About a dozen old people in their 70's and 80's sit in circles on the couches in the John Lewis Shopping Centre at Brent Cross. Today it is John Lewis, tomorrow it can be St. Annes Shopping Centre in Harrow.
Vasantben* is one of them sitting with her back hunched, her walking stick beside her, intently reading the book she borrowed from Harrow Library. Her children and grand-children all off to work. It has been a few years since her husband passed away and although she was more than intent on staying on her own at her council house, she now stays with one of her sons.
“I'm here because there is nobody at home,” she whispered “And they don't want me to stay alone at home!”
Vasantben tries to keep her social calendar as full as she can, by visiting temples, attending group meetings and socialising in the community events.
"I don't want to go out but they force me to"
“I don't want to go out. But they keep forcing me to go out showing how they are worried about my mental health,” she says “But I am fine and I like staying home and watching TV. Sometimes my friends would call me and we chat. I can cook my own food and spend the whole day at home. I cannot travel and it is cold as well. But what to do?” she asks
Vasantben can stay the way she wants to at her own council house but she says that doing so is often “frowned upon” in the community especially after knowing that her three children are established in the city.
Kanti Nagda, Sangat Advice Centre spoke about how the scenario of the conditions of old people in the Asian community have changed over the years.
“In the earlier decades there was this trend of these people from the First Generation who came into the country and transferred all their property and finances onto their children's names, perhaps to ensure security or to evade taxes. However these kids would then abandon their old parents and often as was the case throw them out of their houses.”
Following this was the establishment of leisure centres and community retreats which started organising picnic trips for old people and also free lunch among other meet and greet facilities.
“But the council started charging membership fees or in some cases charging for these meals because of the austerity drive,” said Mr. Nagda. Neither the membership nor the event charges are unreasonably high starting from just £2 for a lunch at some places but it is observed that “some Asians are simply seen unwilling to pay for them,” he said.
Care & Share: Homesharing schemes
However, in cases where these old people are suffering from diseases such as dementia and do not have a family to look after them have institutions like Homeshare coming in to save the day. Homesharing is a simple way of helping people which involves bringing together two people with different sets of needs, both of whom have something to offer each other.
The Householder has a home they are willing to share and will benefit from receiving a level of practical help around their home as well as the reassurance [for them and their relatives] having someone living with them. The Sharer benefits from low cost home to share, affordable accommodation and is willing to give practical support – such as cooking, shopping, light cleaning, laundry, DIY, gardening, computer assistance – and friendly companionship in exchange for somewhere to live.
