South Africa
South Africa has approximately 5.4 million people over the age of 60 who make up approximately 9 percent of the population. This is projected to increase to 20% (approx. 11.5 million older persons) by 2050. The vast majority, almost two thirds of black and coloured older persons live in multi-generational households. There is state financial support for older persons in South Africa and the Older (worth R1980 in 2022) Persons Grant is the main source of income for most older persons, especially those living in rural areas and in women-headed households. Eldercare is not provided and is only partially subsidised by the South African government. There are 417 residential facilities registered with the Department of Social Development (DSD) (and many unregistered private facilities), nine of which are managed by the government, and 1,713 registered community-based care and support services for older people focused on providing home-based care or community activities.
The Study
A/Prof Elena Moore is leading the team of researchers in South Africa. There are 5 researchers working on the South African team. Cape Town and Durban will be the principle research sites for the research component in South Africa. In Cape Town four sites have been identified to capture the variation in experiences of family caregiving of older persons. The research team will be working in a low income, white neighbourhood, a rural coloured area, Khaylitsha (township, largely isiXhosa speaking with both low and low-middle income families) and Eerste River (a predominantly coloured area which has both low and low-middle income families). These sites have been identified due the presence of our collaborating partners (Cape Town based NGOs) in these sites. Moreover some of the research team have experience in working in these areas.
In KwaZulu Natal, we are working in a large township, Sundumbili, and a rural site. These sites were chosen as they provide the necessary variation in households to support our understanding of different experiences of family caregiving of older persons. Both sites are predominantly isZulu speaking. Sundumbili is a township that is approximately 100 km north of Durban. Over the last few decades it is reported to be one of the largest and fastest growing decentralisation areas in KZN. It is home to both poorer households living in informal settlements and those better off, living in formal housing. The rural site is under the traditional leadership of Chief M. It has fewer ammenities and resources and is generally comprised of low income households.
SOUTH AFRICAN SAMPLE
Wave 1 & wave 2
wave 1: 2023
wave 2: as of August 2024
APPLYING FOR THE GRANT-IN-AID
For more recent publications about family care of older persons in South Africa see …
- Moore, E., & Kelly, G. (2024). Struggles over elder care in South Africa. Development Southern Africa, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2024.2374823
- Moore, Elena; Kelly, Gabrielle (2023). Funding Elder Care in South Africa Report. University of Cape Town. Report. https://doi.org/10.25375/uct.24146772.v3https://doi.org/10.25375/uct.24146772.v3
- Moore, Elena (2024). Older Persons, Care Needs & Social Grants in South Africa Report. University of Cape Town. Report. https://doi.org/10.25375/uct.25195727.v1
- Moore, Elena; Kelly, Gabrielle (2023). Older Persons and Community Care in South Africa Report. University of Cape Town. Report. https://doi.org/10.25375/uct.24146409.v4
- Moore, E (2023). Family care for older persons in South Africa: heterogeneity of the carer’s experience. International Journal of Care and Caregiving. (Mar 2023) https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/ijcc/aop/article-10.1332-239788221X16740630896657/article-10.1332-239788221X16740630896657.xml
- Moore, Elena (2023). Policy Brief 1: Insecurity Amongst Female Family Caregivers of Older Persons in South Africa. University of Cape Town. Report. https://doi.org/10.25375/uct.24064467
- Moore, Elena; Kelly, Gabrielle (2023). Policy Brief 2: Addressing the Gaps in Long-Term Care for Older People in Southern Africa. University of Cape Town. Report. https://doi.org/10.25375/uct.24064470
- Gie, L., & Hoffman, J. (2023). Development of a long-term care economy in Gauteng, South Africa: towards decent work, International Journal of Care and Caring (published online ahead of print 2023). Retrieved Mar 10, 2023, from https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/ijcc/aop/article-10.1332-239788221X16752685979364/article-10.1332-239788221X16752685979364.xml
- Button, K. and Ncapai, T. (2019) Conflict and negotiation in intergenerational care: older women’s experiences of caring with the Old Age Grant in South Africa, Critical Social Policy, 39(4): 560–81, doi: 1177/0261018319867594.
- Harling, G., Payne, C.F., Davies, J.I., Gomez-Olive, F.X., Kahn, K., Manderson, L., Mateen, F.J., Tollman, S.M. and Witham, M.D. (2020) Impairment in activities of daily living, care receipt, and unmet needs in a middle-aged and older rural South African population: findings from the HAALSI study, Journal of Aging and Health, 32(5–6): 296–307. doi: 1177/0898264318821220.
- Munthree, C., Maharaj, P. (2013). Growing Old in the Era of AIDS: Perspectives and Experiences of Older Men and Women in South Africa. In: Maharaj, P. (eds) Aging and Health in Africa. International Perspectives on Aging, vol 4. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8357-2_6
- Abdullah, S (2022) Developmental Social Welfare and Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Kinship Care of Muslim Older Persons in South Africa’. PhD Thesis, University of Cape TownMoore, Elena (2024). Older Persons, Care Needs & Social Grants in South Africa Report. University of Cape Town. Report. https://doi.org/10.25375/uct.25195727.v1
Press Room
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Prof Elena Moore: elena.moore@uct.ac.za
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