El Dulce Refugio
“El Dulce Refugio” is a home for the Nicaraguan elderly. Located in the city of Diriamba, Nicaragua. It is operated and managed by our church ”Casa De Mi Padre” and is considered home for up to 16 elderly individuals. Each resident receives a clean, loving room, 3 square meals a day, medications and medical care.
Interesting fact: in Latin America culture, care of the elderly is normally provided by family members. But what happens when families are estranged or the elders are alone and without younger family to provide care? Well, many of these seniors will end up living in the streets and begging to provide for their daily needs. Through our local church we have opened the home for the elderly El Dulce Refugio to love these seniors in the name of Jesus. Many of these senior’s come to us (through various local social service departments and the local police) in poor physical health from months or even years living on the streets. We provide a family-like setting full of love and proper care for each resident.
We began the home by renting a house and operating from a downtown location for several years. Then in 2016 God provided us an opportunity to purchase a piece of property just outside Diriamba already developed with buildings suitable for our purposes. With some renovation and on-going maintenance, we now have a beautiful shady setting for our seniors to enjoy time both indoors and outdoors. Currently 16 beds are available to address this critical social need in Nicaragua. We get to do it in the name of JESUS! Nicaragua has strict guidelines for this type of care facility and we have met those requirements of professional staff and adequate infrastructure in order to obtain our licence to operate. Full-time staff include 2 nurses, 3 auxiliary nurses, the cook, the guard/groundskeeper, and an operational director.
Volunteers come to help with the residents in such things as personal grooming, handicrafts, patio games and physiotherapy. Church volunteers regularly hold devotionals and worship services. Our pastors Juan & Ximena take a very active role in ensuring that each senior understands who Jesus is, and the significance of His sacrifice for each one of us. We try to keep the seniors as actively engaged as possible so that their physical and mental wellness can be maintained.
Our cost of care is about $600/resident each month, and although there is a small stipend (5% of budget) that comes from Nicaragua Social Services, the bulk of the budget is borne by the church. Fund-raising events are held throughout the area to help raise funds by way of “Diaper Drives”, garage sales, and coin collection boxes in collaborating businesses.
Will you consider helping with the costs? We need persons with compassionate, generous hearts to help us meet our budget each month. Salaries, groceries and medicines have their costs, and we don’t want to turn away any deserving individuals. Our short-term goal is to raise funds so we can fill each of the 16 beds. Our long-term goal is further renovation and operating budget to expand to 26 beds.
When sitting with the residents and listening to their stories and to their testimonies, many recount that what they experience each day at El Dulce Refugio is the strongest sense of family they have enjoyed in their lives! Love….in Jesus name.