure (residential facilities) dilapidated and risky for occupation 19

CHALLENGES cont… Inaccurate or non reporting of cases of abuse of the Elderly by communities No budget to address areas identified in the report on Condition Assessment of Residential Facilities 20

WAYFORWARD Amendment of the Older Persons Act, Discussion document developed - Consultation process initiated Ensure annual assessment of quality of service and registration of residential and community based facilities Negotiate with provinces to appoint monitors for services to older Persons Establishment of Older Persons Desk in all the provinces as an enabling and supportive structure for older persons 21

WAYFORWARD (Cont…) Seek funding to address the issues identified in the Condition Assessment Report Establishment of the Coordinating Body (Govt Departments) to play their roles in the implementing of the Older Persons Act. Finalise the development of Older Persons Register Establishment of local forums for older persons in provinces 22

THANK YOU 23