Cape Town – Describing how the elderly at the Kensington Home for the Aged are following the announcement of yet another decline in infected residents provincially, Covid-19 officer Marianna Maasdorp said it was difficult to watch residents yearn for their families daily.
Maasdorp said the residence was currently Covid-19-free and was maintaining strict health and safety protocols.
She said the hardships the elderly were facing by having to physically distance from their loved ones was difficult to witness.
“Not being able to see their families is taking a tremendous toll on the elderly. They can’t see them as regularly they used to.
“Touch brings forth healing. It is so, so important. Under the previous restrictions no visitors were allowed, and we’ve decided now to do visits on appointment only, and Covid-19 clearance forms are needed.
“We’re also only allowing limited numbers of visits, as we don’t have much more room where the residents will have to isolate once they return.”
Maasdorp said staffers at the home also frequently do cellphone video calls so that the residents can see their loved ones.
Social Development MEC Sharna Fernandez said that as of Tuesday the number of residents in old-age homes who have recovered from Covid-19 had increased to 2 447 from 2 284 on February 3. There had also been a decrease in the number of active infections from 101 to 33.
Fernandez said while the figures showed Covid-19 recoveries in old-age homes across the Western Cape, people still needed to be on high alert.
“I wish to thank the boards of directors of every old age home, carers, staff, officials and family members for their ongoing commitment and devotion in helping us manage the spread of the virus at all old age homes,” Fernandez said.
Cape Times