More than seven million elderly people live in Colombia, according to DANE, the national statistics agency

By Sergio Hernández

Sometimes companionship can be taken for granted. The current world lacks so many things, and the absence of human interaction takes a back seat, getting lost among the multiple screens that everyone carries with them at all times.

But companionship is necessary: it is life. The human race is not made for solitude.

At Fundación Jeymar, they understood this 40 years ago. Jesús María Rivera and Beatriz Concha, the founders of this Colombian non-profit organization, created a space where elderly people in Bogotá could conceive new dreams, discover lifelong friendships, and learn new skills.

More than just a foundation, an opportunity

“I would like to spend my old age in a center like this”, says Catalina Leyva, commercial director of Fundación Jeymar, which is currently opening a new space. Catalina says that the work of this day center — since it’s not a nursing home — is allowing elderly adults to have their own stimulating space when they stay alone at home or cannot be cared for by their families.

“We are based on three fundamental pillars of care: nutrition, as we offer them the highest quality food, following all necessary biosecurity protocols; psychosocial support — we have regular psychology consultations and we also attend to families: here they share all their difficulties; and the physical aspect: we seek for the elderly adult to have comprehensive development of their motor skills and preserve the health of our members as much as possible”, explains Catalina.

They call them members because the foundation’s model requires a symbolic, monthly registration fee of around $30, so that the beneficiaries’ families commit to bringing them.

“The Foundation operates mainly with its own resources, left by the founding family, and with donations from private companies and individuals who support the mission we have championed here. We also have the Baúl de los Abuelos (“Grandparents’ Box”, in English) and a rag doll entrepreneurship project”, explains Catalina.

‘Don’t take me away from my Foundation’

Doña Zoraida Sánchez, 78 years old, born on February 16th in Bucaramanga, Santander (so you remember to congratulate her, she says), has been attending Fundación Jeymar daily for 18 years, with other elderly adults whom she now calls her second family.

“We women from Santander have a reputation for being tough, it’s just a reputation”, she says, referring to the anecdotal character of women from that northeastern Colombian department, laughing as she tells how she came to the Foundation, which she now doesn’t plan to leave while alive.

“I have a great time here, I consider that they appreciate me a lot here, and I love my foundation very much, I don’t like to miss”, expresses Zoraida, who assures she has learned at Fundación Jeymar to act, dance and to live again.

‘Here they take care of us a lot, with love’

“The treatment here is incomparable. I worked for many years as a domestic employee in family homes and had to endure much mistreatment to raise my daughter. Today, my daughter provides for both of us and allows me to come to this Fundación Jeymar, where I feel happy”. That is the testimony of Belén Hernández, 69 years old, who has been at this day center for the elderly for only three months.

Belén appreciates the professionalism of all the Foundation’s staff and their human warmth in accompanying all the elderly adults who visit the facilities.

“Today, my daughter and I have our own things; before, we didn’t even have keys to where we lived, and we depended on the employers, who belittled us all the time. I only endured it for my daughter, who today has graduated with specializations that she paid for herself, and we can come to Fundación Jeymar“, added Belén.

‘May I spend my old age in a place like this’

“This is how I imagine my old age, spending the day with friends in a place like Fundación Jeymar, but always returning to my house afterward to be able to share and enjoy with my family”, says Edith Alarcón, coordinator of the Foundation’s mission program, where she has worked for the last 18 years of her life.

A physiotherapist by profession, Edith assures that working with elderly adults is a vocation and she cannot imagine doing anything different with her life. During these almost two decades of service to elderly adults, she assures that two fundamental things remain with her: each of the members is an entire world, with particular needs, sadnesses, joys and dreams; and second, that one must prepare for old age.

“We’re all going to get there, hopefully. After so many things I’ve seen with the elderly adults here, I believe it’s necessary to plan ahead for what our final days in this world may look like”, says Edith.

How can I share with the elderly adults of Fundación Jeymar?

Fundación Jeymar works exclusively with the Sisbén population (Colombia’s social programs registry) and strata 1 and 2, the country’s lowest social classes. These are individuals who may be more vulnerable or suffer from some form of deprivation due to a lack of resources. That’s why families from these strata go out to work and elderly adults tend to stay alone, making a place like this not only a learning space, but also a support for the economic growth of Colombian families.

The Foundation receives qualified volunteers every day, as the needs for therapy and accompaniment are immense, and it also accepts monetary donations, used clothing for their entrepreneurship projects and special skills (engineering, finance, communication, etc.) that private individuals can provide.If you want to donate or learn more about the Foundation, you can visit the website https://fundacionjeymar.org/ and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.