Bapuji Anand Ashram - Home for the destitute Elderly

Bapuji Childrens Home Trust was originally set up to look after destitute children but after running the Childrens home for about two decades, the trust saw another emerging urgent need of the Indian society, where the old family fabric was seen to be under a great strain for looking after the aged. Dr. Anandi Bai Prasad, our founder, had seen this coming and had been toying with the idea of starting an old age home for quite some time. After her death, the Trustees took up this theme of providing shelter for the destitute of the second childhood of the society.

In 1995 an Old Age Home for ladies was started in the premises of the Bapuji Children's Home on an experimental basis. This Old Age Home presently has 10 old ladies who were either thrown out of their homes or don't have anybody to look after them. These ladies spend their time doing their own work, chatting, playing with the children or watching TV etc. They are the “Ajjis” to the little ones.

First building of a separate Old Age Home, Bapuji Anand Ashram, suitable for men as well as women, was constructed on a 2-acre plot in 2001. This building now houses a dormitory for 10 persons, kitchen, dining room, reading room and a small office. Second building to house 30 residents was made ready in 2004. Third building to house 30 residents is now ready for occupation. At present there are 39 elderly, of both genders, living in Bapuji Anand Ashram.

Most of the residents are reasonably healthy with usual old age problems. Several of the earlier residents breathed their last peacefully in the home and the trustees performed their last rites. The past cancer patients were happy at the time of their deaths in the home because they were provided with medical care and pain controlling drugs to cope up with the agony they were unable to live with otherwise.