Youth urged to show elderly compassion
Too often, a mother can raise 10 children but 10 children cannot take care of one mother in her old age, says a human rights and social activist.
Nov 30, 2015
By Raslan Baharom
Too often, a mother can raise 10 children but 10 children cannot take care of one mother in her old age, says a human rights and social activist.
“All over the world, the elderly are being neglected by their children,” said Datuk Dr Denson Jayasooria, a principal research fellow at the Institute of Ethnic Studies in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
He said better healthcare and quality of life have resulted in a growing elderly population and urged the younger generation not to "brush aside the aged ones”.
“They have experience that you can’t buy,” he said in his speech at the 28th anniversary cum fundraising dinner organised by the Emmanuel Christian Assembly yesterday evening.
The fundraiser is to raise money for Golden Home, which was established this year and which currently houses 14 women senior citizens, on Lorong Penaga, off Thomson Road in Taiping.
“If it is too late for you to show compassion to your mothers, you can do so to the elderly in Golden Home,” said Dr Jayasooria, who visited the home earlier in the day with his wife, Datin Rose Cheng, to have tea with the residents.
Dr Jayasooria said the Golden Home was being expanded to admit more residents.
He hoped the public would donate food and essentials as well as cash.
Pastor Simon Chandran said the event raised RM50,000 from and a used van worth about RM80,000 donated by the Renewal Lutheran Church (RLC) Kuala Lumpur.
“We have achieved our target,” he said adding that the church had also the approval of the Registrar of Societies and Welfare and Social Services Department to expand the home and admit male senior citizens. -- The Malaysian Insider
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