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Older Persons Act, 2006 (Act No. 13 of 2006)

Regulations

Regulations Regarding Older Persons, 2010

Chapter 4 : Protection for Older Persons

20. Measures to promote rights of older persons

 

(1) Every service provider providing a community-based care and support service and every operator of a residential facility must have measures in place to promote the rights of older persons, which includes—
(a) access awareness and educational programmes in the residential facility, and other services that will facilitate understanding of ageing issues and create awareness that ageing is a natural process;
(b) protection of older persons from any form of abuse such as neglect, ill treatment and financial exploitation;
(c) access to care and support services;
(d) training of older persons, their family, the public and staff on the rights of older persons; and
(e) access to information pertaining to matters that affect older persons such as financial management, the provision of services and the management of services.

 

(2) Every operator must display the following documentation in a prominent place so that all residents, family members and visitors to the residential facility can see them:
(a) Registration certificate;
(b) complaints procedure for the residential facility;
(c) contact details of the operator;
(d) contact details of the national and relevant provincial Departments of
(e) Social Development and Health;
(f) telephone numbers of toll-free help-lines and emergency services;
(g) the Act and these Regulations;
(h) the Charter on the Rights of Older Persons; and
(i) the operator's Business or Management Plan.

 

(3) No person may in any manner prevent or attempt to prevent an older person from exercising any of his or her rights under section 7 of the Act.

 

(4) An older person must be encouraged by all relevant structures to report any violation of his or her rights to them, which includes a service provider, an operator, a manager, a residents' committee, the South African Human Rights Commission and local authorities.