Community Social Infrastructure
South Africa is struggling to provide community support to older people nationwide, particularly in rural areas. Families remain an important system of support for older adults, the majority of whom live in households composed of extended family members, though the share of older people living alone has increased significantly in the past decade. Due to a lack of national resources and other urgent issues, the government has focused on improving physical infrastructure in housing and transportation, and it has operated indirectly through NGOs to improve community support services.
The Association for the Aged (TAFTA)
Today, there are over 60 registered NGOs around South Africa dedicated to assisting older adults. One of the most active NGOs is the Association for the Aged (TAFTA), which operates primarily in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the province with one of the highest shares of people age 60 and older in the country (19 percent). The organization provides a variety of support services, including a “meals on wheels” program that serves an average of one million meals each year. As population aging has progressed, and demand has increased, TAFTA has begun to expand the scope of services. It launched a program called “Ageing in Place” in 2013, which is designed to enable older adults in the region to live in their homes for as long as possible by offering services, including handymen to fix household issues; “care companions” to assist with errands; telephone check-ins; and 24/7 emergency response. TAFTA provides its services to an average of 5,500 older people each month. While these initiatives are successful for those who have access to them, much more government and non-government support will be required to meet the needs of the country’s older population.