Grandmothers from the Home for the Elderly in Plovdiv go to yoga (photos)

“His mother is his movement. Good thoughts and fun. This prolongs life. ”This is the life philosophy of 78-year-old Tanya, who has been living for four years in the Home for the Elderly on Komatevsko Shosse in Plovdiv. She was widowed a long time ago, she was lonely and in order not to burden her children, she decided to come here. “My daughter had a very difficult time. But when he saw the conditions, he calmed down, “said the woman, who has been a cook in the municipal chair in Sadovo for 30 years.

She found friends at home, went for a walk together, to a cafe, gathered for sweet stories. She is in good physical shape and is pleased that many of her colleagues share her philosophy.
A new opportunity is added to the existing entertainment in the nursing home. From this year, a yoga instructor will come to them twice a week. He has prepared for them a special set of exercises that are suitable for the elderly. “I hope they like this alternative way of physical activity. Because yoga balances the body and the spirit “, hopes the director Nina Georgieva.

“In previous years, it was a tradition on Christmas and New Year to all have a party in the dining room. There was music, songs and dances. Well, he dances, who is on his feet without a cane and someone else’s help. It was fun, ”Tanya recalls. But the Kovid pandemic put an end to this celebration.

“Now they are gathering again, but in smaller groups of 6-7 people,” said Nina Georgieva, who is in charge of the 170 people housed in the nursing home. Almost half of them are fully vaccinated. Most of the unvaccinated have medical contraindications – allergies or other chronic diseases, she explains.

“It is interesting that for the holidays only three people wanted to go to their families, and here people who have relatives and friends predominate,” says the director. According to her, this is due to the regime and the stereotype they have already built. They feel protected and safe in the Home for the Elderly. Besides, they lack absolutely nothing.

Tanya and two of her roommates – Dora and Pepa, can not boast of good living conditions. “We are here like a hotel. Toplichko, bathroom with hot water, cleaner, the food is good, the staff is wonderful, we have constant medical care, “boasts former teacher Todorka Bazlyankova.

She says that in addition to nurses and social workers, they even have a hairdresser at home. Before the holidays, the program becomes tight because many women want to do their hair. There is a good library for readers. They have a living area, a computer room and a sports hall.

For several years now, with the help of Metropolitan Nicholas, a chapel has been set up in the building, where Father Photius serves on holidays. The priest is the spiritual shepherd for the believers. He comes every Wednesday and whoever needs it can talk to him individually.

For the holidays, the church has donated food for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. They received the hot lunch from the owner of a Plovdiv hospital.

“There was chicken milk. Everything that the holiday requires. Sarmichki, bread with a coin, pumpkin pie, pie with luck, steaks “, includes Petranka, who is a former accountant of the” Pharmacy Department “.

A young family from Plovdiv brought them 200 baklava and 200 tolumbichki. The children from two kindergartens sent them their congratulations with hand-painted cards. This gesture moved them to tears.

“We have everything. We don’t need anything. Only from a good human word and a little attention, “the women say. And they wish only health for the new year – for themselves and their loved ones.

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