‘Extend A Helping Hand to the Old and Homeless this Christmas’
– How often have we heard that being said by children of an elderly parent who has passed on… So soon all is forgotten.
The hands that once changed diapers, mixed milk, cooked food, took every care of you, spent sleepless nights to ensure you slept well and fought the world against all odds, are now wrinkled, weak, and frail, waiting for an unknown Caregiver to attend to her needs…forgotten indeed yet life must go on.
Well, one of the great things about Christmas is it stirs up an atmosphere of giving, even if you don’t celebrate christmas, there is something magical about this time of the year.
As the city is lit up and Christmas songs lure the happy shoppers on, there is a particular group of people that are often forgotten, left in a nursing home to live out the rest of their days, sometimes on their own.
While forgotten by the society they never seem to forget and often as they recall earlier days, all they can do is cry.
Eventually, they grow to accept the fact that they are alone, away from their loved ones and the visits get fewer and far between until it becomes promises that are never kept leaving many forgotten during this festive season.
Because of their age and maybe an added sickness that has left them dependent on others, they are in the hands of caregivers and nurses because their own families are too busy minding their own business and looking after their own children to take care of a dependent elderly relative.
Then Christmas comes around and churches do their yearly obligation of choir singing at these homes and just for a moment, they experience the joy of Christmas and what little memories they have left of past Christmases.
Angels in the form of caregivers and nursing staff are all they have on what most times seem like a lonely journey home.
We call them “angels” because that is how these vulnerable senior citizens see them too.
These “angels” bathe them, feed them, take care of them, and encourage them to take one day at a time. They get all the love and care in these Homes that maybe they should have gotten in their homes.
Deputy Manager of the Chanel Home of Compassion Priya ChandBucknell, urges the people of Fiji to extend a helping hand towards the Old and Homeless, be a son or a daughter to these beautiful souls, give them an opportunity to feel needed, even for a short while, light up their Christmas, stop by, share a moment with them even if you can’t afford a gift, a little time is their greatest desire.
Let’s not forget that we all wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for our old and aging parents and grandparents.
Mrs Bucknell also salutes and acknowledges the Nursing Homes around the country, in particular, the Sisters of Compassion who have dedicated their lives to providing love and tremendous care looking after the frail, sick, and vulnerable over the past 70 years and are continuing to do so despite their own challenges.
She also wishes to acknowledge the dedication and service of the Caregivers, truly they are “angels” that never shy away from their responsibilities.
Mrs Bucknell, on behalf of the senior citizens and the vulnerable minority of Fiji, wishes to convey a special message to the newly appointed Government of our beloved Fiji Islands.
Many of these elders chose you to lead them, they voted for you, trusted you, and empowered you, please don’t forget them.
No doubt these senior citizens helped set the foundations of this nation that you now lead.
Fiji needs to open more Homes with special care provisions. We need more
Nursing Homes that provide palliative Care, Hospice care, and End of Life Care.
To be specific, End of life care is support for people who are in the last months or years of their life. This special care should help them to live as much as possible until they pass on and to do so with dignity.