Old age is not a barrier to enjoy life
Some elders have not even seen their children for several years since most of them have isolated their own parents
Everybody’s duty is to look after elders, especially those who have no guardians to look after their needs and also to provide welfare. Elders are our treasures and it is our sole responsibility to give them the maximum protection.
A survey, conducted by Helpage Sri Lanka (HASL) revealed that one percent elders in our country are still in elders homes and the rest are with their families.
The survey reveals that nearly 315 registered Elders Homes are in the country and over 11,000 Senior Citizen Committees have been established island-wide to enhance the welfare of these elders.
Helpage Sri Lanka recently visited an Elders Home in a remote village of Hiripitiya, Pannipitiya to spend the day with elders. The Elders Home ‘ Mavpiya Upahara Wedihiti Niwasa’ provides shelter to a large number of male and female elders who are between the age of 60 to 93 years.
When Helpage visited the place, the elders welcomed the visitors by offering beautiful flowers. They spent few hours with elders and they were also happy to hear some yesteryear Sinhala musical songs, iprovided by a music band.
The band gave the elders an opportunity to expose their inborn talents by singing Sinhala hits. This reflected that the old age was not a barrier to enjoy.
The elders also received valuable gifts including clothes, food items from Helpage team, headed by Executive Director Samantha Liyanawaduge.
Elders Home Matron Sunethra Amunugama and officer Renuka Cooray said a heartbreaking story that many elders have been isolated by their kith and kin, but the Elders Home officials look after them very well.the most heartbreaking story was that some elders who are in the latter parts of their lives have not even seen their children for the last several years since most of them have isolated their own parents.
Matron Amunugama thanked Helpage staff members for their visit to the Elders Home and consoled them even for few hours.
She said even school children and university students visit the elders very often.
Helpage Executive Director Samantha Liyanawaduge highlighted the valuable service rendered by elders in the past and said Helpage presently provides free health services including free Cataract Surgeries to less –privileged elders in the country.