Centre brings smiles back to senior citizens
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite

Lamka, February 25 2012: Old age with its baggage is among people's greatest fears today.

As this tiny restive township too wrestles to catch up the world, its elders are often left alone wrestling with functional disabilities, loneliness and many a time without a penny.

Now, an old age day-care centre started a year back has begun reversing the trend, bringing the smiles back on the grey community.

The Tuithaphai Presbytery Women Development Project, a fellowship of women, has stepped on the pedal to endure the grey's baggage since 2005, sweating to raise funds for their novel project of nurturing an adult day-care centre.

Ever since the project made its debut last year it becomes a 'home away from home' for many elders where they spend the day and return in the evening to their families.

Though it is a Christian initiative, doors are open to all.

The time the elderly have spent together lifts their spirits, save them from boredom and will obviously make old age memorable.

Ninety-three-year-old Lalzaui one among the motley of crowd, their age ranging from 60 to 90 plus, told The Sangai Express that the centre has revived her life.

"Napping and eating is all that I have done at home.

Here I have partners to talk with, share my thoughts and listen to my favourite sermons.

Old age can't get better than this," she said.

"Life gets irresistibly dull when you are old, especially when your spouse had left you.

That is why I don't mind cycling all the way from Saikot to spent time together with people like me in this centre," Kaibuai, an octogenarian said.

"It lifts my spirits and gives a healing touch" .

Not many in the greying years are as mobile as he is, and ultimately as fortunate to relish the center as him.

The project promoter has hoped to plug that gap as well with a Tata Magic vehicle that was gifted to them barely three days back by a generous woman from one of the state elite families.

"We will now be picking up anyone who wants to spend their time with us and drop them at anytime of their choice,' revealed C Hmangaihzuali, the project Secretary.

Among the elders attending the day-care center, there are the depressed, the lonely and those fighting fears, especially the fear of death.

A full-time counselor would be appointed from next month to deal with them, Hmangaihzuali said adding, a doctor if they could ever afford will be a double advantage.

The Center serves snacks and tea to visitors.

All the services offered in the center are free, not even for those who will avail the pick and drop facility.

"Some people have turned up just for the sake of tea, but it still serves our purpose and we are contend at that," Niangi the center's care taker who confess that it takes a talk-active people like her to cheer the elders, said.

A separate room for relaxation has also been provided with beds.

The mood is upbeat at the Center and the joy of coming together is palpable in the language of the members who announce that, they been given an option would wish for more newspapers and magazines, a doctor, a solar plant to run the television and other endless list they fancy.

The fact that they draw strength from each other remains palpable.

"We have no funding or a big resource base.

This project subsists on faith and a desire to serve,' stressed Hmangaihzuali.

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