Older Persons Care Alliance - Western Cape

Older Persons Care Alliance - Western Cape Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Older Persons Care Alliance - Western Cape, Nonprofit Organization, Cape Town.

Welcome to OPCA-WC 🇿🇦
We champion dignity, care, and visibility for older persons in the Western Cape.

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📢 Follow, share, and raise your voice with us.

The Alliance was meant to meet the Standing Committee on Health and Wellness on 28 April, then 19 May and now is delayed...
10/06/2026

The Alliance was meant to meet the Standing Committee on Health and Wellness on 28 April, then 19 May and now is delayed again with no date set. Each postponement stalls urgent talks on elder health, dignity, and access to care.

Last week we came together to reconnect as an alliance, reflecting on our shared processes and touching base on the prio...
02/06/2026

Last week we came together to reconnect as an alliance, reflecting on our shared processes and touching base on the priority group goals that guide our work.

With renewed energy, we mapped out our plans for the next few months: strengthening our collaboration, sharpening our advocacy, and keeping dignity in care at the center of our efforts.

02/06/2026

Winter is cold. But it doesn’t have to be for everyone. 💛
This Mandela Day, help NOAH create “Soup in a Jar” meals for older people and vulnerable community members who need warmth, nourishment and care this winter.
We are collecting:
• Pasta
• Soup mix
• Brown lentils
• Split peas
• Stock cubes
• Empty 200g glass coffee jars
Or make a cash donation on our back-a-buddy account so we can purchase supplies on your behalf.
Please drop donations off by Friday 26 June at:
đź“Ť NOAH, 19 Regent Street, Woodstock
Back-a-buddy : https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/noah-health-happiness-home-for-our-elders
Every jar packed is a reminder that somebody cares. We can’t do it without you. 🍜

Strengthening caregiver training is essential to ensuring older persons receive safe, dignified, and consistent support....
27/05/2026

Strengthening caregiver training is essential to ensuring older persons receive safe, dignified, and consistent support. When care workers are equipped and valued, elders thrive; that’s the standard WCOPCA continues to fight for.

Today, more than 818,000 people in the Western Cape are aged 60 and older, making up 11% of the population. That’s not a...
20/05/2026

Today, more than 818,000 people in the Western Cape are aged 60 and older, making up 11% of the population. That’s not a small group on the margins; it’s a growing community shaping households and the future of care.

By 2050, this number will rise to over 2 million older persons. Already, nearly one in five households is headed by an older person, showing how central they are to the fabric of our society.

Ageing is not a distant reality. It is here, it is growing, and it demands that we act with urgency and respect. When we plan for ageing, we plan for stronger communities.

14/05/2026

Elder dignity is not an abstract principle; it is a daily right that must be protected through strong, enforceable policies.

Older persons are too often left out of decision-making, resulting in gaps that undermine their daily dignity. Equitable access to essential products and recognition of elders’ voices are not optional; they are rights that demand systemic accountability.

At the Western Cape Older Persons Care Alliance (WCOPCA), we advocate for policies that move beyond token gestures. We call for frameworks that guarantee dignity in care provision, enforce accountability in service delivery, and ensure elders’ lived experiences shape the systems meant to serve them.

Policy must reflect reality: dignity is not abstract; it is lived every day. Embedding dignity into policy means recognising older persons as rights‑holders, not passive recipients of charity.

When dignity is written into policy and lived in practice, we create a society where older persons are respected not only in words but also in the structures that shape their everyday lives.

At 78, Mr. Douglas Appolis was living with multiple chronic conditions and left without proper support. When Ikamva Laba...
08/05/2026

At 78, Mr. Douglas Appolis was living with multiple chronic conditions and left without proper support. When Ikamva Labantu, a proud member of the Western Cape Older Persons Care Alliance (WCOPCA), first visited him, they found him frail, neglected, and soaked in discomfort due to the absence of incontinence wear. His dignity and health were at risk.

The intervention was immediate: adult incontinence wear, mattress protection, and hygiene supplies were provided to restore comfort and prevent further harm. A referral ensured he could restart his chronic medication, and with the Grant-in-Aid, a full-time caregiver was secured to assist with daily needs. His living environment is now clean, safe, and supportive.

Mr. Appolis’s transformation is striking: from neglect and isolation to stability, dignity, and renewed well-being. His story is not just about one elder; it is a call to action. Incontinence wear is not a luxury. It is a basic necessity for older persons’ dignity, health, and independence.

As WCOPCA members, we continue to advocate for reliable access to incontinence products and holistic elder care. No older person should suffer the indignity of preventable neglect. Together, we can ensure that dignity is non-negotiable.

Please join us in congratulating GERATEC on their 30th birthday. GERATEC began its journey 30 years ago, with their CEO,...
05/05/2026

Please join us in congratulating GERATEC on their 30th birthday.

GERATEC began its journey 30 years ago, with their CEO, Prof. Rayne Stroebel, realising the need for nutrition-focused catering services in the South African aged care sector. This led to the creation of integrated support services across care, catering, housekeeping, and training.

GERATEC believes in dignity, autonomy, and meaningful living for older persons, creating environments of purpose, connection, and well-being through Relationship‑Directed Support and The Eden Alternative philosophy.

As they mark this 30-year milestone, GERATEC remains committed to learning, evolving, and contributing to a future where every older person is seen, heard, and valued.

WCOPCA met with the Department of Health and Wellness on 9 April to advance a joint plan of action on incontinence care....
28/04/2026

WCOPCA met with the Department of Health and Wellness on 9 April to advance a joint plan of action on incontinence care. Next, we meet with the Standing Committee on 19 May to secure support and accountability. Together, we are working to ensure every older person has access to the dignity and protection that quality incontinence products provide.

Western Cape Older Persons Care Alliance (WCOPCA): Pushing for Action on Incontinence CareOn 26 November 2025, WCOPCA me...
03/04/2026

Western Cape Older Persons Care Alliance (WCOPCA): Pushing for Action on Incontinence Care

On 26 November 2025, WCOPCA met with the Department of Health and Wellness to confront one of the most pressing challenges facing older persons: the provision of incontinence products.

That meeting revealed the stark realities faced by many: persistent stockouts, poor quality products, and inequitable distribution across districts. This is not simply a matter of health. It is about dignity, independence, and human rights. For years, the sector has raised these concerns, yet policies remain outdated and implementation inconsistent and uneven. The November meeting was a step forward, but the process has been long, and the time for decisive action has arrived.

Incontinence products are not a luxury. They are essential for survival and well-being. Without them, older persons face increased risks of infections, pressure sores, and hospitalisation. Families and care facilities are forced to divert scarce resources, often choosing between food and basic care. The absence of adequate provisions strips older persons of their dignity, isolates them from society, and places strain on caregivers.

On the 9th of April 2026, WCOPCA will hold a follow-up meeting with the Department of Health and Wellness to develop a Joint Plan of Action. This is where commitments must translate into solutions; updated policies, stronger monitoring, and equitable distribution.

Following this on the 28th of April, WCOPCA will meet with the Standing Committee on Health and Wellness to present the realities faced by older persons and lobby for political and institutional support. This engagement is critical to ensure accountability and sustained change.

This is a crisis that has been allowed to continue for far too long. Every delay deepens inequality, every stockout erodes dignity and every poor-quality product undermines health. The upcoming April meetings must deliver more than promises. They must deliver action, accountability and a clear plan that ensures older persons are no longer left behind.

Access to incontinence products is about dignity, independence, and inclusion. It is about recognising ageing as a societal responsibility, not a private burden.

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Cape Town

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+27834439021

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