KEPALA BATAS – Some 66 senior residents of the Darul Hanan care centre have been seeking solace and companionship among themselves since the first movement control order in March last year.
It has been especially lonely as they cannot leave the centre or welcome visitors for festive celebrations after a Covid-19 scare last October.
Resident Rohanah Idris, 75, told The Vibes that the last time she met her family members was last year, before the coronavirus outbreak.
Rohanah, who has no biological children, said the two adopted children she had raised now live outside Penang, and phone calls are the only way to ease the longing between them.
“My adopted children asked me if I wanted to stay with them, but I declined because they are married and I don’t want to bother them. I also have a grandchild. I miss them so much,” said Rohanah, who has been living at the centre since 2014.
Supiah Madon, 78, said she has never felt lonely celebrating Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri with friends at the centre for the past five years.
“My roommates are good people, and even the staff care for us like their own family members.”
Still, this Raya is a far cry from celebrations of years past, when the centre would be busy with invitations to break fast during Ramadan and open houses, said Darul Hanan chairman Roslan Ahmad.
To bring festive cheer to the residents this year, Roslan and his team of 38 staff have arranged a slew of activities.
“Every morning during Ramadan, we had tadarus al-Quran (group recitation), and then performed the duha prayer. The residents were then given time for their own activities,” Roslan told The Vibes.
“Some of them undergo physiotherapy sessions at the centre with the assistance of two physiotherapists.
“As Syawal approached, we weaved ketupat and made Hari Raya decorations together.”
The care centre, which is under the purview of the Penang Islamic Religious Council, was part of the Alma cluster last October after eight residents tested positive for Covid-19.
Since then, Darul Hanan has taken a proactive approach by tightening procedures for both visitors and residents to keep the latter safe.
Roslan said the centre had to suspend admissions following the outbreak, but they were resumed in February.
“Before the outbreak, there were no standard operating procedures for care centres for the elderly, but after the incident, we took precautionary measures.
“Every new resident or existing resident returning to the centre has to undergo a Covid-19 screening test and quarantine.”
Darul Hanan was built with funding from the Al-Bukhary Foundation and began operations on February 1, 2010. It is able to accommodate up to 200 seniors. – The Vibes, May 14, 2021
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