Rane Aji finally finds the home she was looking for after 65 years!
Rane Aji lived with her husband and two daughters in in Vasai. She had discontinued her education after class 7. Her husband was the only earning member of the family. They lived hand to mouth but she managed her family without complaining. This was her world for about seven years after her marriage.
Things came crashing down when her husband developed a relationship with another lady. He began to verbally and physically harass her. She tolerated all the harassment silently for the sake of her two daughters. This went on for a while till one day, he threw her out of the house and told her not to return.
With nowhere to go, she turned to her sister. She lived with her sister for some time. However, she did not want to be a burden on them. She found a job as a cleaner in a private hospital. The hospital had options for employees to live in shared arrangements. Rane Aji took this job so she could get a place to live.
She worked long hours in the hospital but was happy that she was independent. But, age took over and as she crossed 65 years, she could no longer work. She developed high blood pressure and got tired very soon.
She realized she was going to lose her job. This meant losing her shelter and being on the streets with no income, food or shelter.
It was then that she saw a program on TV called Hello Sakhi. Through this program she came to know about Shraddhanand's old age home at Vasai.
She approached Shraddhanand along with her niece The old age home heard her story and agreed for her to live there.
The old-age home has finally given Rane Aji what she was looking all her life for. A place to call home, A safe place where her needs are taken care of.
A few years ago, she she got affected with Filaria. The old age home took responsibility of her treatment. She is completely cured now. She is under close supervision for her high blood pressure and arthritis. She is on medication and walks with the support of a stick.
Even with her age-related and medical issues, she is now happy.
Your help can make many more seniors like Rane Aji live their golden years under a safe shelter. You can donate to the food expenses of the elderly who live in the old-age home. You can give with confidence because every program listed is GIVEASSURED.
By donating to this program
You will be sponsoring the benefits for different beneficiaries every month
What the beneficiary gets
Program Description
Shraddhanand Mahilashram runs an old age home for women in distress in Maharashtra.
Women above 60 years of age are either referred by volunteers or sent by their relatives for admissions into the old-age home. Many times they also apply themselves for admission into the old age home.
A basic medical test including blood tests, x-ray, urine routine etc is done to assess their health at admission. They are registered using a photo and an identity proof at the time of admission.
The old age home has all the facilities required for peaceful living of the resident women. There are dormitories and bathrooms on each floor for the use of the residents. Every senior has their own bed, cupboard space to keep their belongings. There is a common room with a television which the residents can watch at leisure. There is a dining hall for all meals.
There is a garden outside, in the complex. There are nurses on duty, and a doctor visits daily.
The home also celebrates popular events and festivals to keep the spirit of the women. Out of the 56 residents, 31 women live in the ashram are underprivileged and offered free shelter.
Donations to this program help in covering the daily food and provision requirements for the elderly women staying at the Shraddhanand Mahilashram home in Vasai.
When you donate to this program, you help destitute elderly women with access to a quality and nutritious food for underprivileged senior citizens.
Shraddhanand Mahilashram
Program Updates
22 September, 2023
An update on the program you are supporting
#8
Activities and work undertaken in the last 5-6 months
Total number of beneficiaries impacted was 12 in Vasai, Mumbai with 60% being females
Challenges faced and next steps
An update from this program has not been made available by the nonprofit. We hope to hear more about their work in the coming months.
Stories from the ground
When Yamuna Aji took admission, her weight was between 50-45, now her weight has increased to 60 kg. Participates enthusiastically in various programs in the ashram. When the Patel sisters Narmada and Bharti were admitted, both were very weak and had no one to take care of them at home. Now they are well organized and help in the kitchen.
5 December, 2022
Help a grandma by sponsoring her food expenses in an old age home
#7
Activities and work undertaken in the last 5-6 months
Our Vrudhashram at Vasai, Mumbai provides nutritious food to all the grannies staying at our home. We take utmost care to improve the quality of life of each grandma who takes shelter in our old age home. At present we have 43 grannies staying here. Regular medical check-ups are done and physical exercises are made a part of their daily routine. On festivals special dishes are prepared and served to the grannies staying at Vruddhashram. A balanced, healthy diet is ensured for a healthy life of the grannies.
Challenges faced and next steps
A complete chart of the food menu is prepared as per the seasonal availability of vegetables and fruits. In consultation with our visiting doctors, a special diet chart is prepared for those who are sick or under medication due to certain illnesses.
Stories from the ground
Parvati Lokhande (age 85 years) was admitted to our old age home a long time ago. She was weak, had a low hemoglobin count, high BP and was shaky in balancing her posture. She was always afraid of falling down with very low confidence levels in managing her own activities. Our doctor advised hospitalization for Parvati ajji. After a week long treatment by specialized staff we started her on an appetite stimulant to increase her appetite. With a healthy diet she slowly began to regain her strength and enthusiasm. Today she can walk without any support and lives happily at the Vruddhashram.
23 May, 2022
Help a grandma
#6
Activities and work undertaken in the last 5-6 months
Our old age home at Vasai, Mumbai provides nutritious food to all grannies staying at our home. We take utmost care to improve the quality of life of each grandma who takes shelter in our old age home. At present 45 grannies are staying in our old age home. Regular medical check-ups are done and physical exercises are made a part of their daily routine. On festival days special dish of the festival is served to the grannies staying at vruddhashram. Balanced, healthy diet is being followed for a healthy life.
Challenges faced and next steps
During pandemic all covid related protocols are followed without fail. Menu chart is prepared as per season and availability of vegetables and fruits. In consultation with our visiting doctor special diet chart is prepared for those who are sick and or under medication due to certain illness. Your support by sponsoring food expenses has been invaluable in the context of providing nutritious food for our senior citizens residing at our old age home.
Stories from the ground
In our old age home there are nurses and other staff members to take care of the grannies. There are two grannies who are above 85 years of age and facing serious health issues. Our trained nurses and dedicated staff are taking proper care of them and above all specialised doctor visits too for their medical check up. Both grannies are staying happily in our old age home as we are providing them with all the basic needs and emotional support is also given to them through regular counseling.
28 November, 2021
The Hindu Women's Welfare Society, Shraddhanand Mahilashram
#5
Activities and work undertaken in the last 5-6 months
There are 45 grandmothers at present at the Vruddhashram at Vasai.They follow a set routine of activities. Every month medical checkup is carried out. They have Yoga Sessions twice a week. For recreation, they sing Bhajans. There was a physiotherapy camp held in Vruddhashram earlier this year and grandmothers got assessed for it.The grandmothers keep themselves occupied constructively by doing embroidery on cross stitch patterns, a good exercise for their fingers and eye-hand coordination.The nutrition aspect is taken into consideration while planning their Menu.They are now preparing for Ganesh Utsav and looking forward to it. The local committee members regularly visit the Vruddhashram to look into their requirements.
Challenges faced and next steps
We don't have any challenges related to covid in these six months, as we take proper precautions. We prepared a special '10 Bed ' quarantine room for any future problem.
Stories from the ground
Celebrated national festivals and Hindu festivals. On 26th Jan our Republic Day, for flag hosting, we invite Dr S. Walke (Head of Medical office of V.V.M.C). On that day we inaugurated our 'solar system' for hot water for grannies. In the same month, we organized a physiotherapy camp for grannies. We usually celebrated all festivals like Holi, Gudipadwa, Ramnavmi, Maghi Ganesh etc. We also celebrate the Birthday of each granny
23 March, 2021
Providing healthy & Nutritious food grannies
#4
Grannies are being provided with nutritious food during the whole day. Breakfast and tea twice a day. Two meals, milk and fruits are provided during the day. Purely vegetarian food is provided. Their day starts with a cup of tea or milk . Around 8.30am they get morning breakfast which consists of freshly cooked food like Poha, Upama, Sabudana Khicadhi , Ukad , Rice - pej etc.
Vegetarian soup is supplied at around 11.00 am followed by lunch which consists of chapati, vegetable, Dal-rice, Salad and buttermilk, fruits etc. Dinner is provided at around 7.30 pm . At 9.30pm milk with Proinex/Horlicks is given.
The menu is prepared as per the season and availability of vegetables, fruits etc. Sometimes Bhakri is provided as per the wish of the grannies. On festival days, special dish of the festival is served such as Pooranpoli on Holi, Modak on Ganesh Chaturthi, sweet food items on every festival. During winter - laddoos of Methi, dry fruits are provided to the grannies. The prescribed diet is provided to the grannies during sickness.
5 August, 2020
As we grow old…the beauty steals inward
#3
As we grow old…the beauty steals inward
At Shraddhanand Mahilashram in our old age home there are 2 sections namely Janata section and Suvidha section. In Janata section elderly women who have no one to look after are given accommodation. In Suvidha, grannies who can afford to pay are accommodated at marginal charges. Grannies in both the sections are provided with nutrition food and we make sure that regular medical checkup are also done to keep a track on their health considering their old age. It is very important to take utmost care of them at this age because of all the other factors attached with old age. To keep them entertained we has also Aaranged 1 day picnic to a nearby farm house and there we organized Bhajans which is their favourite part. That day we also Celebrated grand parents day to make them feel special.
3 December, 2019
Nutritious meals being served
#2
Nutritious meals being served
22 July, 2019
#1
Program Update
Medical Care - Which is a prime need for all the grannies - is taken and we receive full co-operation from doctors - Dr. Ghanashyam Kale and Dr. Jaya Walawalkar, Dr. Patil and Dr. Balaji from government hospital also help us in maintaining good health of all our grannies.
All the festivals are celebrated in our old age home. Friendly competition are held among them and they are also taken to picnics and / or cultural programmes like bhajan, kirtan, stage shows, movies etc. Efforts of our local committee members help in keeping close follow-up for obtaining special facilities of our grannies.x
Story from the field
In the year 2002, an old lady aged about 75 yrs approached us for her shelter in our old age home. She was an illiterate . She was deserted by her husband, in her young age, as she could not get children.She had no close relatives ,who would take her responsibility. She started working as a residential domestic servant. She worked with few families till she attended her age of 75 yrs. She was very stought therefore, could cope up with work till age. She saved same money from her income.However she had no safe space to spend her remaining life.Therefore, she approached our old age home for shelter.
She was heart patient. Here heart was weak and she was under treatment.She was having asthma also. She had heart attack 2 yrs back. Ashram saved her life by giving proper treatment. She walked with her support of stick and moves around according to her need.She had loud and confident voice. She liked to talks to others. She used to do lot of seasonal food items like papad, pickle etc. During here early days in Ashram. She lived peaceful life in the Ashram during her last days of life. Few months back she expired in the Ashram. She expired in the Ashram. Ashram completed all formalities after her death.
| What is the expected total number of beneficiaries in this program for FY18-19? | 26 |
| What is the number of beneficiaries/ benefits provided in this program, Year-To-Date | 26 |
| Village/City/State where project is located | Vasai |
| Total Budget for the project for FY18-19 | 655000 |
| Total Expenses for the project YTD | 624527 |
