CARE FOR THE ELDERS

Why Sri Lanka needs Elders' Homes - Homes for Senior Citizens?

Sri Lankan population is about 20 million to date and it is ageing day by day. It is estimated that by year 2020, one in four will have reached the age of sixty.
Number reasons have awakened the need of Homes for the Elders;
More than 52% of Sri Lankan population is below the poverty line. Of the younger generation/ the work force of the country who should be looking after their elderly parents;

• Many youngsters have moved to main cities from the rural areas leaving behind their elderly parents in their villages, in search of healthier employment opportunities for the betterment of their economy and future
• Nearly another 1 million are engaged in the country's longstanding civil war, in the war front, far away from their homes.
• More than 2 million have gone abroad seeking employment. Nevertheless, most of their monthly earnings are less than US$ 150, hence, are not in a comfortable level to support their parents.
• Another 1 million, educated professionals, skilled or otherwise have migrated to other countries looking for better prospects of life
  In addition,
• There are elderly people who neither have children or any body else to look after them nor can look after themselves on their own.
  

All these factors have contributed for the need for Homes for the Elders in Sri Lanka in the present context.

What are the procedures adopted by the above categories in Sri Lanka in looking after their elders?

1. Out sourcing in house nursing care - nursing them while they are at their homes
2. Availing the facilities of the Homes for the Elders/ Homes for Senior Citizens

What is our Role?

The Social Service Committee of the ACBC is engaged in providing this service by maintaining nine Elders' Homes for the most needed elders around the country.
Eight out of these nine homes provide "FREE" shelter, food, clothing and medical care for the neediest elders. However, all these homes could only provide them with the basic requirements since they are mostly run on public donations. About 70% of their meals are provided as a means of alms received from generous benefactors.
However, all these homes are unable to cope up with the high costs in providing nutritious meals, sophisticated medical treatments when these elders fall sick. These homes run with under staff as a result of having no extra funds to pay salaries for adequate staff. Hence, taking care of bed ridden elders and bearing maintenance and other costs such as water & electricity costs have become a serious problem now.