City Overview
Durban is part of the eThekwini metropolitan area, with an estimated population of around 4.2 million people (2022), making it one of the largest urban areas in South Africa.
The population has grown steadily over the past decade, with a large working-age population (around 72%) and a relatively young demographic overall. At the same time, South Africa’s population is gradually ageing, with around 10% aged 60 and above, a proportion that continues to increase.
Durban is ethnically and culturally diverse, with a majority Black African population alongside significant Indian, White, and Coloured communities.
Dementia awareness and formal care systems are still developing, and care is often led by families, supported by community networks. Access to services can vary depending on awareness, affordability, and proximity, and pathways into care are not always clearly defined.
Voices
The grid of Voices posts will appear here.
Insights
Day-to-day care is primarily provided by family members, often without formal training or
structured support. This reflects broader patterns across many settings, where informal caregivers
provide the majority of dementia care, accounting for an estimated billions of hours of unpaid
care globally (Alzheimer’s Disease International). In Durban, caregivers describe coordinating
care independently, balancing emotional, physical, and financial demands over time.
Early symptoms are frequently attributed to normal ageing or stress, leading to delays in seeking
medical advice. As a result, help is often sought only when symptoms become severe and difficult
to manage. Across low- and middle-income settings, dementia remains underdiagnosed, with
global estimates suggesting that up to 75% of people with dementia are not formally diagnosed
(World Health Organisation). In Durban, this is reflected in caregivers’ experiences of uncertainty
about when changes require medical attention and where to seek assessment.
There is no single, clearly defined entry point into dementia care. Caregivers often rely on
informal networks, word of mouth, or trial-and-error to identify services. In South Africa, dementia
care is not consistently integrated into primary care systems, contributing to uneven access to
information and fragmented referral pathways. This results in navigation that is often reactive
rather than guided.
Resources
Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital
Public tertiary hospital offering specialist services, including neurology and geriatric care through
referral.
Addington Hospital
Regional public hospital providing general medical services and referrals for further assessment.
Life Entabeni Hospital
Private hospital with access to specialists, including neurologists and physicians.
KZN Department of Health
Public health system providing primary care clinics and referrals across KwaZulu-Natal.
Alzheimer’s South Africa
Provides information, education, and support for people living with dementia and caregivers,
including awareness programmes and helplines.
Age-in-Action South Africa
Supports older persons through community programmes, social services, and advocacy.
Bessie Makatini Foundation
Focuses on awareness, education, and community-level support initiatives.
The Association for Dementia and Alzheimer’s of South Africa
Focuses on awareness, education, and community-level support initiatives.
Tafta (The Association for the Aged)
Offers residential care, assisted living, and community-based support for older adults.
Fairhaven Retirement Village
Provides residential and assisted care services for older persons.
South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)
Offers national helplines and emotional support, which can be relevant for caregiver stress and
mental health.
Partners
Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital
Public tertiary hospital offering specialist services, including neurology and geriatric care through
referral.
Addington Hospital
Regional public hospital providing general medical services and referrals for further assessment.
Life Entabeni Hospital
Private hospital with access to specialists, including neurologists and physicians.
KZN Department of Health
Public health system providing primary care clinics and referrals across KwaZulu-Natal.
Alzheimer’s South Africa
Provides information, education, and support for people living with dementia and caregivers,
including awareness programmes and helplines.
Age-in-Action South Africa
Supports older persons through community programmes, social services, and advocacy.
Bessie Makatini Foundation
Focuses on awareness, education, and community-level support initiatives.
The Association for Dementia and Alzheimer’s of South Africa
Focuses on awareness, education, and community-level support initiatives.
Tafta (The Association for the Aged)
Offers residential care, assisted living, and community-based support for older adults.
Fairhaven Retirement Village
Provides residential and assisted care services for older persons.
South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)
Offers national helplines and emotional support, which can be relevant for caregiver stress and
mental health.