An exploratory survey of the needs and adjustment to retirement of persons residing in Port Alfred
- Authors: Stephens, Brent William
- Date: 1995
- Subjects: Retirement, Places of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred , Older people -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred -- Social conditions , Older people -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred , Older people -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred -- Economic conditions , Retirees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3283 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006514 , Retirement, Places of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred , Older people -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred -- Social conditions , Older people -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred , Older people -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred -- Economic conditions , Retirees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred
- Description: The problem that was chosen to be investigated, was that, within the white middle class South African white-collar worker there appears to be a tendency to live for the "pie in the sky" - which for most seems to be retirement to the idyllic cottage by the sea. Within the South African scenario, there seems to be a definite lack of career planning or at least planning for retirement, other than the financial emphasis. Upon reaching the "ultimate" retirement, retirees take their pension money and move to the coast, expecting pure bliss. The result of their lack of forethought is that they settle in a totally different climate, away from the support of family and friends, possibly finding their income inadequate, with the result that many fall seriously ill, and then discover a lack of geriatric care or a hospital at the time in their lives when they need it the most. The aim of the research was to investigate these issues using a specific location - Port Alfred, researching the fact that Port Alfred continues to be a retirement haven, despite appearing to lack the necessary facilities required by the elderly. The method of the research was to initially administer a pilot questionnaire to a few elderly residents at random, which was then followed up by the formal personally administered questionnaire to a sample. The sample of retired elderly residents in Port Alfred was chosen at random primarily from the various old age homes in Port Alfred. This questionnaire was administered in 1983 but due to financial and personal reasons, the results were not written up. In 1990, the research was continued with a further questionnaire being administered in 1991. The research direction was altered slightly to identify not only what resources were felt to be lacking, but also to identify how well the retired persons of Port Alfred had managed their transition to retirement. The results showed some similarity between the 1983 and the 1991 research. On the surface the retirees appeared well-adjusted and content, but when it was delved deeper, they appeared to have opted out of making any great effort to change their situation, but rather had taken the view that they had earned their rest, would make the best of what they had, and leave it to someone else to champion their cause. This meant that they relied heavily upon those in their community to meet their obvious needs. The promised hospital that they had arduously raised funds for had not materialised, and that seemed to have been the last effort that they had been prepared to make, they were now at rest. The conclusion was that, although the retirees had made the best of their situation, this definitely did not mean that their resources were adequate. Various charities and social services were at work in the community to redress the imbalance, but it was felt that these would in turn benefit by the addition of a social worker. This social worker would coordinate these services and take responsibility for the community at large, particularly addressing the need to unify the services with those to the large non-White community, in the (on-going) development of the New South Africa
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1995
- Authors: Stephens, Brent William
- Date: 1995
- Subjects: Retirement, Places of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred , Older people -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred -- Social conditions , Older people -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred , Older people -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred -- Economic conditions , Retirees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3283 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006514 , Retirement, Places of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred , Older people -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred -- Social conditions , Older people -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred , Older people -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred -- Economic conditions , Retirees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Alfred
- Description: The problem that was chosen to be investigated, was that, within the white middle class South African white-collar worker there appears to be a tendency to live for the "pie in the sky" - which for most seems to be retirement to the idyllic cottage by the sea. Within the South African scenario, there seems to be a definite lack of career planning or at least planning for retirement, other than the financial emphasis. Upon reaching the "ultimate" retirement, retirees take their pension money and move to the coast, expecting pure bliss. The result of their lack of forethought is that they settle in a totally different climate, away from the support of family and friends, possibly finding their income inadequate, with the result that many fall seriously ill, and then discover a lack of geriatric care or a hospital at the time in their lives when they need it the most. The aim of the research was to investigate these issues using a specific location - Port Alfred, researching the fact that Port Alfred continues to be a retirement haven, despite appearing to lack the necessary facilities required by the elderly. The method of the research was to initially administer a pilot questionnaire to a few elderly residents at random, which was then followed up by the formal personally administered questionnaire to a sample. The sample of retired elderly residents in Port Alfred was chosen at random primarily from the various old age homes in Port Alfred. This questionnaire was administered in 1983 but due to financial and personal reasons, the results were not written up. In 1990, the research was continued with a further questionnaire being administered in 1991. The research direction was altered slightly to identify not only what resources were felt to be lacking, but also to identify how well the retired persons of Port Alfred had managed their transition to retirement. The results showed some similarity between the 1983 and the 1991 research. On the surface the retirees appeared well-adjusted and content, but when it was delved deeper, they appeared to have opted out of making any great effort to change their situation, but rather had taken the view that they had earned their rest, would make the best of what they had, and leave it to someone else to champion their cause. This meant that they relied heavily upon those in their community to meet their obvious needs. The promised hospital that they had arduously raised funds for had not materialised, and that seemed to have been the last effort that they had been prepared to make, they were now at rest. The conclusion was that, although the retirees had made the best of their situation, this definitely did not mean that their resources were adequate. Various charities and social services were at work in the community to redress the imbalance, but it was felt that these would in turn benefit by the addition of a social worker. This social worker would coordinate these services and take responsibility for the community at large, particularly addressing the need to unify the services with those to the large non-White community, in the (on-going) development of the New South Africa
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1995
The impact of the mentally retarded child on the family living in the rural areas of the Transkei
- Authors: Sipambo, Sindiswa
- Date: 1995
- Subjects: Children with mental disabilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Family relationships , Children with mental disabilities -- Family relationships
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3281 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006502 , Children with mental disabilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Family relationships , Children with mental disabilities -- Family relationships
- Description: This research was designed to do four things: first to discover what problems face caregivers who bring up handicapped children in their own homes; second, what community resources are available or which should be available to assist the mentally retarded and his family to cope with the problem; third, social policy measures available through the Transkei government, e.g. single care grant and disability grant and under what conditions are they available and whether other resources/services are available, and fourth, to find out from caregivers themselves how well the social services, although limited which are intended to help them and their children work in practice, more specifically in rural areas especially when community and public sector measures are highly circumscribed. The lack of resources for mentally retarded children and their families in Transkei and particularly the Sterkspruit district raised some questions in the researcher's mind on how to rear a mentally retarded child in this area. Data was gathered from a sample of all mentally retarded children who are single care grant recipients. The subjects were the mothers of these children or the present custodian about the time of the study. Information was also gathered from the social workers in the district mainly from their case files in the office. The sample was sufficient for the study to be meaningful and well represented and to eliminate guesses and assumptions about the lives of mentally handicapped children and their families. Findings reveal that caring for a mentally retarded child is a demanding task with varying levels of stress. Families of the retarded, in general, tend to have more problems in individual and marital adjustment, child-rearing practices, and sibling relationship. They are significantly affected - socially, economically and emotionally - by mental retardation. Support systems both formal and informal, were a great single source of help for these families for them to cope with these children. Recommendations for better quality of life for both the handicapped child and his family are given in the last chapter, and they are most suitable for undertaking by the Welfare and Education Departments. It is not the purpose of this study to give advice to parents on how to bring up their handicapped children. Often using the mothers' own words, the researcher only presents the picture given by the parents themselves of how they actually learn to live with a handicapped child
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1995
- Authors: Sipambo, Sindiswa
- Date: 1995
- Subjects: Children with mental disabilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Family relationships , Children with mental disabilities -- Family relationships
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3281 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006502 , Children with mental disabilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Family relationships , Children with mental disabilities -- Family relationships
- Description: This research was designed to do four things: first to discover what problems face caregivers who bring up handicapped children in their own homes; second, what community resources are available or which should be available to assist the mentally retarded and his family to cope with the problem; third, social policy measures available through the Transkei government, e.g. single care grant and disability grant and under what conditions are they available and whether other resources/services are available, and fourth, to find out from caregivers themselves how well the social services, although limited which are intended to help them and their children work in practice, more specifically in rural areas especially when community and public sector measures are highly circumscribed. The lack of resources for mentally retarded children and their families in Transkei and particularly the Sterkspruit district raised some questions in the researcher's mind on how to rear a mentally retarded child in this area. Data was gathered from a sample of all mentally retarded children who are single care grant recipients. The subjects were the mothers of these children or the present custodian about the time of the study. Information was also gathered from the social workers in the district mainly from their case files in the office. The sample was sufficient for the study to be meaningful and well represented and to eliminate guesses and assumptions about the lives of mentally handicapped children and their families. Findings reveal that caring for a mentally retarded child is a demanding task with varying levels of stress. Families of the retarded, in general, tend to have more problems in individual and marital adjustment, child-rearing practices, and sibling relationship. They are significantly affected - socially, economically and emotionally - by mental retardation. Support systems both formal and informal, were a great single source of help for these families for them to cope with these children. Recommendations for better quality of life for both the handicapped child and his family are given in the last chapter, and they are most suitable for undertaking by the Welfare and Education Departments. It is not the purpose of this study to give advice to parents on how to bring up their handicapped children. Often using the mothers' own words, the researcher only presents the picture given by the parents themselves of how they actually learn to live with a handicapped child
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1995
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »