In Colombia, the elderly get little to no financial assistance from the government as traditionally, the care of the elderly has always been left to younger generations of the family. Due to war, poverty and illness, many Colombian families are faced with crowded multi-generational households with no financial ability to care for the needs of their elderly family members.
Unfortunately, this has lead to high rates of abandonment among the elderly, many of whom are left to fend for themselves on the streets of Bogota with dementia, pneumonia or other conditions.
Volunteers on the Elderly Care project play an important role in centres that rescue elderly women from the streets and put them into care. In these centres, volunteers provide companionship, conversation, food, shelter and medication to the women while occasionally helping with cleaning and operational tasks.
This project is well suited to compassionate volunteers who enjoy helping vulnerable people. As you’ll be working under the supervision of local staff, you don’t need any prior experience volunteering with elderly people.
Apply now