Southern African Journal of Gerontology, volume 5, number 1, April 1996
- Ferreira, Monica (editor), Moller, Valerie, HSRC/UCT Centre for Gerontology
- Authors: Ferreira, Monica (editor) , Moller, Valerie , HSRC/UCT Centre for Gerontology
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: Gerontology -- South Africa , Older people -- Care -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:8072 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012865
- Description: [From Editorial] This issue comprises a transdisciplinary mix of interesting and relevant papers ranging from a community-development intervention, to gerontolinguistics, to guidelines for new legislation, to community services in China. The issue begins with an article on infrastructure and equity for the elderly, in which authors Ross, Lerer and Phillips investigate the attitudes of older residents of Elim, a village situated in South Africa's Western Cape province, towards electrification of their village and homes. The creation of basic infrastructure in historically-disadvantaged areas throughout South Africa is a priority under the government's RDP. However, in this case study of Elim, the utility company which provides electricity to the village failed to consult the elderly residents on the developmental intervention and the benefits which electrification might have for them. The majority of the older residents who were interviewed were consequently negative about this new energy source. The advantages which electricity has over other fuels have distinct health and other developmental benefits, and in rural households older members are important decision makers on energy use. The study's findings indicate that developmental interventions in ruralbased communities should include a social-marketing component targeting older members of the community. The article by Makoni on discourse practices in first-time encounters between old and young Xhosa-speaking women represents an exciting development in gerontological research in the Southern African region. As far as we know, this is a first report on a linguistics study in an older population in the region. In his analysis of the conversations, Makoni notes the sociohistorical background against which the old women try to retain status and respect. He points out that while the elderly are a marginalized group, the youth in South African society have become empowered through their contributions to the political changes, which along with other social changes are seen by some to destabilize traditional seniority respect norms. , In his article Van Dokkum makes out a case for the development of legislation to protect older South Africans against abuse. He uses examples of new South African legislation to deter child abuse and vast legislation in the United States to protect older Americans, in outlining a proposal for local activists to campaign for adequate protection of elderly citizens. Zhu gives us an update on a massive community social-services programme for older people being implemented in the People's Republic of China. The programme partly aims to assist an increasing number of older people who find that they are no longer able to live with kin and must live independently. The programme already serves a staggering proportion of China's 104 million persons aged 60 years and above, although it is estimated that it currently only meets 30 percent of the demand. pensions and household structure in Namibia by Adamchak published in SAJG Volume 4, No 2 (October 1995), and Adamchak's response are welcome additions to this number. The journal encourages debate on papers that it publishes, and the letters also reflect the development and growth of gerontology and research on ageing in the Southern African region. Finally, gerontolinguist Makoni reviews Hamilton's (1994) book in which the author analyses her conversations with Elsie, an Alzheimer's disease patient in a "total institution" (Goffman, 1961). The book contributes to understanding of losses and changes in language use in sufferers of this disease as the dementia progresses. Makoni proposes topics for studies on this subject which might be carried out in Southern African countries, where the majority of dementing older Africans are cared for within the community and not in a long-term care institution.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1996
- Authors: Ferreira, Monica (editor) , Moller, Valerie , HSRC/UCT Centre for Gerontology
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: Gerontology -- South Africa , Older people -- Care -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:8072 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012865
- Description: [From Editorial] This issue comprises a transdisciplinary mix of interesting and relevant papers ranging from a community-development intervention, to gerontolinguistics, to guidelines for new legislation, to community services in China. The issue begins with an article on infrastructure and equity for the elderly, in which authors Ross, Lerer and Phillips investigate the attitudes of older residents of Elim, a village situated in South Africa's Western Cape province, towards electrification of their village and homes. The creation of basic infrastructure in historically-disadvantaged areas throughout South Africa is a priority under the government's RDP. However, in this case study of Elim, the utility company which provides electricity to the village failed to consult the elderly residents on the developmental intervention and the benefits which electrification might have for them. The majority of the older residents who were interviewed were consequently negative about this new energy source. The advantages which electricity has over other fuels have distinct health and other developmental benefits, and in rural households older members are important decision makers on energy use. The study's findings indicate that developmental interventions in ruralbased communities should include a social-marketing component targeting older members of the community. The article by Makoni on discourse practices in first-time encounters between old and young Xhosa-speaking women represents an exciting development in gerontological research in the Southern African region. As far as we know, this is a first report on a linguistics study in an older population in the region. In his analysis of the conversations, Makoni notes the sociohistorical background against which the old women try to retain status and respect. He points out that while the elderly are a marginalized group, the youth in South African society have become empowered through their contributions to the political changes, which along with other social changes are seen by some to destabilize traditional seniority respect norms. , In his article Van Dokkum makes out a case for the development of legislation to protect older South Africans against abuse. He uses examples of new South African legislation to deter child abuse and vast legislation in the United States to protect older Americans, in outlining a proposal for local activists to campaign for adequate protection of elderly citizens. Zhu gives us an update on a massive community social-services programme for older people being implemented in the People's Republic of China. The programme partly aims to assist an increasing number of older people who find that they are no longer able to live with kin and must live independently. The programme already serves a staggering proportion of China's 104 million persons aged 60 years and above, although it is estimated that it currently only meets 30 percent of the demand. pensions and household structure in Namibia by Adamchak published in SAJG Volume 4, No 2 (October 1995), and Adamchak's response are welcome additions to this number. The journal encourages debate on papers that it publishes, and the letters also reflect the development and growth of gerontology and research on ageing in the Southern African region. Finally, gerontolinguist Makoni reviews Hamilton's (1994) book in which the author analyses her conversations with Elsie, an Alzheimer's disease patient in a "total institution" (Goffman, 1961). The book contributes to understanding of losses and changes in language use in sufferers of this disease as the dementia progresses. Makoni proposes topics for studies on this subject which might be carried out in Southern African countries, where the majority of dementing older Africans are cared for within the community and not in a long-term care institution.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1996
Southern African Journal of Gerontology, volume 2, number 2, October 1993
- Ferreira, Monica (editor), Møller, Valerie (editor), HSRC/UCT Centre for Gerontology
- Authors: Ferreira, Monica (editor) , Møller, Valerie (editor) , HSRC/UCT Centre for Gerontology
- Date: 1993
- Subjects: Gerontology -- South Africa , Older people -- Care -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:8067 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012859
- Description: Care of the elderly in the community. No society or government can offer total care for all elderly people in the population - no matter how developed or wealthy the country is. The financial and manpower implications of doing so would be enormous. This fact particularly applies to states in southern Africa, where a large proportion of the populations comprise poor or indigent persons. What this means is that a great deal of the responsibility for the care of these persons devolves upon caregivers in the community, usually the family. The capacity of such caregivers to render care, albeit at a subsistence level and in a piecemeal manner, must be supported. It is encouraging to note that there are local initiatives in this regard- even in the most impoverished squatter camps in South Africa. In such cases people come together in informal groups to help and support one another. The Black Pensioners' Association of Khayelitsha is one such group. Another way in which people help one another is through the practice of stokvels, where individuals put money into an informal joint banking system, and take turns in accessing large amounts of money for major purchases. Despite common understanding in official planning circles that people should themselves mainly take responsibility for their care, a large commitment nevertheless rests with the state. The state is committed to a large number of its citizens who are elderly, needy, and must be provided for. Such provision does not stop with the payment of a social pension. The primary units of care will remain the family and the community. The aim should be to assist the elderly to remain living independently within the community for as long as possible, despite disability and frailty where these conditions are present. The state should target its endeavours in this direction. There are many ways in which this can be done, e.g. through the provision of financial and other support to informal caregivers, and the rendering of geriatric nursing services and home-help services. could easily be implemented in southern African countries. Regular physical examinations and attention to the nutritional needs of older persons are important, for this can prevent many forms of ill health. This is where research comes in. We need to investigate practical and affordable ways of enhancing the health and welfare of elderly persons in our own context, i.e. in southern Africa countries. The articles in this number of SAJG point a way in this direction. , This issue: In an article on community involvement in health (CIH), Hildebrandt offers valuable suggestions based on her experience with a demonstration project in a South African black urban settlement. She shows how the situation of township residents can be improved by actively involving a community in practical endeavours, e.g. starting nutrition and reading programmes, and a basic health-screening programme. The project which she describes can serve as a model for similar projects in other developing communities. McCallum and Mathers present a paradigm for health services which, although developed in Australia, has wide relevance and should be taken into account in all planning for the aged. The authors demonstrate that a concomitant effect of a general improvement in the health of older persons gained by better health care is, paradoxically, an increased rate of disability and physical frailty. The authors point out that the burden of these disabilities has largely to be borne by informal caregivers at home. The article by Visser, van Wyk, Senekal and Uys deals with an entirely different area of ageing: the clothing needs and preferences of older women. This subject is not often dealt with in gerontological literature; to our knowledge this is the first article on this topic in southern Africa. The article presents some interesting findings. New sections: Two new sections are included in this number of SAJG. A section under the rubric Forum has been added. The section is intended to include reviews and overviews of current knowledge and advanced thinking on specific topics or subject areas in gerontology. The first contribution printed in Forum is a brief guide to the biological basis of ageing. In his guide Louw offers a unified hypothesis of the biology of ageing. The number also includes a correspondence section for the first time. A letter to the editor and a reply, in which the writers give their views on the measurement of successful ageing, have been printed. It is appropriate that SAJG, regarded as the most important peer-reviewed gerontology journal in Africa, should encourage high-level argument and polemics. Further responses to published material are therefore welcomed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1993
- Authors: Ferreira, Monica (editor) , Møller, Valerie (editor) , HSRC/UCT Centre for Gerontology
- Date: 1993
- Subjects: Gerontology -- South Africa , Older people -- Care -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:8067 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012859
- Description: Care of the elderly in the community. No society or government can offer total care for all elderly people in the population - no matter how developed or wealthy the country is. The financial and manpower implications of doing so would be enormous. This fact particularly applies to states in southern Africa, where a large proportion of the populations comprise poor or indigent persons. What this means is that a great deal of the responsibility for the care of these persons devolves upon caregivers in the community, usually the family. The capacity of such caregivers to render care, albeit at a subsistence level and in a piecemeal manner, must be supported. It is encouraging to note that there are local initiatives in this regard- even in the most impoverished squatter camps in South Africa. In such cases people come together in informal groups to help and support one another. The Black Pensioners' Association of Khayelitsha is one such group. Another way in which people help one another is through the practice of stokvels, where individuals put money into an informal joint banking system, and take turns in accessing large amounts of money for major purchases. Despite common understanding in official planning circles that people should themselves mainly take responsibility for their care, a large commitment nevertheless rests with the state. The state is committed to a large number of its citizens who are elderly, needy, and must be provided for. Such provision does not stop with the payment of a social pension. The primary units of care will remain the family and the community. The aim should be to assist the elderly to remain living independently within the community for as long as possible, despite disability and frailty where these conditions are present. The state should target its endeavours in this direction. There are many ways in which this can be done, e.g. through the provision of financial and other support to informal caregivers, and the rendering of geriatric nursing services and home-help services. could easily be implemented in southern African countries. Regular physical examinations and attention to the nutritional needs of older persons are important, for this can prevent many forms of ill health. This is where research comes in. We need to investigate practical and affordable ways of enhancing the health and welfare of elderly persons in our own context, i.e. in southern Africa countries. The articles in this number of SAJG point a way in this direction. , This issue: In an article on community involvement in health (CIH), Hildebrandt offers valuable suggestions based on her experience with a demonstration project in a South African black urban settlement. She shows how the situation of township residents can be improved by actively involving a community in practical endeavours, e.g. starting nutrition and reading programmes, and a basic health-screening programme. The project which she describes can serve as a model for similar projects in other developing communities. McCallum and Mathers present a paradigm for health services which, although developed in Australia, has wide relevance and should be taken into account in all planning for the aged. The authors demonstrate that a concomitant effect of a general improvement in the health of older persons gained by better health care is, paradoxically, an increased rate of disability and physical frailty. The authors point out that the burden of these disabilities has largely to be borne by informal caregivers at home. The article by Visser, van Wyk, Senekal and Uys deals with an entirely different area of ageing: the clothing needs and preferences of older women. This subject is not often dealt with in gerontological literature; to our knowledge this is the first article on this topic in southern Africa. The article presents some interesting findings. New sections: Two new sections are included in this number of SAJG. A section under the rubric Forum has been added. The section is intended to include reviews and overviews of current knowledge and advanced thinking on specific topics or subject areas in gerontology. The first contribution printed in Forum is a brief guide to the biological basis of ageing. In his guide Louw offers a unified hypothesis of the biology of ageing. The number also includes a correspondence section for the first time. A letter to the editor and a reply, in which the writers give their views on the measurement of successful ageing, have been printed. It is appropriate that SAJG, regarded as the most important peer-reviewed gerontology journal in Africa, should encourage high-level argument and polemics. Further responses to published material are therefore welcomed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1993
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