These elderly men and women have been left alone to fend for themselves by their children. They suffer from a range of age-related illnesses and are forced to seek refuge in old people’s homes or in hospitals.
Some of them roam the streets and even resort to begging outside mosques to get by. The only relief for most of these elderly people is the social security schemes and financial support extended by the government and local charities.
Abu Saud, 95, is surprised that his children have abandoned him and do not even visit him at his hour of need.
“I have three sons and three daughters. All of them are married. I was keen to provide my wards the best possible education and care in their early life. I spent lavishly to fulfill their every need until they married,” he said.
“In spite of that, they abandoned me and their mother. Hence, we were forced to live in a two-room facility arranged by a local philanthropist. My life has become even more miserable after my wife died three years ago,” he said, adding that he is in shock at his children’s inhumane attitude and disloyalty.
Um Saeed, a mother of one son and three daughters, has a similar story to tell.
“All of them are married and have their own homes. They contact me and my aged husband who suffers from serious health problems by phone at regular intervals. But they have no time to visit us,” she said.
“They give various excuses whenever I ask them to take their father to hospital for routine checkups. It is troublesome for me to take him to hospital. I have to push him in a wheelchair to the main road to get a taxi. I then get a foreign worker at the hospital to push him at the hospital and they charge SR40 per visit,” she added.
Muhammad Al-Yazeedi, a 66-year-old Saudi citizen, lives a lonely life. “My life has become worrisome after my wife’s death three years ago. I have five sons. All of them are married and live by themselves,” he said.
“They don’t pay any attention to my affairs and I am hence forced to depend on benevolent people in the area. They have no time to even make telephone calls,” he said, adding that he met some of his children at the end of Ramadan last year.
“They brought some clothes for Eid and some cash, and left abruptly. Others sent their private drivers with gifts,” he added.
The case of 70-year-old Omar Hayel is no different.
Hayel lives in an old people’s home after he was abandoned by his children. “I have seven sons and daughters. I strove hard to educate them and secure them lofty positions in society. I spent most of my life for the sake of my children,” he said.
“However, when I became old, they abandoned me and started living separate lives. I have no option other than seeking shelter at an old people’s home. I rely on benevolent people to help me meet the expenses,” he said, while expressing indignation at his children’s behavior.
