This is a snapshot of some of the ZANE beneficiaries as given by one of the ZANE carers:
Jeanette
We did a new Pensioners’ Aid assessment interview with Jeanette (72 years old). She is a pleasant woman who has worked hard all her life, managing to cope after her husband died about 16 years ago.
At that time, her daughter was 15 years old and Jeanette continued to care for her lovingly, paying her school fees and ensuring that she continued to have educational training to sustain her through her life. Her daughter is now in Australia and when possible, helps her mother financially.
Jeanette is just getting by financially at present, mostly because she has a very low paying job and a small NSSA pension. She doesn’t know how long this job will last but I have entered her into our system and made sure she knows how to contact us when her circumstances change and she is unable to cope any more.
Hilda
I had a sad time at one of the local retirement complexes because most of the people I saw there were very anxious and unhappy.
Hilda said their rents are all going up and she is frantic, thinking she will not be able to pay this (as well as other increasing costs for everyday items such as food, toiletries etc.). “Where will I go? I have no family to help me or put me up. I feel desperate”.
We are hearing these words more and more these days.
Ronda
Ronda was the same. Her painful hip continues to deteriorate further and she can’t afford surgery here, cannot return to Europe, and knows her sons cannot help her.
When I asked blunt questions about what will she do when her pain becomes more extreme, she replied she will commit suicide, so I spent a long time listening and trying to help her come to terms with her life – if only we had access to more medical funds for the kind of surgery she requires.
Joe
My main concern right now is with Joe who lives at one of the homes. He is usually fairly stable with his emphysema, but now he has deteriorated a lot.
I sat with him for a long while in his cluttered flat, talking a little, ascertaining how bad his health is right now and whether we need to intervene.
He was struggling to breathe, even with his oxygenator and certainly struggling to talk (I did most of this as a result). I emphasised yet again that we are here to help, especially with medical costs. He knows this and as usual will keep all medical cost invoices to show me.
*Please note that names have been changed to protect their privacy
* Names and images may have been changed for privacy reasons
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Thank you – Nicky Passaportis ZANE Australia
Please donate to support pensioners struggling to survive in Zimbabwe
Any assistance is greatly appreciated and goes a long way to giving our pensioners a better quality of life and lift the pressure of money worries which is very debilitating emotionally.
(Donations made to ZANE in Australia, are tax-deductible)