SINCE its inception in 1986, the Eira Schader Home for the Aged has managed to keep its door open to elderly Jamaicans who reside in Trench Town despite political and financial troubles.

Administrator Lloyd Ferguson said the establishment of the home was necessitated by the violent political climate that existed and which greatly affected some older residents.

“During the political violence in the 1980s, Trench Town deteriorated, so the family and people who were taking care of the elderly people run out a di community but nuh carry dem,” Ferguson, who has been at the home since its inception, told the

Jamaica Observer during an interview last Friday.

He pointed out that, at first, he along with other members of the community were involved in the political activities until they realised it was to the detriment of their community.

“We were some youths inside here weh get caught up in politics. So one day wi seh this nuh mek sense ’cause it nah go no where; granny siddung yah suh and nuh have nobody fi help her so we start to think of some things and we tek we self out a politics,” he recalled.

This would lead to a member of the community advocating for the need for social restoration in the community while he was abroad — a plea which was heard and acknowledged by a Swedish woman, Eira Schader, and her daughter, Angela.

“They got in touch with us. When they came wi said the only thing we would like fi build is a home for the elderly ’cause wi see seh nobody nah tek interest in dem. So they went back; they had taken pictures and so they made presentations all over Europe and send money through post come give us,” the caretaker for the home told the

Observer.

Ferguson added that the community tried to do their part by going to the Ministry of Housing in the early 1980s to attain the lease and title for the plot, but were constantly given the runaround. However, this did not deter them and the home was eventually built.

But things took a turn for the worst as, just five years after being opened for business, the Schaders told the community in 1991 that they could no longer offer financial assistance as they were unable to go out and seek sponsorship for funds.

“So from [the year] 2000, we individually tek on this and wi nuh really go roun’ and ask nobody fi help or anything, because sometimes when yu go to people and yuh tell them yuh want them to help, they start look at yuh like maybe yuh want the finances for yourself,” the Trench Town resident stressed.

He maintained that this does not mean that they are not grateful for the support of those who have come on board in recent years — such as the Bob Marley Foundation, the Red Cross, and most recently the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee — to keep the home running.

The home was selected as this year’s social outreach project by the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee and was last month presented with a cheque for $530,549, representing the proceeds from the breakfast as well as additional funding from the Victoria Mutual Group.

Ferguson expressed his appreciation to both Victoria Mutual and the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee, explaining that the money will be used to repair the kitchen as well as the doors and windows of the home, which had seen no additional work done since installation.

Ferguson stated that the money will go a far way, and that he hoped some will be left over to pay one of the faithful workers who have been caring and cleaning for the elderly residents without consistent pay.

“Ms Dotty weh a work here not even getting minimum wage pay. Sometimes me haffi pay her out a mi own pocket. We need a lot of help, even what we get from the breakfast club and corporate Jamaica help us, but we still need more because fi run a home tek a lot of money,” he said.

The home has the capacity to accommodate up to 20 individuals, but currently hosts six people — the oldest being 86 years old and the youngest, 74 years.

The caretaker stated that it takes about $480 a day to feed all six residents as they receive lunch Mondays to Fridays from Red Cross. Breakfast and dinner are taken care of by Ferguson, who also takes on the full cost of feeding the residents on weekends.

“It very taxing; nuh money nuh really there to fully deal with it, so we kind of feel good that corporate Jamaica see us now and is trying to help. But we would like a definite sponsor for the home, as even when we have finished fixing it with this money that we got, we will still need sponsor to help us take in more people,” Ferguson said.

Friday’s interview was ‘interrupted’ by chief accountant at Citrad Limited, Sharmaine Brown, who stopped by the home to drop off a basket of supplies. Brown said she heard about the plight of the home and later visited Trench Town, where she was touched by Ferguson’s humble determination to keep it running.

“Well, first of all, I wasn’t sure there was a home here, but when I came and saw I was really taken aback but proud of what Mr Ferguson has been doing for these people. So, we thought it would be nice to …help out wherever we can,” Brown told the

Observer.

For Ferguson, it is all a work of love which he said he does without any thought or longing for reimbursement. He stated that everyone in the community respects and looks out for the home, especially the police and the ministers from the churches who help where they can.

And his work is appreciated by the residents.

“It’s not what yuh like but mi glad mi get the little shelter over mi head because it better than sleeping out on the floor,” said 71-year-old resident Rodolf Clarke with a smile.