Elderly persons program
SUPPORTING ELDERLY
Why Elderly?
The elderly have no ability to afford the basic needs and are prone to
starvation as they lack food for days, have no clothes and housing, for
some, they live in small old mud structures with holes all over with no
food to eat and no one to give them proper medical care. In some parts
of the world like the Kenya coast, they are mistaken for witchcraft,
neglected and left to suffer from poor hygiene, untreated bed sores, dehydration, and soiled bedding. It is disheartening to see some elderly
widows having to take care of children who suffer mental illnesses (madness)
and are not able to take care of their ageing parents.
As one of Ransom and Restore Ministries purposes, the Christian organization is reaching out
to vulnerable older persons in their care. The vision was started in 2020 at Bamba, a village in
Kenya where poverty, drought, and illiteracy are endemic. A society where the elderly are
regarded as witches, and ageing as bait to neglect, suffering, starvation and death. Since
August 2020, R&RM has been supporting more than 30 vulnerable older persons at Bamba with
food package gifts.
SUPPORTING ELDERLY
Our Approach
We are dedicated to help abandoned vulnerable older people in the
poverty-stricken rural areas through development of humanitarian
actions such as provision of food, shelter, clean clothing and healthcare.
The elderly receive food consisting of rice, beans, sugar, milk, porridge
flour, tea leaves and cooking oil. For hygiene and grooming, they also
receive toiletries. This is a small portion to take the person through a few
days, and we plan to expand it to cover all the unmet needs.
SUPPORTING ELDERLY
Current Needs
Isaiah 46:4
"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain
you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will
rescue you."
They're mostly vulnerable. They cannot afford basic needs. The elderly are prone to starvation. They lack food for days, have no cloths and housing. Many suffer from illnesses. They live in small old mud structures with holes all over.
— Harrison Charo - President, Ransom & Restore Ministries.
Challenges
(1) Poverty; the elderly have no ability to afford the basic needs. The elderly are prone to
starvation as they lack food for days, have no clothes and housing (for some, they live in small
old mud housing with holes all over).
(2) Mistreatment and abuse; Elder abuse occurs when a caretaker intentionally deprives an
older person of care or harms the person in his or her charge. Caregivers may be family
members, relatives, friends, e.t.c. The elderly are neglected and left to suffer from poor hygiene,
untreated bed sores, dehydration, soiled bedding. In some instances, the elderly widows have
children who suffer mental illnesses (madness) and are not able to take care of their ageing
parents.
(3) Poor health and sicknesses; ageing comes along with health challenges and need a lot of
care in terms of nutrition and medical care. The elderly have no food to eat and no one to give them proper medical care.
" I am a widow. My husband died long ago. He left me with nothing. The one to look after me is my daughter. But she ran mad. I have to provide for myself and her. But I'm old, sick and my legs can't walk, The food you bring adds life to us."
Beneficiary, Kang'ombe Konde, 87 years
" Imagine they had nothing to eat for the day, only for the ministry to surprise them with foodstuff. They start cooking immediately. Others are sick, lying on their beds, but when they hear us, they rise up, sit, and you can see smiles on their faces.”
Program Manager
– Dan Karisa
– Dan Karisa
" It's not only the issue of food, but also lack of proper medical care, clothing, housing, etc. As the ministry grows, their lives get changed. Ageing comes with lots of challenges, but they deserve dignity.”
Program Manager
– Dan Karisa
– Dan Karisa
Let's Support the Elderly
In Africa, the need to support older
persons and their dependents is great.
The number of people aged 60 and above
in Africa is growing. The population of
older persons expected to be 103M in
2030 and 205M in 2050. Unfortunately,
this growth in number, is not being
matched with growth in support and care.
Instead, older persons continue to be the
most vulnerable people group on the
continent.
✓ The loss of independence is one potential part of the process, they are diminished physical
ability and age discrimination.
✓ The elderly require more care since they typically no longer hold jobs and finances are a
challenge.
✓ Due to cultural misconceptions, older people have become targets of ridicule and stereotypes(most of them are
mistakenly regarded as witches)