Projects
At the moment we require financial assistance with the following:
1.Transport
Requirement:
1 small vehicle for medical travel and a 32 seater bus for outings.
Sum required +/- R570 000 convert currency
Justification:
a. Medical Travel
Currently only six staff members and six residents of the home have access to private vehicles. This means that a single visit to the dentist at Bredasdorp or a visit to a specialist in Hermanus can become a logistical nightmare. The ambulance service in this rural community is close to non-existent, so one of the staff members is co-opted to provide transport for the residents. This is a most unsuitable arrangement.
b. Recreation
Napier is situated within an hour’s drive from some lovely natural beauty spots but we are unable to take advantage of these areas as there is no transport to get the residents there.
The majority of our residents do not have family members living in Napier or close by in the surrounding farming areas, and as a result they get very little outside stimulus. As we are unable to transport them to the beach or to other places of interest, our residents’ lives are bound by the walls of the home. This does nothing to enrich the lives of our residents and there is an urgent need to stimulate them, get them out to experience the beauty of the surrounding area and to add some fun to their lives.
We do have people with the necessary driving permits required by law, to drive these vehicles and the vehicles would make a sizeable difference to the lives of the residents and staff.
2.Fencing
Requirement:
452 meters x palisade fence to surround the property
4 x motorized vehicle gates
1 x motorized pedestrian gate
Sum required +/- R600 000 convert currency
Justification:
a. Security
Currently the home has no fencing or other security features, other than burglar bars on the windows. This has made us a target for thieves and the residents are unable to protect themselves. The grounds of the home have become a thoroughfare for people working on the eastern side of the village and walking in the morning and afternoon to their homes situated on the western side of the village. This results in a constant stream of foot traffic with the attendant litter and security problems.
b. Alzheimer Patients
In addition to the foot traffic problem, Huis Klippe Drift is home to several Alzheimer patients. In the last two months, we have had three episodes where the Alzheimer patients have found their way out of the house and have wandered away. Fortunately, with this being a small community, they have been recognized by people in the street and gently guided back to the home. The home is situated on the main road through Napier and on to Bredasdorp, Arniston and Cape Agulhas. This road carries a lot of holiday traffic as well as all the heavy goods and grain vehicles. This makes our situation with the Alzheimer sufferers very dangerous and if the home was adequately fenced, and one of these residents gets out of the house, they would get no further than the fence.
3.Garden
At present there is no garden to speak of so residents are restricted inside the building. Once a substantial area outside has been securely fenced off, the home wishes to lay out a garden with a formal path so that residents can walk or be taken through by wheelchair. It is forseen that it will be predominantly an indigenous garden as this is largely 'waterwise' and will attract birds, butterfies and other small wildlife. Part of the cost of developing the garden involves purchasing rain tanks to capture rain from the home's roof and for irrigation piping. Easy access to the garden will require small structural alterations to the home i.e.making a door in place of a window and a ramp to the garden. It is hoped that a garden will substantially contribute to the quality of life of residents. Local plant nurseries are already offering plants which will be planted out once the paved paths and irrigation systems have been laid out.