BY JOAO SOUSA M
PANAJI: The old age homes in the state utterly lack basic facilities for developing capabilities of the inmates and have simply been performing the task of provider of food and shelter.
The state has around 80,000-90,000 senior citizens of which nearly 15 per cent live in 63 old age homes as many Goans migrate to other countries for jobs and better prospects and have nobody to take care of their aged parents, which forces them to shift  their parents to  old age homes.

A source close to the Institute of Public Assistance (Provedoria) informed that most of the old age homes do not have any facilities to develop the capabilities of the elderly as the old age homes mostly concentrate on providing healthcare, food and shelter. She said that most of the old age homes run by convents have a prayer room as the elderly prefer to spend a lot of their time in prayer.
She said most of the convent-run old age homes are doing a reasonable job in terms of providing a decent living to the elderly and the destitute.
Sr Meera MC, the Sister Superior of the Missionaries of Charity which run four old age homes for the destitute in the state, said most of their inmates are picked up from the streets, abandoned on the railway stations, hospitals etc; they are either mentally ill or dying destitute.
“From time to time we make them do some painting, play music for them besides some games. However, a lot of people come to celebrate their special occasions with the inmates which make them very happy.”
Sr Meera further stated that at present Missionaries of Charity have around 72 female inmates in their Panaji house, while the male inmates are sheltered in their Quepem house. She said that they also have two more houses in rural Goa catering to the destitute from remote areas.
The Sister Superior stated that there is no support from the government and that the Missionaries of Charity is solely depending on donations from the public. She said it becomes difficult to provide for the inmates, particularly from their houses in the rural areas.
“By the grace of God we somehow manage,” she observed.
Another source said the old age homes are not old age homes for most of the religious institutions which run them, but it’s a mission and some provide very good service, sometimes at a price. However, the same cannot be said about the old age homes run by the Provedoria.
Stating the environment is not elderly-friendly at all, he said sometimes the houses are overcrowded. Secondly, the services are not up to the mark and there is a lot of compromise on the hygiene hence the public prefer old age homes run by religious institutions.
Interestingly, the social welfare department has a proposal to construct two old age homes -- one in North Goa and another in South Goa -- under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. However, the proposal may take some time to materialise.
The social welfare director, Mr N B Narvekar informed that the department is in the process of formulating some new schemes for senior citizens in old age homes, however he didn’t give details as the assembly session is in progress.