Senior citizens showcase talent

NATABUA Golden Age Home residents showcased their skills and talents to members of the Lautoka community yesterday.

The home’s senior welfare officer, Clermont Dare, said though many had been abandoned by children and family members, the residents still had a lot of spark in them.

“Within us are skills that we were born with and some we inherited from a very young age and we are lucky that these residents have been able to share them with us before they leave us,” Mr Dare said.

“Today is all about singing, art and craft, cooking, sewing and reading and it is so touching to see that most of them still love what they have enjoyed doing for many years before being admitted to our care.

“The children of these residents are unlucky as they have not been able to learn these skills from them and we the staff learn a lot from them every single day.”

Mr Dare said serving the residents was an honour for most of the staff members and in exchange they learned every skill taught to them by the elderly citizens.

Mr Dare said keeping the 53 residents housed, fed and cleaned was made possible through Government and faithful donors.

The week-long celebration is part of the International Day of Older Persons celebration which ends tomorrow.

Picture: REINAL CHAND Golden Age Home resident Shunkantla Devi shows some of her doormats during the home’s Board of Visitors craft showcase in Lautoka.

Picture: REINAL CHAND Golden Age Home resident Shama Wati (left) sings a song while fellow residents and welfare officer provide the chorus.