Old Age Home: Sister of Charity, Shillong

Orientation Visit to
SISTERS OF CHARITY - MERCY HOME
(Home for the Aged)
Demthring – 793 021, Shillong , Meghalaya

• Orientation Date : 8th September 2011 (Thursday)
• Time: 10.00AM to 12.00Noon

Introduction: The Old Age Home was constructed by the Archdiocese of Shillong in the year 1973 and is under the direct administration of Sister of Charity, Shillong, having its headquarters in Guwahati – the provincial.

Mercy Home, which has transformed many lives, has grown to be the abode for numerous destitute and poor senior citizens of India who have no one to look after them. Though the total intake of the inmate was fixed at 60 numbers, at present, there are 46 inmates at home. It has showered them all the love and the care they deserve at this age. Many new friendships have been made among the inmates of this home and a close attachment has been established. They stay together and pass the valued moments of their lives with their fellow acquaintances. The ages of the inmates range from 65 to more than a hundred year old. The oldest inmate, Mrs Saina Narati (106), a lady from Nangdong in Ri bhoi District recounts that she has no other choice, but to spend the last part of her life in the Mercy Home as she has no children, no relatives who would look after her. The inmates are very happy with the food, the love and the care they get from the Mercy Home. They also said that they give helping hand to keep the environment clean. Some even said that they get motherly love and care from the people who are taking care of them.

Funding Agency: The financial assistance for the maintenance of the Old Aged Home is extended by society through the school “Holy Child”. The Department of Social Welfare, Government of Meghalaya also render financial assistance under the scheme of National Policy on Older Persons which was introduced by the central government in 1999. Various self-help groups particularly the vegetable cultivator and farmers extend their helping hands to the home.

Admission Procedure: Irrespective of colour, creed, caste and religion, the Mercy Home accepts old people from all walks of life but with certain norms. A man over 65 years and a woman above 60 years, who have been abandoned by their family members and who have no one to care and love them are eligible if and only if they are not suffering from dangerous or infectious diseases. Admission was done by the local superior in consultation with Sister in Charge of the old age home. It is mandatory that the candidate should produce a recommendation letter from the Parish Priest or the head man of the particular village/locality.

Daily Routine: Early in the morning after refreshing themselves, they used to have a Mass at 6.30AM. At 7.30AM they would go for breakfast and after that comes a time for bathing and relaxing. Lunchtime come when the clock stuck 12 hours and during day time, they would play different kinds of indoor games. Tea and snacks were served at 3.00PM which is followed by prayer. Then time for recreation and television comes at 4PM and they used to have their dinner at 6.30PM.

Process:

The caretaker of the old age home, Sister Ann has been a mother figure for all the people and she takes care of all of them with the help of the workers. She told us how the old age home has been taking care of all the unfortunate people from the time of its inception in 1973.

1. As soon as we gathered in front of the home, Sister Ann briefs us about the functioning of the home. It is interesting to note that the old aged inmates followed a certain daily routine.

2. After a brief introduction of the organisation by Sister Ann and interaction, we were given the chance to interact with the inmates.
3. After almost one hour interaction with the inmates, we conducted a short formal program where T. Zamlunmang Zou presided and a group of students led us in singing an action song.
4. A small gift was given for the home.
5. Then we left the place after spending almost two hours at that home.

Learning:

Sisters of Charity – Mercy Home of Shillong, is giving a benevolent service to the unfortunate earthly god of the young children. There are many people in this habitat who could be our grandmothers and grandfathers, but they have no one to look after them, they are devoid of love and care.

Till a few years back this underprivileged old man was lonely and there was no one to look after him. His fragile eyes and feeble limbs were too weak to feed his stomach. He was going haywire and he had no hope to survive. Then the Mercy Home, an old age home for the destitute and the aged people came to his rescue and received him with warm hands. He is now enjoying the last few years of his existence in this old age home with his newfound friends. Originally hailing from Nepal he has made this Mercy Home his adopted residence.

At the corner of the building, their lies a few beds, the rest of the beds were empty except one. The rest of the inmates are busy interacting with the students from MLCU, but she could not mingle with her friends – she is 106 years old and could hardly speak to the visitors. Hailing from Ribhoi district in Nangdong village, Mrs Sebina Barati is the oldest inmate at the moment. Though she could not recall of her past memories, it is still vivid in her head that there was none, not even a single person to love and care for her. With a shivering tune, she recounted that she has no kids, no relatives and no one to look after her, there is no other choice for her accept to spend the last part of her life in this Mercy Home.

The Home: The inmates are very happy with the food, the love and the care they get from the Mercy Home. They also said that they give helping hand to keep the environment clean. Some even said that they get motherly love and care from the people who are taking care of them.

As per my observation, the home was well-planned. Apart from the separate dormitory for male and females, there are different rooms for the old ladies. Each bed is attached with bed-side cupboard like a special room in private hospitals.

Reflections:

1. Sisters of Charity – Mercy Home is capable and fully equipped to tackle the needs of the old inmates, be it physical, psychological, theological and practical.
2. It is a challenging orientation visit as we experienced the reality of life. We learnt that there is still hope even after everything seems vanished in one’s life.

Over All Learning:

The important roles of Social workers in taking care of a person who is devoid of love and care.

Written by Pupu Zou