Pictured above, Yoshina Kistensamy, Divisional Manager of Operations at Tafta

Tafta commemorates UN International Day of Older Persons

This year’s umbrella theme for the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons is the Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World. It highlights the strength and flexibility of today’s elder population who lived through the end of World War 2, threats of food shortage and computer viruses that could end the world.

Through all this, elders have also embraced and witnessed the global explosion of technology and the internet, space exploration and, on a national level, the achievement of democracy, the establishment of world heritage sights and hosting of major sporting events in South Africa.

“The resilience and acceptance our elders displayed during the many changes that occurred as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic echoes the possibilities of adaptation, improvement, growth and resilience that we witness among our over-60’s today,” commented Tafta CEO, Femada Shamam.

At wellness centres and on outings, we’ll be encouraging elders to participate in a variety of activities to improve their physical and mental agility and social skills, and equip them with tools to maintain independence in an evolving world. Included in the line-up of month-long activities will be dialogues, a 12-course workshop designed to promote business skills and provide tools for elders to earn extra income, as well as in-house competitions, bingo tournaments, sports days and beach outings to alleviate feelings of loneliness, exclusion and distress.

Yoshina Kistensamy, Divisional Manager of Operations at Tafta said, “We see the resilience of older people daily as we improve our policies and adapt our methods to accommodate varying levels of care and support. As the world changes, so too do the needs of the elderly population. The activities we have lined up during the month of October feed into the current needs for social inclusion, economic stability and improved health – that came as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and local disasters.”

If you want to join Tafta on our month-long journey celebrating the resilience of older people, check back on this website and follow our social media platforms to see how active ageing is now being embraced.