FOR an ‘over-70’ female senior citizen seeking to settle into a retirement home, life’s pleasurable and fulfilling experiences would constitute living independently in a room of her own; personally preparing the meals of her choice; being able to clean her room, and, at the end of the day, find it just the way she had left it; and being able to have amicable and lively interactions with peers at the facility.

The Guyana Chronicle recently visited Chase’s Indigent Home, a female retirement facility located at 89 Robb Street, Bourda, Georgetown, 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. Located in the hub of the agro-vending area on the outskirts of the Bourda Market, the facility is a two-flat wooden building with eight rooms and a chapel on either flat. The bottom flat has however now been condemned.

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 in terminal dilapidation and in dire need of extensive repairs; and that 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, hogging all available space at the side of the building and constituting a serious fire hazard.

In event the building is on fire and occupants cannot get out through the front entrance, it would be impossible for them to be evacuated through the side entrance on the lower floor, because of the vendors’ encumbrances.
Moreover, the word “Indigent” should probably be omitted and the building be called ‘Chase’s Female Retirement Home’. Use of the word “Indigent” suggests the building caters to the needs of the destitute.

When the facility was set up just over 50 years ago, it had a mandate to provide 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 an increasing number of working women, the facility, over the years, evolved into a virtual retirement home for female senior citizens.

It now attracts women each of whom provides her own bed, food and clothing, and contributes to the electricity bill. The brand new refrigerator and television, the facility boasts are the property of the woman who now functions as its matron.

Although pensioners, the women there 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.

Though there is a committee of management in place, no strong lobbying is being done to ensure the building is repaired and the premises are thoroughly cleaned.
Small wonder, then, that the facility has reached the stage of terminal decline.

The women being accommodated at this facility are understandably yearning to be treated with some respect and consideration, and not as though they deserve what is being meted out to them. These are women who would have contributed to raising families, and would have 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 such as cleaning detergents, brooms, brushes, buckets and the like should be provided so they can get to work, and not be left to lead sedentary lifestyles.

A sneak peek into their profiles makes for interesting reading:

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 Roman Catholic by religion; had worked at the 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 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 at Bishop’s High School as a cleaner. She has been living at Chase’s for the last four years.

ANN VIEIRA, 80: She hails from the Aruka River community of 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 had 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, Georgetown.

She formerly 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. They also extend heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Guyana for a yearly subvention; and to 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.