FOR SALE: Sister Eunicia making rosaries for the home’s mini fund-raising sales.
Home Of Hope provides destitute old folk not only a roof over their heads but also a life filled with love, care and respect
IT’S a place for the destitute elderly to spend their twilight years in dignity. Aptly called Home Of Peace, it provides them not only shelter but also love and care. For indigent homeless old folks, it’s akin to heaven on earth.
Located at Jalan Landeh, 2.9km from the 10th mile Bazaar and 19km from Kuching city, the home is built on 5.35 acres of well-landscaped land that promises serenity and tranquillity. Behind the home is the Semongok Nature Reserve.
It is managed by Sister Flora Tingang from the Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak (SSFS). Her training in nursing has come in handy in her current position. She was a state registered nurse before.
“It’s our vision and objective to care for the aged at the home with Christian love and dedication, bring them comfort and joy, and ensure they spend the rest of their lives here in a dignified manner,” Sister Flora said.
She pointed out that it was equally important to educate society to love and respect these needy senior citizens for according to Cicero, the burden of old age is lighter for those who feel respected and loved by the young.
“Let us, therefore, remember that whereas childhood and youth are times where the human person is being formed and completely directed towards the future, and in coming to appreciate his own abilities, makes plan for adulthood, old age is not without its own benefits.”
The first of its kind in the state, the home is set up by the Catholic Welfare Service (CWS) and run by the SSFS sisters.
“This is neither a dumping place nor a nursing home. However, if a resident falls sick, the home will provide nursing and medical care,” Sister Flora explained.
The home is open to all races and creeds. To be admitted, applicants must be aged destitute, free from mental illnesses and infectious diseases and lack proper familial support.
Sister Flora revealed there were many applications but the committee had to be very selective and only deserved cases were accepted. The applicants had to go through a vigorous screening process to prove their eligibility.
The home is totally dependent on charity. Its operations are supported by the CWS and the generosity of the public.
Public support is overwhelming. People donate without being asked. Most of the donations in cash or kind are from nearby areas.
One of the home’s most regular contributors is a Buddhist couple from 10th Mile Bazaar. According to Sister Flora, they contribute in kind every week, and provide the home with a week’s supply of meat. It would be difficult to survive without their contributions.
The home also holds mini sales of work to raise funds. Sisters Eunicia and Antoinette, who is a catechist, make things such as rosaries for the sales. Public donations of used clothes that are still in good condition are also put up for sale.
Sisters Flora and Eunicia plant vegetables in the garden to supplement meals at the home. The residents do their share by maintaining the vegetable patches. Previously, the home used outside catering.
It was hard initially as Sister Flora had to run the home single-handedly. Now, she has people to help out.
“The main obstacle is lack of manpower and, of course, limited funds. We have to work within our means and I walk in faith. HE will provide our every need,” she said.
The landscaping is done by the residents under Sister Flora’s guidance.
“When we started, we couldn’t do any landscaping because we were short-handed. Only now with more staff can the residents help in the garden,” she said.
The home, completed in 2008, admitted its first resident, Tony Meng Hua, who is 85 years old, a year later. It now has eight residents – four males and four females – after two of its residents passed away early this year.
Home of Peace can accommodate 62 residents. It has four residential hostel blocks, one staff hostel block, one dining hall-cum-kitchen and store, one administrative and activity block, an infirmary, a chapel and a funeral parlour.
Residents are given care, protection, rehabilitation, counselling and guidance, occupational therapy- physiotherapy, religious support, recreation, nursing and medical care. There is doctor to attend to the sick.
The home does not receive any grants from the government. The total cost of setting up the home is RM5.7 million.