Elderly Info

The food crisis in Guatemala is having a devastating effect on the elderly. Without enough to eat, many older people are becoming weak and malnourished, leaving them more vulnerable to illnesses that they cannot afford medical care for. They are unable to provide for even their most basic needs. In many cases, family members are unable to help as they struggle to feed themselves and their own children, leaving the elderly without any form of support and often living in heartbreaking conditions.

Please help us bring them the life-sustaining food and medical care that they so desperately need. General donations are used to ensure that we always have an adequate supply of food, medicine, and funds for meals, necessary medical treatment, and transportation. Monthly sponsorship would help feed one person, once a day for five days a week. Via blog and web album, we'll show you exactly where your aid is going and help you get to know the men and women whose lives you are changing.

If you would like to sponsor an elderly person for $35 a month, please click here and write "monthly sponsorship'' in the Other box. To make a one-time donation for medicine, rent, or other costs, please click here and enter "Elderly Care Program" in the Other box. Any questions can be directed to Amy at amy@mayanfamilies.org


Media on Mayan Families Elderly

Book:
Ancianos : Megan Gette + photos by Rob Bain, Nisa East, Rhett Hammerton and Hiroko Tanaka

Videos:
Mayan Families- Ancianos Stories : Nisa East

Mayan Families Elderly Feeding Care Program : Rhett Hammerton

Facing Hunger: Elderly in Rural Guatemala



Oct 26, 2011

Pedro is very sick

We have sad news regarding Pedro, a dear member of our Elderly Care Program. We have visited him a lot the past several days to check on him after the storms and to see how he's doing with his partial facial paralysis. We knew that his health was deteriorating, but we didn't expect him to get so bad so quickly. We took him to a doctor this morning and were told his blood pressure was dangerously high and Pedro needed to be taken to the hospital in Solola immediately. However, Pedro has no family to look after him, so we were hesitant to send him far away (a difficult trip with the current road conditions) where no one from Mayan Families could check on him regularly. Therefore, we sent him to a private doctor here in Panajachel this afternoon who has given him medicine for his high blood pressure and wants to see him first thing in the morning to run some blood tests and other examinations. The cost for Pedro's medication, multiple doctor consultations, and examinations is $125.

The doctor has strongly advised Pedro not to do any physical activity for at least a month and that he must rest in bed so that his blood pressure does not rise even more. However, Pedro has an arrangement with his neighbor where he works around the house and in return she gives him breakfast and dinner. Because Pedro cannot work for his meals, we are hoping to be able to pay his neighbor for his breakfast and dinner. This way, Pedro will be able to rest and still receive 3 meals a day (one from Mayan Families, two from his neighbor). The cost of feeding Pedro these meals for one month will cost $120. We are very sad that Pedro's health is deterioritating, but we are hoping that with proper medical care and lots of rest, he will improve soon.

To donate to Pedro and help him get better, please go to Donate Now, and scroll down.  Enter your donation in the "Other $" box.  In the "Details" box, write "A6 Medical". Any amount will help Pedro tremendously! Thank you so much!

Questions? Email us at familyaid@mayanfamilies.org
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1 comment:

  1. RonnieOctober 28, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    please keep us posted on this.

    thank you,

    ronnie brodsky

    ReplyDelete

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