Sr. Cecilia Home celebrates eleventh anniversary

Mother’s Day doesn’t roll around until the thirteenth, but a number of mothers and grandmothers–not to mention grandfathers–were celebrating early this year. News Five’s Janelle Chanona has the story.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
On Wednesday, the Sister Cecelia Home for the Elderly celebrated its eleventh anniversary with a party.

In May 1996, the home was converted from the Government “Poor House” to the privatised facility managed by its dedicated namesake and Helpage.

Rose Armstrong, Supervisor
“It was Sister Cecelia who tried very hard to convince them to do that because she had in her vision for a better life for our older persons in Belize.”

Rose Armstrong has worked at Sister Cecelia’s since its inception. Today she remains committed to helping the elderly age with dignity.

Rose Armstrong
“The reason for the home is for them to be comfortable and feel like they are being rewarded for what they have contributed to the society. Because most of them, you find at home they were people maybe some of them were nurses, some of them business people, you know, they were an asset to our country but for some people or the other, some don’t have children, some them are abandoned by families, and when they are here they get a lot of counselling from us and we try to have them feel, “I am still needed in society.”

Robert Murray, Resident
“I used to have a little room where they let me live, but it wasn’t no good. Every time I go in they slap me, the young bwai around there kick me, they take away my cap, and they know I can’t see you know. They very chancey in the streets of Belize you know. They need to change their attitude.”

Janelle Chanona
“You glad you come here?”

Robert Murray
“Yes ma’am. I don’t want to go nowhere else until the Good Lord ready for me and I’m going to live much longer than out deh.”

Ray Woods, Resident
“It’s a home away from home. You get better service—you get better treatment than Fort George or Princess. You get your meals on time, you get a variety of meals, not the same thing over and over; you have clean bed to sleep in; attentive attendants.”

Janelle Chanona
“And what sort of things you do during the day?”

Ray Woods
“I’m a television fan so I watch as much as I could. I like game show.”

One of the home’s strongest allies is the Mercy Sunshine Group, which was established by Sister Cecelia forty years ago to comfort the elderly. For the last two decades, Lourdes Gallaty and the group, with strong support from the Indian community, have hosted a party for the residents.

Lourdes Gallaty, Chair, Mercy Sunshine Group
“They really look forward to it. That’s why I’m still here after twenty years. We make them get dress up, we put balloons, we bring a birthday cake, we sing hymns, we bring a little bit of Jesus into the function and they really enjoy it. They look forward to it, if we miss one day they are after us.”

Janelle Chanona
“How could somebody help? Even if they don’t have anybody here, how could they help to make a difference?”

Lourdes Gallaty
“Well donations are always welcome because the home runs on a budget. And whatever, even something as pampers for the elderly, Depends, they need that. Visiting them would cheer them up a bit. If you can make a monetary donation, you can come visit, talk to them; that would be nice. If you do any kind of craft and you would like to share it with them, that would be nice. There’s a lot that can be done, just simply visiting them, that would help a lot.”

For the last year, eleven year old Diedra Augustine has been doing just that.

Diedra Augustine, Volunteer
“I just like helping people because I think it’s a good gesture for me to do as a young citizen of Belize, so I just come and help out the elders.”

Janelle Chanona
“What you help them do?”

Diedra Augustine
“I help them eat, I serve, and I pick up the food when they are finished. If they need anything, I just get it for them.”

Janelle Chanona
“Would you want other boys and girls to come and do what you’re doing?”

Diedra Augustine
“Yes, I would really like it.”

Janelle Chanona
“Why?”

Diedra Augustine
“Because I think that we should not think that only old people can help; we as children can help too. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. We can do anything and it can help our community and everybody here.”

Some fifty residents currently call Sr. Cecelia’s “home”. Resources are limited, but administrators say they will continue to take in the elderly.

Rose Armstrong
“It’s not something that we really want to happen that people leave from their home to a new environment when they are old. But before they are abandoned at home, it’s better for you to get him in the home or get somebody to care for them at home. Because you must remember that aging is a process. From the time you are born, you start getting old. And in this life, whatever you sow, you reap. If you put your mother or grandmother in the home and your children see you do that, when you get old, they won’t think twice to do the same to you.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.

The Mercy Sunshine Group also works at the Rockview Facility. If you would like to help their efforts, please contact Lourdes Gallaty at 223-4096.