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



Jan 31, 2012

Ramon Lopez Cumes (A-9)

Hi, everyone. Ronnie here with a guest (volunteer) post. I've been here at Mayan Families (MF) for just over a week, and as usual there has been a lot to do. As some of you might recall, I volunteered here with the Elderly Care Program (ECP) for a few months in late 2010, and (just like most anyone else who visits) I fell in love with the ancianos and the ECP. I don't think anyone was surprised to see me back.

MF staff have been up to their necks in work, so one thing I thought I'd help out with is profiling the ancianos, which frankly is always a treat. It's worth mentioning that the entire ECP is hardly scraping by with enough money to provide the ancianos with their daily meals-- The medical supplies and services that we used to provide to the elderly, to everyone's chagrin, have all but stopped due to lack of funds. We even had to let go of our medical coordinator, Dona Helen, because we couldn't pay her salary. It has been very hard telling the elderly that we can't give them their medicines or take them to the doctor.

But that's not what I wanted to focus on. I'm here to introduce you to the beloved ancianos in our program who do not have the medicine or medical attention to deal with serious illness and debilitating pain. I know that sounds intimidating, but $10 goes an incredibly long way in a place like Guatemala.

Ramon talking with Elisia of Mayan Families.
This is the main doorstep he sits at in
Panajachel, earning up to $1.10 daily.
First in line is don Ramon Lopez Cumes. Although I've already had the pleasure of chatting and laughing with Ramon over lunch the past week, I had a translator present with me for the more thorough interview because Ramon's primary language is Kaqchiquel.

Ramon is (well, according to his account--but not everyone really keeps track) 92 years old. He lives in Santa Catarina and, despite the leg pain that forced him into retirement from agriculture work, he walks miles and miles every day to Panajachel and back in order to beg for money--about 8-9 quetzales ($1.10) daily--to feed and care for his bedridden wife, Rosa. Rosa is 87 years old. Ramon told us that he and Rosa have been married for 80 years, and while the numbers are a little suspect, it has clearly been (or at least seems to have been) a very long time.

Together Ramos and Rosa have four daughters, all married, and four grandchildren, all residing in Santa Catarina. The family is close and visits at least weekly, but unfortunately they can hardly help out the grandparents. Only one of the sons-in-law has a (more or less) stable job, extracting and selling sand from the lake, but that is a very low-paying job. They daughters earn what they can with odd jobs, but it's not even enough for the kids. Once in a while the family brings Ramon and Rosa breakfast, but he still needs to go beg.

Ramon (right) hungrily enjoying with his friend Ramos (left)
the lunch provided to him by the Mayan Families. Ramon
packs up a lot of the ECP food and brings it to his
bedridden wife in Santa Catarina.
Ramon is the first in line in my profiling because, aside from the severe pain in his legs, he has told us of frequent and acute heart pains and palpitations that started recently. We're not just very worried for Ramon, but also for Rosa, who cannot get by without the little money that Ramon earns and the ECP food he saves in his little satchel and brings to her daily.

We believe that Ramon urgently needs medical attention. A doctor's visit and the proper heart and pain medicine would make a huge difference for his and Rosa's security and comfort. An initial consultation would cost just $10, and we estimate that medicine for the first two months would cost just $30. Please consider helping.

To make a contribution, click here and enter "A-9 Anciano Ramon Lopez Cumes" in the Other section. If we get the funds to pay for Ramon's medical consultation, we will of course keep you posted. Thank you so much for your time, and please stay tuned for more profiles.

Jan 25, 2012

Please help Manuel and Santiago have clean water

Manuel
Manuel (A25) and Santiago (A75) are both in need of water filters. They cannot afford to buy purified water. A filter costs $63 and will give the family clean water for up to two years, when the filter will need to be replaced (for just $44). We have used these filters with many families and even our own Mayan Families staff and can attest to the clean, fresh water that these filters provide. Please consider giving a filter to these gentlemen today!
Santiago
If you would like to make a one-time donation, please go to Donate Now and scroll down.  Enter your donation in the "Other $" box.  In the "Details" box, write "A25 Filter" for Manuel or "A75 Filter" for Santiago. Thank you so much for your generosity!

Jan 20, 2012

Thanks for helping our elderly!

We are very grateful to the many donors and volunteers who have helped our elderly! We have been doing home visits, checking heart rates, blood pressure, and weight. Many of our elderly suffer from chronic pain due to their life of lifting heavy loads, doing manual labor, and working in the fields. Many suffer from eye problems and loss of vision because they've worked in the strong sun all their lives and then gone home to cook over a fire which fills their home with smoke.

These circumstances have caused many physical consequences, but we are so happy to be able to offer them comfort and care, all thanks to your donations and support. Many of our elderly are still looking for monthly sponsorship. If you're at all interested, contact us at familyaid@mayanfamilies.org Thank you so much!

Jan 12, 2012

Great news for brothers Manuel and Miguel!

We're so happy to report that Manuel and Miguel have received enough money to have much-needed repairs done on their home! You may remember that these sweet brothers were forced to leave their home during our last rain storm because of flooding. Thanks to generous donors, we will repair the damage from last year's storm and build a ramp/blockade to prevent future flooding. Thank you so much for caring for these brothers!

Jan 11, 2012

Caring for our elderly

Serving the elderly in our community includes meeting several different needs. We want to help our elderly lead comfortable and dignified lives as they age. Many of our elderly are confined to their beds and struggle getting up and/or walking. As a result, many are in desperate needs of adult diapers. For just $60 you can give a 5 week supply of adult diapers and allow an elderly member to live in comfort. Please go to Donate Now and scroll down.  Enter your donation in the "Other $" box.  In the "Details" box, write "Elderly Care Program-Diapers". Thank you so much! 

Jan 4, 2012

Juana Tereta passed away

We are very sorry to inform that Juana Tereta, one of our dear member of our Elderly Care Program passed away last week.

She died peacefully at home.