The Group Homes provides residential care and a haven from violence and abuse for 60 disabled adults from all parts of the Western & Southern Cape. Opened in April 1995, the complex currently consists of 6 homes, each of which accommodates 10 disabled adults and 2 house parents. Each home is managed in an organised, as comfortable as affordable and possible style, and encourages healthy communal living. Residents have their own, private rooms, but everyone shares a communal kitchen and living area. Each resident makes a financial contribution from their monthly disability grants, towards the rent and upkeep, and has their own responsibilities within the home. One of the group homes was adapted to accommodate couples who are involved in long term relationships. Here they can live together and enjoy the privacy they deserve, after getting officially engaged.

A qualified medical nurse was recently appointed to take care of basic health services are provided, including the administration of medication and immunisation, incontinence management, blood pressure and diabetes control, management of bedsores, dental, visual/audio care, chiropodist services and linking to paramedic services (e.g. physio- and occupational therapy) where this may be required.

Prior to admission to this programme, residents are screened in order to determine the level of care and specific assistance required by each individual so that the organisation may respond accordingly. They are encouraged to grow intellectually, emotionally, socially, spiritually and physically through programmes developed by the organisation.

Residents are also given the opportunity to be employed by the income generating projects (such as contract work & the bakery) where they can learn a skill, earn additional income and develop an enormous sense of achievement and self-worth.

With recognition to some of our residents ageing and/or becoming frail, we have adapted one of the existing group homes into a semi-frail care unit. This unit is specialised, to provide more intensive supervision as well as medical care for residents who are unable to assist themselves, and have no family to care for them.

Basic health services are provided, including the administration of medication and immunisation, incontinence management, blood pressure and diabetes control, management of bedsores, dental, visual/audio care, chiropodist services and linking to paramedic services (e.g. physio- and occupational therapy) where required. The ultimate goal is to register a fully-fledged Frail Care Home with the Department of Health, and we look forward to acquiring the necessary equipment and infrastructure in order to fulfil the requirements for registration. Those profoundly disabled adults who are not capable of participating in work centre activities are cared for at the Orion Activity Centre during the day. This centre identifies more basic, but still productive activities which also generate a small additional income.

Life skills training forms part of the daily activities at Orion through which residents are specifically taught how to handle their own money, sexual etiquette and other cultural competencies. They are given the opportunity to express their needs and concerns through the organisation’s social worker, who is able to provide guidance and assistance where necessary. A specific focus area of the social worker is to encourage the disabled person to maintain or re-establish contact with their families and communities.