To 82 year old Mr X, who’s a little unsteady on his feet, this is not just a handrail …
It’s a lifeline to independence – giving him the confidence to make his own way up stairs, and step into a shower without fear of slipping.
Knowing he can move around safely, without fear of falling, is another tick box on the list of things that make life worth living.
Imagine only looking at the garden through a window pane – instead of being able to step outside … smell the flowers and feel the sunshine on your face.
This is the gift you can give, by donating towards additional handrails, walkers, wheelchair ramps and grab bars for our homes.
Your gift not only encourages elders to be more active – another boost to wellbeing – it will help reduce the number of falls suffered by our elders. In the first 6 months of the year there were 58 falls across our Homes. Not, as you’d expect, in the frail care and assisted living units – but mainly in units where physically fit men and women live.
Most falls happened in the morning, as elders got out of bed or stood up. This highlights the urgent need for mobility aids such as walkers and bed rails to ensure safety, dignity and independence.
For older people, the thought of falling is quite terrifying. Especially for those who have difficulty maintaining their balance. Some have neuropathy and can’t even feel the ground beneath their feet. And at this age, a fall isn’t just scrapes and bruises. It could mean broken bones, a hospital stay, or losing your independence entirely.
That’s why it’s so important to have something solid to lean on. And why your gift of a handrail (starting from just R300 each), walker (starting at R500 each) or bedrail (starting at R800) makes all the difference between fear and freedom.
So please will you use the form provided to make your contribution now? Let’s make sure no one has to watch life from behind a window when they could be out living it.
And if you’re feeling especially generous, please consider a contribution towards bathroom renovations at our homes.
We’re making them safer for our elders – and much easier to use! – by replacing the bathtubs with showers. At around R15 000 per bathroom, it’s an ongoing project that we can only tackle when funds become available. Your exceptional generosity makes it possible. Thank you!
