Dementia is indicated under the Department of Social Development’s Older Persons Act (no.13 of 2006), as for being responsible for developing community-based programmes aimed at prevention and promotion, as well as home-based care with regards to information, education, counselling services and care for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia (amongst others) (see section 11 (2)(c) of the Older Person’s Act, p.13) (Government Gazette, 2006). This Act also refers to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease as conditions for which services at residential facilities should be provided for, specified as care and supervision services as well as public education on ageing and dementia (see section 17 (b) and (d), p.17).

Dementia also falls under the portfolio of the Department of Health as well as the Department of Housing (Human settlements) which is the custodian of the Housing Development Schemes for Retired Persons Act, 64 of 1988 (HDSRP) (SAHRC, 2015).

References:

Government Gazette. (2006). Older Persons Act, No.13 of 2006 (Vol. 13, Issue 1098). Available from: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/other/2012/3/older_persons_act.pdf

SAHRC. (2015). Investigative Hearing Report: Investigating hearing into systemic complaints relating to the treatment of Older Persons. Available from: http://www.sahrc.org.za/construction-site/home/21/files/SAHRC Investigative hearing report.pdf