Help people age gracefully

Graces, a home for the aged, would have remained a dilapidated facility had it not been for the efforts of concerned citizens. I would like to commend dzMM and its sister companies in cooperation with civic organizations such as the Rotary for the new look of Graces. You should have seen the faces of the elderly who were very grateful and happy to transfer to their decent home replete with an entertainment center where the residents can watch television programs.

It was through the initiative of the TV program “Failon Ngayon” of ABS-CBN that the residents were given an early Christmas gift. Ted Failon in two episodes showed the inhuman conditions some senior citizens of this country were in. The elders were sharing beds that did not even have the comfort of mattresses, pillows and blankets. Instead of counting sheep they were counting the raindrops from the leaky roof. Oftentimes, beds had to be moved in the middle of the night so the residents did not get wet. Some of them were forced to sleep wherein native mats could not even protect their backs from the cold floor. The comfort rooms were even in worse conditions. Gray-haired men and women were skinny and appeared deprived of enough nourishment. Teary-eyed, some of the residents interviewed by Failon confided that they had not been visited by their relatives.

“I worked hard and raised my children well but when they got married and left home, they have totally forgotten me,” one resident said.

Now that these aged men and women of Graces have a new home, let us not forget that it takes more than just a roof over their heads to make their remaining years fruitful and happy. These older citizens of this country used to live productive lives and have given their share to the government one way or another.

Our government has failed them when help was needed the most. Our president needs to be reminded that outside the perimeters of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are millions of civilians needing his equal attention. It is a shame that a big chunk of the national budget is allotted to intelligence funds while provision for social services fail in comparison.

Financial assistance to non-pensioners is being considered. That is a welcome development considering that these elders also have other needs like maintenance medication, toiletries and stuff for their hygiene or perhaps going to the park to have a breather from their confinement.