"OLD PERSON HOME"

Rotary Club just donated crutches so this man can walk now.  Joe and I have joined Rotary here.  It is a small group.

 Men and women sleep in wards with very little privacy, no air conditioning, and thin mattresses.  Please boys, don't put me here!

 Community Center for tea.  Most residents are Indo-Fijian.

 Dream List....

Today I went to the "Old Person Home".  This is what they call the nursing home.  There are no hospices, Comfort Homes or hospice care that I know of in Fiji.   There are 41 residents here and mostly Indo-Fijian.  This is the only "Old Person Home" in the west of the island.  I really don't know much about what happens to you if you do not have money or family and you get old??????    Dr. R. is talking about building small retirement homes on part of his land but I don't see a lot of retirement areas here????  Senior care might be something that is needed.  I even think child care is something that is more in need as people move out of the villages.  Minimum wage is less that $3.00.  I don't believe there are Senior Centers or a culture for active seniors.  Average living age for females is 68 and males 64.  I will have to ask more questions about growing older in Fiji.......

UPDATE:  Most men die in Fiji before age 60.  Older mothers are usually taken care of by their sons and their wives!  Mothers come first before wives.  There is usually a lot of stress between mothers and daughter in laws because of this.  It is very unusual for anybody to be in a nursing home or "old person home".  Retirement homes just don't exist.   There is very little senior care other than family.  If a couple both work, the grandmother will take care of the children as long as she is able.  Then it is the responsibility of the sons and their wives.  Interesting......
For $3.00/hour one could get someone to take care of you here -  if you had the money.  Interesting...