GUWAHATI, (MSW-FCW) — A group of students of Social Work Department, Family and Child Welfare concentration along with a faculty member visited Amar Ghar Old Age Home Guwahati to interact with old people and get to understand their problems, 14 February.
“It was one of the best experiences in our life because we got a chance to visit the Old age house and to interact with those amazing people who were sending by their own children to stay there on their own because there is no one to look after them as the children are busy with their own life,” said one of the students.
Besides interacting with the senior citizens, the students also spent time with them by presenting few songs to them and invited them to sing along. They were all very happy during the activities and everyone wants to come forward to sing.
“The purpose of our institutional visit were to equip our students through exposure in real life situation, meeting and interacting elderly people so that we understand the challenges faced by them and learn how best we can respond to their needs in near future,” said accompanying faculty member, Mr Phungreiso Varu.
“All we want in life is to get just a little love, little care and respect from our children that’s all we ever wanted” said one of the old man in the home.
Another old woman said, “We talk about development, unity, India as one but we do not remember to take care of our own family at home”.
“Because I am illiterate and my children are well educated,” added another old mother abandoned by her children.
It was observed that the old people are happy in the old age home because they get lots of love, care and are at peace living together as a family.
In their natural family the old people were considered a burden to their own children as they were settled out of town or work abroad.
But what is more surprising is that in spite of their ups and downs that they have faced in life, we can still see their smile on their faces and joy in their heart during the visit.
At the end of the visit, the students pledged “not to leave our parents no matter what, not to be mad at them when they do not do the things we wanted them to do, not to shout at them when they created a mess in the house, not to get irritated or annoyed when they are talkative.”
But instead, “we shall take good care of them, respect them and be patience with them because we will also grow old and would also do the same things that they have done.
The foundation of Amibikagiri Memorial Old Age Home named Amar Ghar meaning “my home” was laid on 18th December 2001 and the construction of phase – I of Assam Type house was completed. It has 7 rooms with attached bath and toilet, a library, a living room and a dining hall with separate kitchen. The home was inaugurated on 1st September 2003 and the inmates are staying comfortably since then.
Assam Don Bosco University 