TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED BY GOVERNMENT-FUNDED NONGOVERNMENTAL ELDERLY HOMES IN SPRINGS

Abstract

The purpose of transforming public service delivery operations was appropriately structured, specifically in reconstructing and bringing equity and equal access to public resources. Similarly, by transforming NGOs in general and Elderly Residential Homes in particular, the Department of Social Development was earnestly aiming at effectively redressing inequalities and addressing the skewed distribution of welfare services specifically within those disadvantaged communities that remain on the margins of society. However, transformation prescriptions mostly put emphasis on balancing racial ratios of beneficiaries, staff and governing board structures within these Homes, thereby reducing the purpose of transformation to simply eligibility for funding. Even the legislative framework designed to support transformation emphasises the financial suspension aspect of non-compliance with transformation requirements. Clearly, such assumptions tend to overlook the need to make a thorough scrutiny of the real contextual challenges experienced by the Non-Governmental Elderly Homes in their attempts to comply with transformation requirements, especially those Homes that existed during the apartheid period and serviced one racial group, because they were suddenly expected to undergo drastic reforms to redefine their service objectives in ways that display inclusiveness. This report explores the challenges of transformation as experienced by Non-Governmental Organizations, particularly the Residential Homes for the Elderly. Through the qualitative ii method of observation, interviewing and document analysis, it investigates the process of transformation as carried out within the Non-Governmental Elderly Homes to achieve the required level of transformation in their service delivery systems. Emanating from the research results is the fact that, from the perspective of Social Development, transformation was reduced to nothing more than a ‘qualification’ to access Departmental financial support, which then resulted in its real purpose being ill-conceived and consequently unsuccessful. The Elderly Homes in Springs cited the demand by the Department to transform as putting a strain on their operational activities. Homes also feel that they generally try to extend their services to other racial groups but the Department seems unconcerned about the problems they encounter in the transformation process. Drawn from such findings, this report concluded that in its efforts to transform community service delivery by Non-Governmental Organizations in general and Elderly Homes in particular, the same process of transformation should be understood and viewed broadly so that the importance of the matter is properly communicated to those organizations charged with taking it further. Adequate transformation support systems should also be set up to enable Elderly Homes to function at the required level of transformed service provision.