Philakade celebrated its 4th anniversary on the 4th November! Carers dressed up with the male carers wearing dresses and some of the female carers wearing suites and pants.  Much hilarity ensued and residents and staff loved the dancing and fun activities.

Philakade has admitted 210 people since opening.  Ages range between 1yrs and 95yrs.   Some people who have a home were discharged having regained enough independence to manage on their own during the day when other family members are not around and some residents have died –we offer palliative care, for patients who need palliate care on admission or whose condition deteriorates and for whom curative medicine is not indicated.

Many residents have heart-breaking stories about their lives before admission to Philakade – a paraplegic man who was living under a bridge; a man who is blind and deaf and had been abandoned at a local government hospital 4 years previously; a blind 5yr old girl with severe cerebral palsy abandoned in a hospital in northern KZN; a young hemiplegic man in his thirties shot in the head while studying law and whose parents were too frail to care for him.  All our residents have stories of great hardship and suffering as well as great resilience, humour and strength.

On occasion we have been told by residents; “I’m not disabled – I’m other abled”.

The braai was a special treat and Lucy had a field day!

THANK YOU SO MUCH to all donors, staff and volunteers who have made the last 4 years possible.  We are all so grateful.