MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The lockdown has been hard on the elderly.
Because many of them are frail, with delicate immune systems, the rules have been especially stringent at seniors' homes.
Shirley Coetzee, who lives in a senior citizens' complex in Dana Bay, points out: "Seniors here have been in lockdown for two months already - longer than others."
Shirley, who is still vibrant and active and decades younger than many in the complex, has been doing grocery shopping for some of the seniors. This is done in observance of the lockdown rules.
The Mossel Bay Retirement and Lifestyle Village is on Flora Road.
Buys the items
Shirley is in contact with some of the residents, who tell her that they need this or that. She buys the items and then must call the nursing station at the complex. Shirley sanitises the items and leaves the item outside. Staff from the nursing station fetch them and sanitise them before they are taken to the elderly people. Shirley explains that there are about 10 people in the complex who are helping the elderly residents in this way.
Many of the elderly are infirm and are unable to shop for themselves. Also, with some whose immune systems are delicate, they are not allowed to leave the complex at all, even if they are able to.
Shirley enjoys baking and spoiling others with her delicious treats. But she explains: "I am not allowed to give my baked items to people here in the seniors' complex during lockdown. One might infect the packaging or the food, so it is not permitted."
Charmaine Lindeque, general manager of the retirement village, started the scheme to assist the residents during the lockdown. Because of the lockdown rules, Charmaine has to work from home.
Angels' Group
"There are people without a vehicle or who can't drive and their neighbours used to take them to the shop, but with the lockdown things changed. I started what I call the Angels' Group in the village. People who are still active, can drive and fetch items, are part of it. I started an internal WhatsApp group, to see if there is someone in need. I am in contact with the person, then the helper contacts them, does all the errands and buys the items on the list. Things were already in place. I notified the pharmacies in town regarding prescriptions and so forth. We are keeping the seniors safe and the scheme is working well."
"None of this would have been possible without the residents - a great bunch of people."
Charmaine said: "Every resident of the Mossel Bay Retirement and Lifestyle Village has a very special place in my heart and I am very fond of them. I am so utterly thankful that the village is still free of Covid-19."
Mother
Shirley mentions that her mother is in a seniors' home in Riversdale."
I have been scrambling to find something for her as a Mother's Day gift. I am having it couriered to my mother. I was told by the courier company that everything in the gift must be essential items, otherwise they are not allowed to courier it."
Shirley has to sanitise everything that she places in the parcel, plus the outside packaging. The parcel will then be fumigated outside the seniors' home in Riversdale before it gets taken inside the home.
"I think the lockdown is hard for elderly people who are not allowed out. Some are not allowed to step outside the old age home whatsoever."
"People have been compassionate, though. I know that in Riversdale the Spar there brings old people groceries."
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