HOPE (Help Old People Emotionally) PROJECT

In the changing socio-economic situation, the problems of the aged and the infirm are becoming more complex today. In India, the aged population constitutes about 6.5% of the total population. A large portion of the aged is living in villages where poverty is widespread. The young people seeking employment outside the villages tend to leave the elderly persons unattended in the villages. The elderly are left in isolation and loneliness. They develop a feeling of guilt and inferiority due to dependence and dejection. Women suffer more when their husband dies and she is left to suffer the agonies of widowhood, abuse and every type of ill-treatment. Elderly women are more isolated in the family and have more adjustment problems in terms of interpersonal relationships compared to their male counterparts. They are vulnerable to injustice, exploitation and discrimination. The religious and social stigma attached to widowhood increases the suffering of elderly women. Ageing is a time of multiple illnesses and general disability. Besides an increased level of illness, the ageing process itself leads to certain disabilities such as low vision and blindness resulting from cataracts, deafness resulting from nerve impairment, loss of mobility from arthritis and a general inability to care for oneself. Even the well-cared elders will fall sick often because of age, but if they are neglected by their own relations and left on the streets, where do they go? Who will take care of them? How will they lead the rest of their life?

With this great apprehension towards the destitute elders on the streets, VKM has resolved to start Old Age Home  with an objective to provide free food, health care and shelter to destitute elders.

The Vision of Support to destitute Elderly persons is “ A SMILE IN THE END”.