ZANE Australia 2.85

What we do for Pensioners in Retirement Homes

The targeted elderly people are those on local pensions or without pensions at all. Having lived in Zimbabwe most or all of their lives, they may well have been part of the war effort in World War ll. Their pensions and savings have diminished to such an extent that they can no longer afford to live and many receive no (or very little) assistance from their relatives. Some in fact have been abandoned by relatives who have now moved country and have no more to do with them whatsoever.

There are many in these categories in the retirement homes.Because of the ravages of hyper-inflation the management personnel of the homes face an endless series of crises -many of them are now near to breaking point. They are unable to buy essential items such as bread, meat, eggs, milk or other essential supplies and neither can they carry out necessary repairs on their homes. ZANE is working with the homes to keep them open.

Although it is a very sobering experience to visit these places, these visits are also uplifting due to the home staff’s spirit of determination in dire circumstances. The elderly themselves are proud and reluctant to talk of their problems.