FOR an ‘Over-70’ female senior citizen seeking to settle into a retirement home, living independently in a room of her own; personally preparing the meal of her choice; being able to clean her room and at the end of the day, find it just the way she left it; and being able to have amicable and lively interactions with peers at the facility, all make life a pleasurable and fulfilling experience. The Guyana Chronicle recently visited Chase’s Indigent Home, a female retirement home located at 89 Robb Street, Bourda, and spoke with residents occupying the facility.

One spunky octogenarian summed up her thoughts this way: “After living with a husband and/or children for the greater part of your life, and being told what to do, or how they think you should do it, it’s finally like being in charge of your own life, and that’s a wonderful feeling.”
Chase’s Indigent Home was established on December 1, 1964. It is a two-flat wooden building, with eight rooms and a chapel on either flat, located in the hub of the ‘Thursday afternoon agro-vending area, outside Bourda Market, however, the bottom flat has now been condemned.
But amidst the paucity of accommodation for females who would have served their families and society, in whatever capacity, we immediately found it strange that of an eight-bedroom, low- rate facility upstairs, only four rooms are occupied.
We soon came to realise first of all, that the building is badly run-down and in need of extensive repairs.
Secondly, agro-vendors plying their trade on the roadway opposite Chase’s home store their moveable wooden stalls and tables at the side of the building. This takes up all the space at the side of the building, thereby constituting a serious fire hazard. In the event the building is on fire and occupants cannot get out through the front entrance, it will be impossible for them to be evacuated through the side entrance on the lower floor, because of the encumbrances.
Third, the word “Indigent” should probably be omitted, and the building be called ‘Chase’s Female Retirement Home’. The use of the word ‘Indigent’ suggests they cater to the needs of destitute.
When the facility was set up just over 50 years ago, it was established with a mandate to provide a shelter for female senior citizens lacking food, clothing, a permanent home and other necessities of life because of poverty.
However, having fulfilled its mandate, and as society continued to produce more and more working women, over the years it evolved into a virtual retirement home for senior citizens who are females. It now attracts women who provide their own beds, food, clothing, and contribute to the electricity bill. The brand new refrigerator and television brought in are the property of the woman who now functions as matron of the facility.
Though they are pensioners, they are in no way destitute as the word ‘Indigent’ suggests. That in effect attaches a stigma to persons at the facility, making other people reluctant to take up occupancy there.
Perhaps, small wonder, that even though there is a committee of management, no strong lobbying is being done to ensure the building is repaired and the environment thoroughly cleaned up.
The women being accommodated at the facility should be treated with respect and not as though they do not deserve better. They are women who would have contributed to bringing up their families and made contributions to the development of society in diverse ways. Some programme should be introduced into the home to empower them to focus on self-esteem. And willing as they are to play their part in keeping the facility clean, resources–cleaning detergents; brooms brushes, buckets and the like should be provided, so they can get to work and not lead sedentary lifestyles.
Get a sneak peek into their profiles:

BERYL AUSTIN, 92, Matron of Chase’s Senior Citizens Home and mother of two sons, one in the USA, and the other in Guyana. She’s a Roman Catholic; had worked at Medical Arts Hospital as a nurse aide for about 12 years, and has resided at Chase’s for about another 12. Her best moments at the Home are when they are taken on outings to places of interest such as Banks DIH, where they are given a chance to interact freely; singing and dancing and reminiscing on the good old days.

MAYLENE ROBERTS, 80: A mother of two (a boy and and a girl), both deceased. She is a member of the Salvation Army and Leader of the Sixty-Plus Club. In the past, she had worked at the Attorney General’s Chambers and Bishop’s High School as a cleaner. She’s been living at Chase’s for the last four years.

ANN VIEIRA, 80: Hails from the Aruka River, Region 1. She is a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith and a mother of five, two of whom are deceased. She migrated from the hinterland to Georgetown in 1976, and has spent seven years at the Chase’s Home. Her employment record includes working with GUYSUCO in the Veterinary Department of the Arakaka Pasture and later at the Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation, at Industrial Site as a leading hand at its food factory and animal farm.
She also specialised in baking pastries and other snacks, which she sold to upkeep herself after retiring.

AVRIL GORDON, 78: Born March 1, 1937. She spent the greater part of her life living in Bent Street and in Lodge.
She had worked at the Guyana Pegasus Hotel performing domestic duties and later at a Banks DIH outlet in the city.
Avril turned 78 last Sunday, and enjoyed the day with her peers at the facility.
APPRECIATION
The matron and residents would like to thank all those institutions and persons who from time to time make generous donations to them at Chase’s. Thanks to the Government of Guyana for a yearly subvention; Banks DIH, the Lions and Rotary Clubs of Georgetown; Humphrey’s Bakery; The Bedford Methodist and St. Sidwell’s Churches for holding services in the chapel; the University of Guyana’s Community Practice (DSW 314) students, who once visited and gave the home a much- needed facelift and the young lady, Desiree, from St. Sidwell’s who voluntarily cleans the facility twice per week.