News

Social services for over-50s in dire need of overhaul

28 September 2010

South Africa was in dire need of an overhaul of health and social services to provide effective care for people older than 50, researchers said in a study released yesterday.

Older women are under increasing pressure to take over bread- winning responsibilities as communities are affected by Aids. According to the study, changes in the social structure and roles and responsibilities of older people, particularly women, have already occurred.

These women face additional responsibilities such as nursing their sick adult children and taking care of their grandchildren. In many households, older people have also become the main bread-winners through their social pension, which is sometimes the family’s only source of income.

In South Africa, the proportion of the population aged 50- plus has slightly increased from 14.8 percent in 2006 to 15 percent in 2009, and was expected to be 19 percent in 2030.

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