Elderly complain of ill treatment

IN a cry for help, elderly residents at Port Elizabeth's Louis Dubb Retirement Village have lashed out at themanagement of the facility, saying they lack compassion and treat residents inhumanely.

Topping a long list of grievances, the Kabega Park homes' older persons residents' committee complained that there was a lack of health care for some of the frail residents, and that all lodgers – some in their 90s – had to brave the bustling traffic on their own to get to clinics and hospitals.

This comes as the world marks the International Day of Older Persons.

The complaint also comes as a group of about 13 residents from the Louis Dubb, Adolph Schrauder and Adcock van der Vyver homes prepare to fight their hefty rent increases of between 25% and 100% introduced last year.

The residents at Louis Dubb – some of whom rely solely on their R1350 state pension for an income – say they have to fork out R1500 a month for a double cottage if they want to live with their spouse. - Rochelle de Kock