Home for 50 Elderly People in Argentina

In the long-stay home for elderly adults, we took into account several health recommendations, establishing protocols to take care of the hosted population while we keep doing activities and workshops. This report will be different from those carried out previously. In this case, we decide to focus on the perspective of the residents because we consider that it’s vital to keep an eye on how they feel and their daily experience at San José. These last few months were an ongoing challenge, and that's why we don't want to neglect the mental health of this high-risk group.

We've been talking with Amalia and María, a 92-year-old resident. We asked them how they synthesize their stay at the establishment and they expressed joyfully: “If I had to synthesize what it means to us the San José residence, I would only say, a paradise”, and María expressed gladly: “I'm in a beautiful place”. Furthermore, Amalia said: “We have a motto that rules the world but it seems to have sprouted here, which we rely on in the song Resistiré that it helps us to follow the guidelines of the whole world to end with the evils. Wholeheartedly, I express my gratitude to Messengers”.

We've been working harder than ever to deal with the pandemic and the elderly greatly appreciate the effort, devotion, engagement and hard work. We want to thank our donors for your commitment and assistance throughout these months. Messengers of Peace deeply appreciate the support and the unconditional solidarity.

The San José home for elderly people is a long stay residence which hosts more than 50 elderly adults. This establishment has followed all the measures announced by the national authorities to guarantee protection to this high-risk group. For this reason, we established protocols and safety measures for workers, and at the same time, residents received information about COVID-19. There was also a reinforcement of cleaning supplies and in all aspects. Furthermore, throughout these months, recreational activities were done with the people hosted, with the objective of keeping up their mental health and their emotional stability in this rough moment.

In the usual situation, one of the major problems of elderly adults is the decrease in the emotional support network. This may be due to the distancing or loss of affections or isolation due to movement difficulties. The current situation in the context of the pandemic makes this a lot more complicated. It was thus that we built a volunteer program “Teléfono Dorado”, which aims to form new phone linkages. Elderly adults can expand and improve their social and affective relations.

Besides, with the reason of the beginning of spring, volunteers and friends of Mensajeros filmed videos with greetings and fondness messages for residents.

We would like to thank the volunteers who help day by day and to our donors that, without them, this would not be possible. Thank you very much.