Care for the Elderly in ANAWIM Foundation

 

I’ve been wanting to visit a Home for The Aged facility for some time now but I have always been putting it on the shelf because I don’t know how to handle them in case I trigger something that might make them sad. But we know that it’s sadder not to visit them, right?

So  about a month ago, I took the chance as me and my office choir mates traveled one and a half hour to Rodriguez, Rizal to visit ANAWIM, a Home for the Aged facility. Anawim is our chosen beneficiary for this year’s Harana project in the office. Since its conception in 1996, the Bo Sanchez founded facility has now evolved into a better and more comfortable house for our abandoned and rejected elderly, thankfully through the help of random generous donors.

Going to Anawim is a journey in itself as it is a long and unpaved one. From Quezon City, we passed by Payatas dump site and then Montalban. The location is something really out of the way so it’s best if you could bring a vehicle for mobility as Anawim is located on top of a mountain.

Upon arrival, a Lola greeted us with a smile and a big warm hug –it’s as if she’s been waiting for us for so long. At this point, all my worries were wiped away in an instant.

The facilities look considerate for the elderly — a hall is situated just a few steps away from the houses where it is used for dining, volunteer activities, and mass. A TV set is also present in the hall.

Later on, we held fun activities with the Lolos and Lolas.

In case you were wondering, there are three ways to help the elderly of Anawim:

 

                      

Should you want to do voulnteer work in Anawim, here’s what you need to do:

• Contact Anawim – Reserve your slot one month ahead.
• Confirm head count – When we visited, there were a total of 54 Lolos and Lolas in Anawim.
• Prepare a program
  • Singing
  • Ballroom Dancing (might not be applicable to all)
  • Prepare fun games such as Human Bingo, Name That Tune, Ice Breakers, Bring Me, etc.
• Brief yourselves on the do’s and don’ts before visiting a facility such as Anawim.

 

 

 

Anawim Lay Missions Foundation (ALMS), Inc.

Brgy. San Isidro, Sitio Tanag, Rodriguez, Rizal 1860 Philippines
Contact No.: +632-710-5273 / +639177303546 / +639228266421
E-mail: contact@anawim.com.ph
http://anawim.com.ph/
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