Long holiday exposure
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Date
1998-09
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
The aged have played a great role in the society to uphold it and to cause continuity of
customs and cultural values that have given people their identity. The wisdom and many
experiences are still useful to the present and future generations.
The aged have spent their lives, time and energy to provide for their children (younger
generations). They have sacrificed their utmost resources trying to secure/ create a better
future. The challenge is for all of us to show gratitude for all that they did and treat them
with respect. Not only because of what they did but because of who they are. In
welcoming the aged, supporting, caring and respecting them we are doing it to Jesus who
will judge us according to how we treated the poor among us and especially the
marginalised.
Aging is a biological fact that brings forth many problems; physical, economical,
emotional, social, spiritual, etc. It is a time of strain for the individual, family and
society. Today due to the consequences of old age, the aged are looked at as liability by
the younger generation.
In our modem world with all the complexity and advancements of technology, we are
facing many realities which never existed few decades ago. One of such realities is the
rapid rising number of the aged people. Advancements in medical science have made it
possible for many diseases regarded as 'killer' to be controlled. As a result many people
live longer.
Well, long life for me is something very paradoxical. It is a gift and a struggle both for
the individual and for the society. Many aged people suffer frail health, mental
retardation, etc. They suffer a lot of loneliness and isolation. Modem era has come
forth with many changes that has caused total or partial disintegration of the extended and
nuclear families. As a result, many aged persons are left alone in their homes. This is a
disadvantage for the aged who suffer the loneliness and for the young who are not able to
profit from the experiences and wisdom of the aged. Yet, amidst these struggles, long life
is still a gift. With disintegration of family unit, many values about life are also lost. The young
generations no longer look at the aged with reverence for their wisdom and experience.
Instead, they think of the aged in terms of problems and needs. Following the new
cultures of individualism and scarcity of resources, many people try to push aside and
ignore the needs of the needy. Many aged people are abandoned and not given chance to
live peacefully their last phase of life.
This fact finding report is meant to show the main problems and challenges facing the
aged and suggesting one way of addressing the challenge.
This is based on my long holiday experience
at Nyumba ya Wazee, Kasarani. I worked
here trying to inform myself on the Purpose, Objectives, organization and, short-term and
long-term Strategies of the project.
Description
Keywords
Nyumba ya Wazee, helter, eeding, Nursing and nurturing, Spiritual care, ecreation animation, Activities by the aged