OLD age is a stage in life that people of almost every culture consider a blessing – a blessing which can be enjoyed with generations within one’s family. There are over 100 million senior citizens in India and while there are senior citizens who are well cared for and protected, millions have been abandoned by their own families and are left to fend for themselves in this dangerous and ever-changing world.

There are multiple reasons that elderly people in India are abandoned and homeless on the streets. It is estimated that there are around 18 million homeless senior citizens who have been thrown out of their homes and are without a person in the world to care for them. 

Once people become older and struggle with health concerns, some family members see them as a burden that requires far too much of their time and money. Moreover, disputes over property and a general lack of concern lead to the unfair, unjust and pathetic condition in which the elderly are thrown out of their own homes by their own children – leaving them on the streets where they face dangers in an unprotected environment and are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation by criminals. For old women who are suddenly made homeless, the threat of sexual violence makes the situation even worse.

Give’s Mission: Protect Abandoned Elders is a fundraiser that aims to rescue and care for abandoned and homeless elderly people. For ₹1,000 a month, donors can provide senior citizens with safe shelter, nutritious food, medicines and other basic essentials for one month. By supporting this fundraiser, you can give love and care to parents and grandparents who have been kicked out of their homes and are facing the last years of their lives alone and heartbroken. To support Mission: Protect Abandoned Elders, you can donate here. 

Here are the 4 main areas of care that Mission: Protect Abandoned Elders provides for homeless elders: 

Shelter

The most vulnerable groups of people include children and the elderly. When old people suddenly become homeless, they are exposed to dangers such as unclean and unsafe environments, extreme weather and the danger of being physically abused by criminals who seek to exploit them. For their basic survival, many elderly people will resort to begging and this opens them up to more dangers including the threat of being trafficked by people who intend to use them for money. For old women, not having proper shelter also leads to sexual abuse. For an elderly person, this type of horrific abuse can lead to life-threatening conditions and even death. By rescuing these old and homeless people from the streets, Give’s Mission: Protect Abandoned Elders brings them to safety and removes the threat of abuse and exploitation, allowing them to begin the process of rebuilding their lives and preparing for the future.   

an elderly Indian homeless woman on the streets

Food

The abandonment of old people has a devastating impact on the physical health of the elderly. The lack of regular and nutritious meals can lead to severe malnutrition, diseases and a dangerously weakened immune system. Without adequate food and water, old people suffer from deficiencies, muscle and bone deterioration and become too frail to perform basic functions such as sitting up or walking. The inevitable consequence of this severe and rapid decline in their health can cause death, and for those who have no one to care for them, this can be a frightening prospect. Give’s Mission: Protect Abandoned Elders provides regular, healthy, nutritious, delicious and fresh meals to build the strength and immunity of homeless elderly people and help them fight infections and disease. With adequate food and clean drinking water, homeless elders can build the physical strength required to survive and cope with the emotional anguish of abandonment.

Medicine

As people get older, medication is required to keep the body healthy and alive. Elders are often dependent on medication to treat conditions such as blood pressure, blood sugar or deficiencies to aid their daily survival. For those with more severe conditions, regular medication and periodic medical treatment is vital to keep medical conditions and diseases under control. With little to no access to medical attention or medicines, older people’s overall health can rapidly decline and the suffering can be excruciating and even fatal. Suffering with life-threatening illnesses is difficult enough for people who are learning to cope with old age, but when these same people are suddenly homeless without a person around to care for them, their suffering worsens. Give’s Mission: Protect Abandoned Elders offers medical treatment and life-saving medication to elderly and homeless people to ensure they receive the medical attention they need while minimizing other possible future risks.

a young man comforting an old man

Basic needs

Basic essentials such as clothing, soap, rations and other essentials are required for people to carry out necessary day-to-day functions such as keeping themselves clean and having enough food to eat. These basic essentials help senior citizens care for themselves and fight off infections and minor conditions, which could otherwise potentially worsen and cause more serious and grave conditions which they would be unable to treat. Having enough basic essential items also help empower people and enable them to take care of themselves instead of waiting each hour or day for someone to show them some kindness and mercy, which oftentimes may not occur. Give’s Mission: Protect Abandoned Elders provides toiletries and rations so that homeless elders can tend to their basic health and hygiene needs. By providing these essential items, it helps elderly people feel secure regarding their welfare and they can move forward on their journey to care for themselves.

Support Mission: Protect Abandoned Elders

The care and concern of compassionate donors can make a world of difference to abandoned and homeless elders who are forced to live the last years of their lives in heartbreak and abandonment. When you support Mission: Protect Abandoned Elders, you can provide shelter, food, medicines and basic essentials to men and women who are in need of a helping hand to navigate this rough world on their own. To support Mission: Protect Abandoned Elders, you can donate here:

Support Mission: Protect Abandoned Elders

 

📷 (banner): Adam Cohn | flickr

– 

Give’s mission is to “make giving bigger and better.” Give is the most trusted donation platform in India for fundraisers and crowdfunding campaigns. Through our technology solutions, we enable individuals and organisations to fundraise and donate to a cause, charity or NGO with trust and convenience. Give’s community of 2.7M+ individual donors and 300+ organisations supports 3,000+ verified nonprofits with 80G deduction and serves 15M+ people across India. Find a fundraiser today!

 

Discover more from give.do

Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.