Welcome to Mesra Home. For the elderly Muslim women who live here – they have never married and have no children – this sense of togetherness brings them much comfort, particularly the physically or mentally disabled among them.
The home’s founder, Faezah Ali, said the elderly are an oft-forgotten group, especially in the Klang Valley where life is fast-paced. Since starting the home in 2013, over 50 elderly women have lived out their last years there.
“I make every minute at Mesra Home count by filling the residents’ lives with sweet memories,” the 40-year-old told FMT.
A former nurse, Faezah saw how tough it was for elderly unmarried women who lived in the city. This is what inspired her to start Mesra Home with her husband, Razali Mohamed.
“If we don’t take care of them, who will? It’s not that they never wanted to marry or have children, so no one’s to blame. It was just their fate,” Faezah added.
The upkeep of the home is managed by Razali, who is also its chairman. He raises funds for the home by selling books and other merchandise, apart from organising events. When funds are low, donations are sought.
“All proceeds go towards meeting the needs of the senior citizens here,” he explained.
For Faezah, caring for the elderly is a continuous learning process, whether from the physical, emotional, financial, social, or spiritual perspectives.
“I take the trouble to get to know each one of them, and I learn so much about myself in return. In the process of caring for these women, they’ve taught me a lot about myself.
“Through them, I can see how I, myself, will be like when I grow old.”
A classic grey Volkswagen Beetle sits in the compound of Mesra Home. It is well looked after, much like the residents of the home, who are living their sunset years surrounded by love.
Having spent 12 years doing charity work, caring for the elderly is more than just a job for Faezah – it’s a source of joy, mixed with the bittersweet experience of having to say goodbye.
“Since 2013, more than 50 of them have left me. This leaves me sad because every one of them was my friend.
“I miss their faces and their advice. But I have been blessed,” she concluded.