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Inmates of old people's home wish to see kin

AJMAN — Lonely and forlorn, they watch Eid celebrations from a distance longing for someone who could come and bring cheer on their wrinkled faces.

But despite the best efforts of those who manage the Ajman Elderly Welfare Home (AEWH), the aged inmates many times miss the love and care from their relatives and friends who hardly find time to spare to visit the destitute, even on the festive occasion of Eid.

And if somebody visits them, their joy knows no bounds.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Mohammed Issa, an inmate of AEWH, said: “I have never been married, so I don’t have children who would visit me during Eid and Ramadan. But my friends and relatives sometimes visit me and take me to their homes to spend the day."

“I feel sad for not having children to look after me at this stage in my life. But I have to thank God, I am happy here living with other old people, recalling beautiful memories of days past. The officials here are taking very good care of us.”

Mariam, an 80-year-old who stays at the rest home, said she had been married for more than 40 years, but after her husband's death none of her close relatives, who are living in Fujairah, were willing to take care of her.

"None of my relatives visit me and and I don't expect any to come and wish me Eid Mubarak," she added coldly.

B. Khamees is a childless centurion. His wife died 20 years ago. He has brothers and a sister living in Ajman with their children, but he does not know anything about them. He expects his friends and acquaintances to come and visit him to wish him happy Eid.

Smail Faraj, the youngest inmate, said his wife died at an early age and they had no children. He refused to remarry as he wanted to be faithful to her memory.

He said no woman in the world can occupy the place of his wife in his heart. “I have many friends and acquaintances who visit me every week,” he added.

Fatima, 75, said: “The most important thing for an elderly person to do is to keep busy. Even though I am an elderly woman, I hate the notion of being idle. I used to do several activities such as stitching and embroidery, but as I am gradually losing my eye sight, this activity has become difficult for me.”

She added that she liked the rest home where she could meet other old people and make friends, exchange views and learn something from the knowledge and experience they have accumulated over the years.

She does not need people from outside to visit her to wish her happy Eid as she can share the happiness of Eid with her friends in AEWH.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Liela Al Zarooni, Deputy Director General Of AEWH, said AEWH had organised several programmes aimed at intergrating the elderly people and make them enjoy the happiness of Eid as normal people.

It also encourages the family and relatives of the elderly to visit these people during Eid to share happiness with them.

AEWH which is dedicated to honour, respect and care for the elderly, tries to facilitate an interaction between the inmates and their relatives.

On the occasion of Eid the elderly persons in this centre have a psychological need to be visited by their relations and children. Such visits can rekindle hopes of these people offering them a new lease of life on a downhill journey.

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