Old age home in neighbourhood all set to take care of elders

Chennai: India is home to one of the largest senior citizens population. Reports continue to emerge about the difficulties they face. Disturbed by the troubles the elders face, and having a deep desire to get involved in social activities, B Gopalan decided to start Akshaya Trust, an organisation that runs a home for the aged, in 2002.
Gopalan started the home at Mudichur where about 50 residents live currently. After 17 years, the trust will stretch its altruistic arms by opening a new branch at Valasaravakkam.
Speaking to News Today, manager of the old age home, Bhuvaneswari Elangovan, says, “‘We do not charge people who stay here. The trust follows a set of criteria to admit elders. They should be above 60 years of age and shouldn’t have anybody to take care of them.’”
She adds, ‘”Elders who have been abandoned by their families, unmarried seniors make up the residents of our old age homes.’”
The old age home at Suresh Nagar Main Road, Valasaravakkam, will be officially opened 4 August. It can house 35 senior residents.
Sharing in brief about how residents are admitted at the homes, Bhuvaneswari says Akshaya Trust is in constant touch with HelpAge India, a leading charity body working for disadvantaged elderly for nearly four decades.
‘”We rescue people from the roads and also those who have been neglected by their families. This time, we are planning to take in even bedridden elders. For this purpose, we have special staff,”’ says Bhuvaneswari.
The trust entirely depends on donors, a large group of people who have been helping to run the trust since its inception. ‘They make sure they contribute one way or the other to make the home run efficiently,’ informs Bhuvaneswari.The trust offers the elderly residents food, clothes and constant medical check-up. ‘We cook the food. We make sure to serve them based on their health requirements. We follow a standard menu and don’t accept food from the outside,’ explains Bhuvaneswari.
For details, visit www.akshayachennai.org or contact 93603 99636.