Old Folk Homes

2005. 01. 20-21

I went to an old folk home that I have been visiting regularly in KL last weekends.

I cooked and cleaned the place at the old folk home. Most of the old folk homes including governmental-funded old folk homes, except private commercial old folk homes, are not well maintained.

I brought fresh soya bean drink as well as fruits for them. They were so happy. One of them told me shyly that they hardly have fresh fruits.

The old folk home that I visited regularly is located at a cemetery place in an isolated area in KL. The old folk home is at the first floor of the mortician’s shop. That place is sponsored by the funeral director. Their area of movement is limited to that particular floor, no garden or entertainment for them. What they can only do is lie on their beds and wait for the day to come perhaps. They are those abandoned by their family members, specifically their children. They are transferred by the KL General Hospital to the old folk home as they refused to leave the hospital after having been admitted.

When I was there, I saw a very old man who hardly walked tried to wash and cook the rice with his hands trembling. Those old folks have to prepare the food themselves. There is no permanent appointed staff to take care of them. An old lady whom I was told has mental problem is the only cook.

When I was cooking the lunch, I heard the old lady cook shouting in the toilet: “You have made the whole body full of shit. Quickly clean your body and I will help you to clean the toilet.”

When I came out from the open-air kitchen, I saw a naked small-sized and slim old man whose one led was cut moving himself difficultly on a wood roller from toilet to his bed. In order to take care of his pride of a man, I pretended of not seeing him although in reality my heart was aching. Another man whose right hand was cut went to help him by using his leg to push the old man back to his bed.

I plan to go there again tomorrow morning and cook a better lunch for them. What they served are normally canned food that are brought and stored by kind-hearted people. Moreover, the cook has to divide the limited food equally in order to make sure all of them are served.

I had been asked a few questions concerning about the medication they were taking. Fortunately, I have a few medical doctor friends and one of them was my closed friend during high school days, whom I can refer to.

2005. 01.20; 10 p.m.

I went there and cooked for them again this morning. I used miso to replace the salt. I was very happy seeing them taking a bigger plate for their lunch.

I saw a man without his right hand putting his plate on the table and ate the food directly from the plate with his mouth without using his only left hand. I guessed he was a right-hander and he might found inconvenient with his only left hand.

The very old man whose hands were trembling and had difficulty in movement worked extremely hard by walking around to serve the food and fruits to those who can’t walk and can only lie on beds. What I found sarcastic was that the very old man tried his best to help out whereas some healthier and younger old men chose to do nothing. That is so-called personality. Some people are hard-working whereas some are not.

Originally I didn’t take my lunch there. However, seeing them eating cheerfully, I guessed the food might be delicious and I also took some food there. When I was taking the food, my heart felt genuinely warm. I assumed their hearts were as warm as mine when they were having the food. That was my consolation and real gladness seeing them happy.
2005. 01.21; 4 p.m.

Coincidently, a news article on an old folk home that I had visited one and half year ago was carried by a local Malaysian newspaper. That old folk home is located in Bentong, Pahang, which is about three hours drive from KL. I helped to cut and wash the hair of the first two ladies from the right of the largest photo. I still remember that the older lady refused to let me cleaning her although she did not take bath for a few days as she was afraid of cool.