A large hole above a window at the Village Aged Care Centre in Montague Village, Lavender Hill, means a wet, cold and damp room for its elderly and frail residents, especially as winter approaches.
A leaking roof has managers and caretakers at the facility concerned over the welfare of its residents, all aged between 65 and 99.
Valencia Lottriet, manager and caretaker, says they have to take out buckets when it starts to rain.
“It’s been hectic. When the rain falls, we must put buckets in rooms and shift people around to other rooms, so they don’t get sick.
“Because the rooms are getting wet and mouldy it is not suitable for residents of their age.”
The centre consists of 13 bedrooms which are shared among 10 men and 10 women.
“They are two per room. Our focus before winter strikes is to get assistance to fix the roof.”
Berenice Blaauw, director at the centre, says they have tried everything, including contacting their ward councillors, for assistance but to no avail.
“We are not government funded; we have applied many times to be funded. We are only running on the residents’ money that is coming in for petrol, food and nurses. It is very costly.
“We don’t have any extra money to fix the roof and have approached the ward councillor as well. They replaced the window frames of homes around us, but they can’t help us.
“We are sitting with a leakage and it’s a problem that we asked her about last year.”
Blaauw adds that they have received quotes for the repair work which is simply not something that they can afford.
“We got quotes and it costs a lot of money, so we need help. For 12 corrugated roof sheets, it would cost R8 000 and there are six rooms that need to be covered.
“That is 6 m sheets, the material company quoted me R8 000 for the sheeting, R116 per metre. So, for one roof I need two 6 m sheets. So, I need 12 sheets.”
She adds that they desperately need to have the roof fixed before more rain in winter.
“We really need help. I was lying awake last night and couldn’t sleep worrying and thinking about what we are going to do.
“Last year, we also had a terrible time. One resident had to leave. They are old people and they need to be taken care of. I am having sleepless nights over this.”
According to Blaauw, 10 years ago, the back of the roof was fixed after it was donated and funded which cost around R200 000 at the time.
“The councillors need to take care of the organisation, especially when it’s older people. I’ve asked for help to replace the window and roof; they say they don’t fix that.”
She adds that the vulnerable residents have no one to turn to for assistance.
“Many of these people do not have support from family.
“It is R1 800 per month per person and for the new people, it’s R2 100. The old people really have no one to help them. We also give them pocket money such as R200 to buy cigarettes. They have no one to care for them and the government does not come and help either.
“We try to get nappies for those who need them and we also purchase that. The ward councillor would give it once a year and then that is it.”
Ward 110 councillor Shanen Rossouw said a site visit has been organised.
“There is a problem with that building, a serious problem. I went to the sub council and asked if we could have a site visit.
“I am calling a site visit with the planning department and sub council because people can’t stay in that building. That is not a safe space for our seniors to stay.”
Meanwhile, Ward 68 councillor Marita Petersen said there was only “so much” councillors could do as they cannot collect funds as councillors for organisations.
“I am no longer the councillor for that ward, and I did reach out and have an outreach programme to support the aged centre. They are an organisation, so they must do the lobby work themselves, there is only so much we can do.
“I also want to make an appeal again that they render an amazing service for the community.
“You have no idea how many aged and vulnerable people we have in our community and the Village Aged Care Centre is an organisation to be supported.”
