New Year 2026 👏

 

As the year 2026 started, SAHAS [Spreading Aid Health And Smile] Foundation, an NGO we, friends, started in 2021, just after COVID, thought to start taking our first baby step towards elder care. Leena and I, always wanted to do something for the marginalized elderly. As we discussed what can we do for the society as the new year started Archana, one of our most active members suggested, we spend some quality time with those elders staying at an old age home. A wonderful idea. So, immediately we started doing a little recce and identified St Anthony's Home for the Aged at Chapel Road, Bandra West, for no other reason than it was most convenient for us, all senior citizens.

St Anthony's Home for the Aged at Chapel Road, Bandra West was only too happy to oblige. So we, Archana, Ravindra, Leena reached there in the evening, as scheduled.  Sister Nirmala had told us we could give the seniors small chocolates to make it a celebratory day as it was the First of the New Year.  

We did a lot of work that day, Leena and I. We had planned a relaxing breakfast at Flurys for the New Year. We drove down to the town and had a leisurely time. Then Leena went home to finish some work.

Midday, saw us at the bank creating some FDs for SAHAS.

SAHAS, of course had thought that only chocolates did not constitute a celebration and something more was needed. So we arranged for some pakodas and sweets. These now had to be collected from the vendor. We almost had to stand on their neck to get it done on time! Picking up the piping hot pakodas, the  motichoor laddoos and the chocolates and biscuit packets we were on our way. We were excited as this was our first foray into a Senior Citizen Home.

And we really learnt much that evening. The ladies, all in their 80s and 90s, were alert, ready with answers to the quiz we had for them; a game of housie was what they wanted but we had to keep that for another time. Songs they were eager to join in. On the whole a pretty cheerful lot.

Time was short; they needed to get ready for dinner.

So we took their leave. The ladies, almost forty of them, bade us good bye expressing their happiness at our visit; expressing hope that we would visit again. Small entertainment for their routine life. A break from the boredom.

It was a learning for us, too, this time spent in the company of the elders living in a home away from home. Not a situation one would choose for one self. But, families and relationships had to battle various constraints. A very difficult decision for all concerned. Sometimes though choosing the hard path is the only way.

Not something one would wish even on their worst enemies.

But again, at least they had a roof over their head, had three meals, clean clothes, a bed to sleep in and someone to take care of them in times of illness.

Life was hard!

Life was a struggle.

And Life also offered hope in the form of St Anthony's........