The hall to care for the semi- independent adults was opened the morning of February 14th, in the Centro Integral Diurno para la Tercera Edad del Convento “San Agustín”. The head of the Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the Historian of Havana set the place to satisfy the relatives´ concern about going to work and leave their parents or grandparents alone during the day. 

The Director of Humanitarian Affairs, Yanailys González Rodríguez, Esther Ruiz Bofill her assessor and Ileana García Mesa the Specialist in charge of semi- independent adult’s assistance and other specialist related to the project welcomed the people.

Yanailys González Rodríguez welcomed the audience and started her speech using a quotation of the Historian of Havana Eusebio Leal Spengler which continue showing the way of these community projects, that have been planned for a long time.  The new service for elders, created by the International Cooperation Project of the Office of the Historian of Havana and Euskal Fundoa, will make it easier for those working out of the house to keep giving affection to their elderly in their houses .      

The decision of opening the hall on February 14th , The day of love and friendship, was not by chance: it has the purpose of showing the filial love, the bonds between parents and children.

The Director of Humanitarian Affairs said that the idea of creating the space is to protect the smooth running of the family. This is the first project of others two that will be opened in the residence of San Ignacio and in the Convento de Belén.

Thirty people have joined the project so far and together with the ones coming  later will have not only the possibility of the service but also of having rehabilitation and the chance of interacting with other elders as well.   

The work team involved stated its attitude to guarantee the wellbeing of the adults going to the place, as well as peace for the relatives who leave them under cares during their working hours.   

Source : Habana Radio

Photo: Gabriela Ortiz