The Kensington Home for the Aged now boasts a new dementia unit and a brand-new minibus taxi thanks to generous donors.
For the past seven years, the home has been battling to get the funds to purchase a new taxi, which is used to transport residents for their hospital appointments and other excursions.
But thanks to the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) a new Quantum minibus could be purchased.
Mona Angers, General Manager at the Home, says: “We were desperately looking for a van because our van that we had at the time was not able to service us. We would struggle to get patients to the hospital for appointments. There was a guy who came forward and he came to our rescue to assist us with a sponsored vehicle on loan to us. We used his vehicle for about a year. He didn’t charge us.”
She adds: “We are grateful to the South African Muslim Charitable Trust who sponsored our brand-new van. It was also fitted with a wheelchair lift. We are eternally grateful to the good people that came to our rescue.”
Angers explains that about 50% of their residents have dementia and the unit was much needed to offer them the proper care.
“In terms of the norms and standards of the department of social development, who subsidises the home, we are supposed to serve the dementia residents with dignified care. We needed space and money to be able to achieve this. We had a space in the back of the building, it was a sunroom, and we had some dormitories, so we appealed to donors to help us turn this space into a dementia unit.”
She says they were overwhelmed by the generosity of people (Kensington Old Age Home’s dementia unit nears completion, People’s Post, 9 August 2022).
Angers says: “We got donations such as tiles, aluminium frame doors, cash donations. So many people came on board.”
She says the unit is in honour of the late Dinah Fourie. Fourie was the oldest resident at the home and died two years ago at the age of 103 years.
On Sunday 26 March, a thanksgiving service was held to celebrate the official opening of the dementia unit.
“We wanted to celebrate all the achievements and honour God for making everything possible. It was an opportunity to acknowledge all our donors as well.”
She says they will accommodate about 50 residents.
“We have more than 50 patients that have dementia, but unfortunately, we are looking at the most severe cases for now. Staff underwent training and completed a dementia course, and we will have dedicated staff working in that area.
According to Angers, the unit was created for the ease and comfort of the residents.
“The sunroom will be fitted with a TV and radio. We will also add a fan and a heater for the summer and winter months. This is where all the activities will happen, and meals will also be served there. The are about 20 rooms and each room can accommodate two patients. We could not have done this without the help of our donors.”
Travis Johnson, Kensington Home for the Aged Chair, says it is heart-warming to see people’s outpour of love for the elderly.
“For the past seven years, we have been trying to get a new combi. With covid impacting so many businesses, it was extremely heart-warming to see that our communities and big organisations still have the heart to support the old age home. The elderly are sometimes neglected, yet they should be honoured. They laid the foundation for us to be who we are today, so we should honour them in their golden years.”
