As part of Rincon’s 14th Birthday celebrations, on June 23, 2012 we visited Little Sister of the Poor Home for the Aged. Located in one of the by-lanes of Mahakali Caves Road, Andheri, it was away from the hustle and bustle and there was peace and tranquillity. A sprawling, neat and clean complex beckoned us. The sister at the reception informed us that there were 150 inmates with 75 males and 75 females. They had an employee strength of 40 people comprising of 20 nuns, 4 cooks and 16 staff members. The cooks would come in at 6 am and prepare breakfast for the elderly inmates. Then there were 4 people on 12 hours shifts to take care of the immobilised and would undertake tasks like giving them a bath, feeding and taking them around in wheel chairs. The nuns stayed in the complex itself whereas the other staff members came to work from 8am to 5pm. They also had one nun trained to take care of the health of the inmates. The organisation is headquartered in France and presently have 14 such homes all across India mostly in South India with one in Jabalpur.
One of the sisters took us on a tour of the place. Apparently the inmates who were immobile would have lunch by 11.30 whereas the others would have at 12 noon. She showed us the dormitory where 6 inmates stayed together and they had their own cupboard with lock and key. Each dorm had 2 attached toilets and 2 bathrooms. There was a nice garden inside the building with different kinds of colourful flowers bordered on all 4 sides by corridors.
We reached the dining room for men just as they were finishing their lunch. They were extremely happy to see us and it showed on their countenance. We then served them with ice-creams and they applied themselves to it vigorously. Some of them talked to us for quite some time which was very touching. Then they showed us the handicrafts they made during the spare time and sell to visitors. These are made of cocount shells and were very artistic.
We then visited the ladies’ dining room and again they were a very happy lot. We were not able to meet the immobile inmates as it was their siesta time.
Many people come and donate cookies, clothes etc. Some of us donated clothes. The sister informed us that they are very possessive of their belongings. Hence all their clothes have their names stitched on it. She also informed us that this home was only for the very poor people. The children bring their parents as they are not able to take care of them due to financial constraints. However the parents think otherwise and feel sad that thinking that their children have left them.
All in all it was a happy yet moving experience.
Contributed by Kiran Rao