RCA denies claims of ill-treatment of elderly
The hallucinations of one person are not representative of all the residents
The Roodepoort Care of the Aged (RCA), which was recently verbally attacked by the residents of the Donovan MacDonald Centre in Maraisburg, wants to dispel the malicious rumours being circulated.
Some of the residents claimed that the RCA is ill-treating and abusing the elderly.
According to the vice-chairperson of the RCA, Darrell Phillips, who works closely with the chairperson, Rae Baur, and the manager of the centre, Colleen Carls, RCA has been accused of ill-treating and abusing the residents. “We are waiting for the outcome of a forensic audit that was conducted at the centre. The hallucinations of one person are not representative of all the residents,” Phillips said.
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“We wish to state that we have never had to face accusations of this kind in any way. It has come to light that the forensic audit report has been malicious mischief-making and litigation is being pursued against the libelous accusations.”
Phillips said he has been a member of the RCA for more than nine years, serving as chairperson and lately, vice-chairperson. “I have been given the honour of life membership,” he said.
“During that time, I have been made aware of the wonderful and caring work that RCA offers under extremely difficult conditions. While we are grateful for the funding we receive from the Department of Social Development, we find it very difficult to continue to alleviate the hardships as the elderly have come to expect from us,” Phillips explained.
He added that the Department of Social Development only funds 450 of the 650 RCA members. Baur explained that to become a member, you have to pay a R50 per year membership fee. “For that amount, members receive four free meals per week. We are currently providing 52 000 meals per year to members at five centres in the greater Soweto area as well as three retirement villages,” she said.
She added that members’ medication is also collected from various hospitals and clinics. “We, unfortunately, cannot provide a lift scheme any more. We simply cannot afford it.”
Phillips said the RCA merely leases the administration block at the Donovan MacDonald Centre from the Department of Housing. “We are not mandated to do repairs or maintenance in the resident’s units. That is done by the Department.”
The Donovan MacDonald Centre was the brainchild of the late Donovan MacDonald who was a councillor for the City of Roodepoort. He worked tirelessly for the care of the aged. “I had the privilege of having him as a family friend. I was also with him when the centre was built,” Phillips said.
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