89-YO Opens Her Ancestral Residence to Care For Aged Ladies

It was after her husband’s demise in 2004 that Karusseril N Thankamma, a resident of Kottayam, first considered placing collectively an initiative for aged girls like herself. 

“We spend our days alone. All we want for at this age is corporate, which most occasions is unavailable as our youngsters and grandchildren are busy working or learning,” the 89-year-old tells The Higher India.

The previous instructor of NSS Higher Major Faculty, Thampalakkad, is effectively conscious that that is an unavoidable state of affairs and that relations can’t be round on a regular basis. With a purpose to efface loneliness from the lives of aged girls round her, in addition to to make their days productive, this retired Hindi instructor determined to change her 200-year-old ancestral residence right into a daycare. 

She says the concept was to offer companionship, have interaction elders in fascinating actions to keep up their well being and provides employment to younger girls within the locality.

The thought was supported by Thankamma’s kids Sreekumar, Satheesh Kumar and Geetha. They contributed to the renovation of the house and helped their mom unfold the phrase concerning the initiative.

“Amma doesn’t want an introduction in our locality,” Sreekumar, who’s the chief industrial officer in a New-York based mostly agency, says. “As a result of she was a instructor, she is linked to extra folks than us. She is somebody who likes to offer all her earnings and learnings to different girls for his or her empowerment. She is likely one of the most energetic folks I do know. Even at this age, she strikes round and comes up with new concepts to develop the daycare.” 

The house, now referred to as Manavodaya Pakalveedu, was formally registered as a charitable society and commenced operations on 11 October 2017. “It was on amma’s 84th birthday that the daycare began functioning. From then on, yearly, her birthday is widely known right here with us and the 30 inmates, who’re all above the age of 60,” provides Sreekumar. 

As Thankamma is aged and all of her kids are away with jobs, a set of 5 staff are working completely within the daycare to make sure the wellness of inmates and perform day-to-day actions. 

The workers right here makes candle lights, incense sticks, paper luggage, detergents and cleansing lotion. The merchandise made are bought by way of a store close to the daycare and the earnings is absolutely used to maintain the place operating, says Thankamma. Whereas the workers does a lot of the work, the inmates assist in packaging the merchandise.

“The house additionally provides a free course on stitching to anybody who can be a part of. All the staff on the daycare are younger girls, two of whom have  accomplished Masters in social work,” says Thankamma instructor’s daughter Adv Geetha who visits the house each weekend and contributes to the actions.

Companionship and pleasure

Every week in the past, Thankamma instructor celebrated her 89th birthday together with her day-care pals at Pakalveedu. As a part of the celebration, a pc centre was inaugurated right here, the place free teaching is offered to folks in MS Workplace and accounting. Two instructors are appointed to show the scholars.

A day within the lives of the inmates of Pakalveedu begins at 8 am when they’re picked up from their homes by the day care’s automobile. After a secular prayer, the ladies transfer in for a meditation and yoga session adopted by newspaper studying and breakfast.

They will have interaction within the packing of candles, incense sticks or detergent as per their want. Others can have interaction in conversations, studying, farming or video games. They’re taken again to their respective houses by 5 pm after a night stroll and low collectively. 

“All of the inmates listed below are girls who spend their days alone at residence after their kids depart for work or research. Whereas a few of them are introduced right here by their kids, some come by their very own curiosity,” says Sreekumar.

With a purpose to make sure the well being of the inmates and to assist throughout emergency conditions, a well being clinic and lab have been arrange right here. A physician, a nurse, and a lab technician can be found throughout day time.

“We maintain a month-to-month meetup of relations the place the inmates can showcase their skills. We additionally have a good time birthdays, Onam and Christmas collectively at residence. A small one-day journey can be organized yearly with all of the members and workers,” Thankamma says.

She additionally provides that the credit score of the success of Pakalveedu goes to all of the inmates right here. “Their love and prayers are the driving power of this initiative,” she notes.

Padmakumari S, a 68-year-old inmate of Pakalveedu says, “I’ve a deep relationship with Thankamma instructor’s household. She taught me at school and my household was acquainted together with her husband. From day certainly one of Pakalveedu, I’ve been a member right here and it offers me immense happiness and peace to be with girls of my age group.” 

She continues, “I have interaction in incense sticks, candle and paper bag making. The workers right here takes excellent care of us with correct meals, medicines and routine well being check-ups. Each my sons are staying in separate homes with their very own households, and if not in Pakalveedu, I’d be spending time alone. I hope extra such houses come up in each locality for aged girls like me.”

In the meantime, Thankamma instructor notes, “I’ve at all times felt a accountability to offer again to the society that taught quite a few issues to me. Additionally, spending time with these girls brings me unmatched pleasure and peace of thoughts. We additionally owe loads to the younger girls who assist us in operating the house effectively. By using girls and offering them with an area, I think about this initiative as a way of girls empowerment too.” 

Thankamma additionally hopes to advertise sustainability by making fabric luggage from her daycare and assist folks make a behavior of utilizing this different of plastic. She says that it’s by no means too late to begin one thing new, a enterprise or a behavior.

Edited by Divya Sethu; Photograph credit: Manavodaya Pakalveedu/Fb.