Older Persons Care Alliance - Western Cape

01/10/2026

01/10/2026

Our last speakers session today was an important one, exploring healthy ageing, trauma and well-being, including contributions from OPCA members NOAH and GERATEC, alongside other expert contributors.

Ide-Marie Venter from GERATEC began our discussion with a look into how nutrition affects brain health, noting the long term impact of our diets. Dr. Marguerite Loftus emphasised this point, highlighting the connection between nutrition, muscle health and healthy ageing.

Dr Holger Wellman spoke about polypharmacy, exploring appropriate versus inappropriate medication use and the importance of managing multiple medications thoughtfully, while considering potential treatment effects.

Claudia Roodt and Noma Mbusi from NOAH spoke about trauma-informed care, exploring how we can approach people with different life stories and experiences with greater understanding and sensitivity, including the impact of neglect and trauma in ageing.

Thank you to all contributors for sharing their expertise and helping us continue the conversation around person-centred, holistic care for older people.

01/10/2026

A valuable session with OPCA members exploring practical innovation and sustainable models for supporting older persons in communities.

Rob Jones presented Project Scaffold, exploring how community platforms can strengthen collaboration, discussion and resource-sharing, and the Wandawazi Passport, which aims to create a portable record of care workers’ information, experience and evidence, to support safer, more connected care for both caregivers and care recipients.

Prof. Elena Moore of the UCT Family Caregiving Programme shared work on mapping elder-care resources in the Overstrand area, highlighting gaps in access to care and the challenges people face in navigating available services and social support.

Victor Southwell of NOAH built on the mapping discussion, exploring the idea of an older persons’ hub in communities that could connect existing services, social centres, community partners, caregivers and public services in a more coordinated way.

The session was followed by a panel on upskilling and postgraduate development in gerontology nursing with Dr Gavin Lowrens, Ansie Kirsten, and OPCA members Elmarie Earle of ACVV Head Office: Older Persons Care / Ouer Persone Sorg and Christelle Klopper of Badisa.

A brilliant discussion on strengthening care services for older persons.

01/10/2026

Today is Day 2 of the Ageing Well Together Conference and we are starting the day with a connection and networking session.

A wonderful way to energise ourselves, connect with each other and prepare for a productive day ahead!

01/10/2026

This International Day of Older Persons, we celebrate the people whose values and experiences have helped shape our families, communities, and society. Age brings a unique perspective and a deep well of experience that allow for countless contributions that continue to strengthen communities. Today, we honour the joy of growing older and the value and joy that every stage of life can bring.

30/09/2026

As part of the Community Care in Action session of the Ageing Together Well Conference, we heard from OPCA Alliance Members NOAH, GAPA - Grandmothers Against Poverty and AIDS and Ikamva Labantu, who shared their experiences and models of community-centred care.

The session highlighted practical approaches to supporting older people and communities through social clubs, health and psychosocial support, advocacy, income generation, meals, skills development and intergenerational learning—while responding to challenges such as poverty and social isolation.

Thank you to our Alliance Members for sharing their valuable work and demonstrating the power of community-led care and collective action.

30/09/2026

Exploring dignity, identity and belonging in later life, speakers raised important questions about how we create environments where older people can continue to contribute, participate and shape their communities.

Lynda Smith of 50 Plus-Skills asked us how we build meaningful pathways for people to contribute throughout a longer life.

Jennifer Webster, responsible for the PadPerch, challenged us to consider what projects or products we might plan that could be accessible with insights from a disability awareness specialist.

Ishrene Davids of Ikamva Labantu asked how we can identify and activate hidden community assets for elder care.

Lastly Femada Shaman of TAFTA explored how partnerships can protect—or get in the way of—an older person’s agency, identity, purpose and belonging

Ultimately, the conversation reminded us that dignity, identity and belonging are not simply outcomes of care, but foundations for creating lives in which older people remain valued, heard and able to contribute.

30/09/2026

Today at the Ageing Well Together Conference, OPCA is proud to be represented by Waldie Terblanche in an opening conversation exploring how we can protect dignity, connection and our shared humanity as we age.

The discussion reflected on the origins of the OPCA-WC, including the Badisa conference that ultimately helped bring the OPCA partnership together. Today, we are building on that foundation with a vision to grow OPCA’s reach nationally, creating a collaborative structure where organisations can share responsibility and work together around our five priority areas.

Our strength lies in partnership. Together, we can build an ageing landscape that leaves no one behind. We look forward to building on that today and tomorrow.

30/09/2026

We are excited to begin our 2 Day journey at the Ageing Well Together Conference with NOAH, GERATEC and Project Scaffold!

We look forward to collaborating with others in the Ageing Sector and creating new innovations for the future!

24/09/2026

This Heritage Day, we celebrate the wisdom, resilience, and stories of older persons who have helped shape our communities and our country.

Heritage lives in the memories shared around family tables, the traditions passed from one generation to the next, and the values that continue to guide us today. As we honour our diverse cultures and histories, we also recognise the important role older persons play in preserving and sharing our collective heritage.

Let us celebrate a South Africa where older persons are respected, included, and valued, not only on Heritage Day, but every day.