OAOE Foundation: Giving the aged a reason to live longer

Every time you look around your immediate environment, there are aged people and conversations with some of them often tilts towards a certain subject matter, which is not far fetch.  It is their ascension unto glory.

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While we often try to rebuke them from saying or thinking of such, they insist this is a reality that awaits them anytime soon. This reality they speak of is often reinforced by their incessant feelings of illness, some of which are unavoidable as they come with old age.

While, it is emotional to see your parents go through this process during their last years, days or weeks on earth, there are much more you could do to give them a reason to not only live longer on earth but enjoy every bit of it.

 Today, only a few foundations in the country are aged friendly in their programmes. However, Olori Aderonke Omolola Erinle (OAOE) Foundation a not for profit and Non-Governmental Organization that advocates and propagates the need to help, invigorate and rehabilitate the Senior Citizens (Old people) in our Society has announced plans to commence an Adult Care Centre (Old People’s Home) and a fashion line for the aged which has been created to sustain the Foundation.

The foundation, which was launched last week at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, also featured aged women in their 70s, 80s and 90s, walk majestically and fashionably down the walk-way as they showcased various shades and designs of outfits.

Except you get a closer look at them, you may be lured to think the women are in their 40s and 30s as they beamed with smiles as the audience showed them with standing ovation and shouts to commend their appearance.

Speaking at the event, Aderonke Omolola Erinle, founder, OAOE Foundation said the event was special for her as she not only launches her foundation but also giving joy to the elderly.

“I cherish the elderly so much because for me I know what my body tells me sometimes when I overwork myself; the aches and pains; talk less of the old people generally. One thing I have at the back of my mind is that they are the generation that cannot wait.

“We don’t have a facility for old people yet but we are working towards having our own and that is why we are asking Nigerian citizens and those in the diaspora to support what we are doing and bring our dream to reality,” Erinle added.

She stressed that the foundation wants to support what the government is doing for the aged.

Erinle, however, advised people to stop calling their parent names no matter difficult they may seem. “They could just need medical attention. As they grow, they begin to lose their memory and they talk out of point. That is what happens most of the times.”

Speaking on how people have since reacted to what the foundation is doing she said, “We have a lot of people already calling in to ask us what we are doing. The aged foundation is rare in our country.

“People want to know more and that is part of the reasons why we want to launch officially. We are just a foundation but if we have the support of pharmaceutical companies we should be able to meet up medications for sicknesses peculiar to the aged. We have a lot to do.”