The recently launched initiative for the community’s elderly – ‘WAPIZ Helping Hands For Seniors’ has been extending help to the needy and helpless silvers of our community. Headed by Anahita Desai and Karryesh Patel, the benevolent team has been making a huge difference in the lives of to our community’s unfortunate and underprivileged seniors.

“It’s sad to see that many seniors of our community are lonely, neglected and abandoned. Some have not eaten well in days, a couple of them have not taken a bath nor combed their hair in years, their clothes and bedsheets are dirty and have a foul smell, their nails are over grown, their toilets are worse than public toilets, most of them having plumbing and electrical issues, their fridges are either not working or are stored with rotting food, their homes are unkempt due to unaffordability of house help, they have no one to talk to or listen to them, some don’t have a functioning TV or even a radio. Just surviving – unable to carry a bucket of water, unable to cook, unable to get medical treatment, some have lost their mental balance, some are abusive and bitter with the way life has treated them.

Some have children but they are abroad and are absorbed in their own families, no time for their aging parents. Some who are financially stable live with the fear of who will perform their last rites. We have even come across a few who have themselves had their 4-day death prayers (Jinde Ravan) performed during their lifetime, fearing that their neighbors would give away their body to be cremated!” shared community stalwart, Anahita Desai.

“It’s a shame! We pride ourselves as a philanthropist, educated community. Most of us are fortunate to live in palatial homes, go on holidays, spend lakhs on cars and on our children’s education. We pride ourselves on the saying, ‘Parsi, thy name is charity’ – But what about our seniors?? Many people call us saying they would be better off kept in homes for the aged, but unfortunately, as most of them are in their late 70s, 80s and even 90s, they don’t want to be relocated, and wish to breathe their last in their own homes. Also, it’s often difficult getting them admitted to these Homes due to lengthy formalities and need for guarantors, etc. Presently ward boys and care givers charge Rs. 1,400/- per day, amounting to almost Rs. 42,000/- monthly, and adding the medical expenses and needs totals to almost Rs. 50,000 per senior,” explains Karryesh Patel.

The following are three cases of the many community seniors who have been rescued by ‘WAPIZ Helping Hands For Seniors’

The 3 Siblings: Nergiz (90) and Noshir (87) were being taken care of the youngest sibling, the now late Keki (who passed away in his 70s). Having read about ‘WAPIZ Helping Hands for Seniors’ in PT, helping Katy Ghadiali (from Kashinath Street), the neighbours contacted Anahita Desai to help the two elderly siblings. Anahita and Karyesh entered their house to an unbearable stench – Nergiz had a radiant smile but Noshir walked away and sat in a corner. For years, no one visited them except a couple of neighbours. Nergiz was happy reading her Parsi Times! They reluctantly agreed to the help they were receiving and allowed the team to clean their home. The bathroom and toilet were cleaned by professional agency, while Team WAPIZ provided the sibling duo with new linen, hair-cuts (by Karryesh), sponge baths, manicures, pedicures and new clothes by Monaz and Anahita – all helped ably by Darayus. A daily dabba service has been started by Mancherji Edalji Joshi Memorial Trust. Some good food paired with their favourite Mazaa drink, Mohammad Rafi songs (Noshir’s favourite), new slippers, and little perfume and the siblings were sparkling with happiness! Team WAPIZ will share regular follow ups.

 

Dolly and Jaloo: Sisters Dolly and Jaloo Italia, in their 80s, live by themselves in a cosmopolitan building. With no other family or support to turn to, WAPIZ was helping them with diapers, monthly financial support, etc. Some days ago, Jaloo needed hospitalisation as she was throwing up blood and had fainted. Team WAPIZ swung into action, admitting her to PGH, making arrangements for Dolly to stay with her, and was visiting them regularly. Sadly, Jaloo passed away and WAPIZ took care of all the formalities, standing by Dolly all through, accompanying her to Doongerwadi and helping with the obsequies, with the kind offices of Anahita Desai getting all the 4-day prayers performed for free by the BPP. WAPIZ’s Meher Panthaki took complete charge, picking up Dolly from her residence, accompanying her for the prayers and dropping her home again, throughout – despite being 80-year-old herself! Hopefully our youngsters will be inspired to learn from this kindness and spare some time for fellow community members who are in need of support and care.

 

Wapiz Trustee Anahita Desai received a desperate call from a helpless, 80-year-old, who wanted to visit her 83-year-old sister, admitted to Masina hospital for advanced cancer treatment, under Dr. Jeyhan Dhabhar. Despite living in close proximity to the hospital, she was unable to travel on her own. Her sister too was pining for her. When Dr. Pouru Dhabhar contacted Karyesh Patel to get her sister to visit, Team WAPIZ helped her get down from her 4^th floor flat and reunited her with her sister. It was touching to see the two sisters as they hugged, kissed and talked to each other, and also showering affection onto Team WAPIZ and Anahita for their kind gesture. The smile on both their faces was priceless! These are little things we all could do for our seniors, especially when we live in such close proximity to them in colonies and baugs.

WAPIZ is doing its best to address this issue, but needs the community to step up and strengthen its hands in looking after our helpless Seniors.

If you know of any senior Parsi who requires help or if you wish to support ‘WAPIZ Helping Hands for Seniors’ Project by volunteering or financially, please contact (022) 2200 5999 or 9820113791.

For Donations Via Bank Transfer:

A/c Name: WAPIZ

A/c No.: 0032 0010 0010 792

Bank: Zoroastrian Bank (Fort Branch)

IFSC Code: ZCBL000003