Audit of Residential Facilities, Final report - Division for Social Policy ...

9. Multiple usages of facilities: For the sake of the safety of the residents, the patients aswell as the staff Government should look at separate facilities (or sections of the samefacility) to accommodate patients with Alzheimer‟s, dementia and mental illnesses.These require specialised forms of care as well and trained specialist staff to provideoptimum care10. The volunteer component at the Homes should be increased, both to enhance themedical services and recreational activities as well as for fundraising activities. There should be a better strategy to recruit, train and place support volunteersespecially in black areas where volunteers are more lacking11. The situation with homes where their basic service delivery needs are been ignored orwhere services such as water and electricity are intermittent, needs to be addressed as amatter of urgency. Discussions between the DSD at the highest level and its counterpart in localgovernment regarding the regular interruptions in the supply of electricity and waterneed to take place urgently.12. Homes that require support for basic infrastructure: A special fund should also becreated for homes that fall into specific sub-economic categories. Extra money shouldcome from this fund and be given to homes as repairs for major breakages and faultyequipment is expensive and many homes simply cannot afford it. It might be possible for the Department to intervene and request assistance from theDepartment of Housing or Public Works for some assistance13. Outreach Community Programmes: There are possibilities for homes to extend itsoutreach services. This would require additional finances as well as personnel. The DSDshould consider subsidising such outreach programmes as it is in line with theDepartments‟ vision of preventative intervention. The DSD should also subsidise home based care as the requirements are oftensimilar to frail care. This will also put less of a burden on the homes while still allowingthem to be active in their communities.10 | D S D A u d i t o f R e s i d e n t i a l F a c i l i t i e s