Faraziya Kankundiye, 82, lost all her children and was left with a granddaughter who also passed on a few years later, leaving her lonely and to fend for herself.

Fortunately, a neighbour who knew about her situation introduced her to St. Vincent of Paul Society, a multi-residence housing facility for the vulnerable elderly, and after paperwork with the District and Sector level, they took her in.

Seven years after she made the facility her home, Kankundiye says her life has improved tremendously.

"I have company to chat with, caretakers and I’m living a decent life,” she said.

Situated on a hill off Ruhengeri road, just after Giticyinyonyi, the centre, was founded in 1960 and currently accommodates 20 vulnerable elderly people, mostly above the age of 70, who are taken care of by four nuns, who nurse them, take them to the toilet, wash their clothes and feed them.

Elderly women dance during a past event.

On a chilly afternoon, some of the elderly residents are found sorting beans while other small groups were chatting and singing traditional songs. However, some of the residents are bedridden from paralysis and other illnesses.

"We give them chores to keep them active and busy, like sorting beans, washing clothes and nursing others, depending on their physical strength since the nuns here are few and can’t take care of them simultaneously,” Sister Thérèsie Mukandoki, a nun at the centre explains.

Refuge for the homeless

In a culture with no tradition of institutional elderly care, Rwanda’s large families have, since time immemorial watched over their ageing parents and grandparents.

Inadequacies in family care, however, arise particularly in contexts of poverty, homelessness and vulnerable employment.

Charles Kayitare, another resident was brought to the centre seven years ago after he was found homeless. He had left Uganda, where living conditions had proved difficult and decided to come to Rwanda in search of his relatives, who he hoped to take care of him.

"I lived a miserable life back in Uganda and was hoping that I would find my relatives here. After months of fruitless search I was left for the streets until the police took me in and provided shelter until I was eventually brought here,” he narrated.

Although different life circumstances brought these senior citizens together, they share the same joy of knowing they are guaranteed a decent life with daily meals, a bed to rest and medical care.

"We usually have visitors who not only give us donations but bring their children. It feels rewarding to have people to talk to more so, young people,” Kankundiye shares.

A dilemma for the vulnerable elderly

Rwanda currently does not have a national policy regulating elderly care services, as they encourage that the elderly are integrated into homes and communities.

As such, the country has very few of these homes, most of which were built for the elderly genocide survivors, which poses a dilemma for the homeless and ailing elderly.

Innocent Nkuranga, a member of the organization that took them in, said that the centre can only take in a limited number of beneficiaries because of the limited space and resources. His wish is that there are more centres that take in many of these elderly that are out there.

"We would love for these people to be integrated into homes because we could use this facility for business but I don’t think anyone would want to take in someone who cannot help themselves like they did with orphans when they are not related.

Our senior citizens deserve a decent living and decent burial when they die,” he said.

"It is our wish that other centres are created because we receive many requests that we cannot satisfy this need. These elders cannot be integrated into families because it is very difficult to take care of them, which is different from children.

Some of those who have relatives don’t want to take care of them due to problems they come with,” Vedaste Ngirinshuti, President and legal representative of St. Vincent of Paul Society added.

For Elie Mugabowishema, president of Nsindangiza Organisation for the elderly says that although the nursing homes do not symbolize the country’s development, they are needed for the homeless senior citizens.

"Ideally, elderly people should be cared for at home by families and communities, and the homes be the last option.”

"However, if there was a national policy, this could be an answer for the homeless. Right now their viability is not guaranteed as there is no sustainable support from the government or any development partner.”

A cry for help

Pauline Irayayo, is a student in physiotherapy at the University of Rwanda and was interning at the centre. In her view, although the residents receive decent care, the centre lack health professionals to aid the sickly elderly.

"The resident nuns take good care of them but they are not health professionals and so it’s hard for them to detect when a resident is in need of urgent medical care, which poses health risks to these people, she said.

"Normally people within this age range are sick almost every time,” Ngirinshuti, explains.

"We arrange to take them to the hospital, but we have challenges to get transport, so we use our modest means. Of course, we also need at least a resident professional nurse but we cannot afford to pay him or her.

Agnes Nyiramisago 98, for example, has been living at the centre for eight years now. She, however, suffered gangrene (dead tissue caused by an infection or lack of blood flow) on her left leg, a few years ago. Unfortunately, her leg had to be amputated because she was not accorded urgent medical care.

"It’s a big challenge,” Ngirinshuti adds, "the government gives us assistance but it is still not enough as it is temporary. We use contributions from members of St Vincent and well-wishers who give donations but it’s not sustainable.