The City of Cape Town’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department has celebrated the International Day of Older Persons this week with a two-day event to thank more than 300 seniors for their contribution to their communities and society as a whole.

This year’s theme for the International day for Older Persons is Journey to Age Equality. The day is marked annually on 1 October.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health,  Zahid Badroodien says the day is an opportunity to highlight the important contributions they have made, and continue to make, to society and is about raising awareness of the opportunities and challenges of ageing in today’s world.

‘Our elderly are also highly vulnerable, with many falling into poverty, becoming disabled or facing discrimination. As health care improves, the population of older people is growing and their needs are also growing, as are their contributions to the world.

‘Older persons come with a wealth of experiences and skills. Despite this, they are often overlooked and fall prey to physical, psychological or even financial abuse. Sadly, this is often at the hands of family or the very people meant to care for them. As a society, we need to ensure that the elderly are informed of their rights and that they are able to deal with the situation should they find themselves in such a predicament.’

The two-day event also provided senior citizens with information from various other organisations and government departments such as the Cape Peninsula Organisation for the Aged, the South African Social Security Agency, the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Police Service.