(NIDA BAQUILOD VILLALON)
BORONGAN CITY– Where in Borongan, or any place for that matter can you find three generations of senior citizens living together under one roof?
Barangay Taboc Senior Citizens Association (BTSCA) has a unique circumstance where it has 3 BTSCA members staying together in one household, spanning different generations of seniors: 102-year-old centenarian, Lola Salvacion Labutap; her 83-yr old daughter Eliza Lo, and her 61-year old granddaughter, Elma Lo Cayabyab who is the main caregiver for the two elders.
Her younger brother, Billy, who will also be a senior citizen in a couple of months, comes every morning to assist her.
Elma’s children when not at work, give her a helping hand too. When she has to go out, Elma hires a trusted caregiver to ensure the two elders are safe and well-cared for at home in her absence.
According to Elma, caring for the two elders who are both bedridden, visually impaired and both suffering from dementia is quite taxing and challenging, physically and financially.
They get by with the social pension from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for centenarian Lola Salvacion, the small survivor’s benefit, and the P500 monetary allowance from the city government of Borongan for 83-year-old Eliza and from Elma’s salary as a public school teacher at Taboc Elementary School, plus the P500 monthly monetary allowance from the city government which she also receives.
The one-time centenarian cash gifts from the national DSWD, Borongan City government, and from the provincial government of Eastern Samar have been a huge help in providing for the needs of both elders, according to Elma.
The family is very grateful for the government’s financial assistance which enabled them to provide food, diapers, milk, vitamins, and other daily health and comfort necessities, plus paying for outside help as needed.
As BTSCA president, I can’t help but wonder if there is some government aid for cases like this.
On my own accord, I am sharing this with the family’s permission of course, (no family member asked me to), as I feel this was newsworthy.
Maybe DSWD or any organization can show some recognition and cash aid for this unique situation in our Barangay?
NIDA BAQUILOD VILLALON)
(Note: The author is the president of the Barangay Taboc Senior Citizens Association (BTSCA)
