A Home for the Elderly

01. Mama gave me Life - but more than Life, she showed me the value of Caring-for-Others. By her own example: [1st, of reaching out to her aging sickly Sisters-in-Need dependent upon financial and material help Mama would inconveniently handcarry by herself during her yearly visitations back to her hometown; 2nd, of endlessly searching and rejoycing at the disappearance and re-appearance of my ran-away Sister yearning for independence from Mama's intolerant lifestyle; 3rd, of living frugally to attain Quality Education for her growing-up Children] Mama taught me, even ahead of the Jesuits, the real purpose of life - "In the Service of Others".

02. Mama died in Yr 2002, in her sleep, in her bed, in her home, at the Old Age of 84 yrs old. As she valued Privacy, Frugality, and Freedom, she chose to live all by herself all throughout her Lifetime - except the last 2 years. In Yr 2000, Rommel (my Son who was asked by Mama to live with his Wife and Daughter in the other house inside Mama's 2-house Residential Compound) co-incidentally caught sight of Mama vomitting blood and had to rush her to hospital. Mama was diagnosed to have a "glass stomach" caused by the overdose of Pain-killing Drugs prescribed by doctors for her Rheumatic Condition. Mama's failing memory caused the Drug Overdose brought about by self-medication. Returning back to her house (coming from the hospital) Mama reluctantly accepted the new reality that she had transformed from a Fully-Independent into a Fully-Dependent Elderly. Thereafter, Mama had to have 2 full-time (on 12-hrs rotation) Caregivers living-in with her. Her Caregivers prepared Mama's Meals, helped her with her Personal Necessities (in and out of the Bathroom), walked her in the sunlight around the yard, and saw to the timely taking of her Medicines. Despite the personal attention given her, Mama was gradually loosing Taste-for-Life - and was entering into a different Time Zone. Her waking hours would be Nightime - while she would mostly be asleep during the Daytime. Oftentimes, she would pine for the frequent visits of her Sons & Daughters - but, would want them out quickly because she believed that Time was "too costly" for them. She had lived a most challlenging life - all by herself and all for her children. And, as all her children were living separate lives of their own, she appeared lonely - with little purpose for Life.

03. I did entertain the thought of transfering Mama to a "Home-for-the-Aged". I thought that if Mama were to lived in a Community for the Elders, she would probably find Friends-of-her-Kind. To my surprise, Government-owned Homes-for-the-Aged took in only those abandoned and destitute. The one and only Privately-owned Senior Community Home near to her Children's Residences and to her Choice-of-Hospital was not only fully booked - but even, over-booked. The House Manager even encouraged me to put up another Senior Community Home purposely for Filipino Seniors living in the City.

04. As I see the day to come for me and those of my Generation blessed with a long life, wanting to live out our Last Years in a Community-of-Friends (similarly situated), I hope to get together a group sharing my vision of building a well-designed ground-level simple "Home-for-the-Aged" providing 30 individual private modestly-equipped quarters inside a 2000 M2 fully secured residential compound located near the center of Barangay Marikina Heights (Marikina City, Philippines) - purposely for the Dependent Senior Resident-Tenant. I plan to have this Gov't-encouraged "Special Facility" ready for occupancy within Yr 2006.

05. Are you with me?