With people in their 60s and upwards accounting for half of the Covid-19 fatalities in Bangladesh, the retirement homes in the country are at high risk of becoming hotspots for coronavirus infection.
People aged 60 or above make a small part of the confirmed infections in the country but their underlying health conditions make their mortality rate high, reports UNB.
The concept of old home is not very well established in Bangladesh. There are a few establishments such as the 'Probin Hitoishi Sangha' which provides housing and community support at a government-subsidised rate.
All the care homes have been set up voluntarily. There is no official data about the number of retirement homes and their residents.
Many of these care homes are also facing fund shortage, making the situation worse for their residents.
Apon Nibash Old Home, run by a charity organization, is situated at Mainartek of Uttar Khan in Dhaka.
Its founder Sayeda Selina said she established it in 2010 to give shelter to homeless old women.
Apon Nibash has 75 residents currently, many of whom are physically challenged.
“I initially operated the old home with my income, which I earned through my job. Afterwards the locals, and from time to time, some rich people and private organizations have been assisting us," she said.
But the announcement of general holidays and marking Bangladesh as vulnerable to coronavirus infection caused the aids to dry up, she added.
The holidays started from March 26 and was later extended till April 25. But considering the worsening situation, the holidays and strict restriction on movement will likely be extended well into May.
Selina said she is worried about the residents of Apon Nibash as all of them are aged 60 and above.
Another retirement home—Old Rehabilitation Centre—is situated in Gazipur.
It was established by the founder chairman and managing director of Givensee Group of Industries Ltd, Khatib Abdul Zahid Mukul, in 1987.
It was initially set up on a rented premise with the plan of mitigating the sufferings of helpless old people aged 60 years and more. It was later shifted to its own land of almost 100 bigha located in Gazipur in 1994.
Though the Old Rehabilitation Centre is not facing any financial problem, authorities have been very worried as all of the 184 senior citizens, both male and female, are vulnerable.
Presently, the centre has the capacity to accommodate 1,200 senior citizens aged 60 and above.
Jahangir Alam, its manager, said they locked down the centre on Mach 20 to protect its residents.
He added that they are worried about the old residents, many of whom have underlying medical conditions.
Probin Bhaban, the only old home in Dhaka, was established in 1960 at Agargaon.
It is an autonomous organization run by the donations of the Health and Social Welfare Ministry and can accommodate 200 old people.
Badrul Ahsan, deputy director (admin) of the retirement home, said they, too, are worried about their senior citizens.
“We are not allowing any visitors since the government announced the general holidays,” he informed.
Though there is no government owned dedicated old home in the country, there are 85 'Shishu Paribar' or shelter homes, which can also accommodate senior citizens.
Each Shishu Paribar is equipped to host 10 senior citizens, said Sheikh Rafikul Islam, director general of the Department of Social Services.
He said they have already directed all Shishu Paribar to keep the senior citizens isolated and ensure that no one can go outside without a valid reason.