JEDDAH — Umm Abdul Aziz has been living in an elderly home in Dammam for over 20 years and she insists on fasting Ramadan every year, ignoring her doctor's advice and the deterioration of her health as she has advanced in age. She was named Umm Abdul Aziz by the women working in the elderly home but she has no children of her own. Her sister's children left her in the care of the senior home when she started suffering from several health complications but they visit her regularly and have maintained an amicable relationship with her over the years. Ramadan is the happiest time of the year for Umm Abdul Aziz. Although she has a physical disability, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney failure, and asthma, she is absolutely adamant on fasting each day of the holy month. Not only that, she also fasted the entire month of Shabaan, in preparation for properly meeting the beloved and welcomed guest: The month of Ramadan. Her physician and the nurses have tried repeatedly to convince her to break her fast because she is ill, but their efforts proved futile every time because she says that she fasts to seek rewards from Allah. “I spend most of my day either reading the Qur'an or listening to its beautiful recitation using my own earphones. On the days that I feel strong enough, I like to prepare traditional foods in the kitchen or some sweets for everyone,” said Umm Abdul Aziz who also enjoys trip to the sea. “When I am at the sea, my life becomes filled again with hope, optimism, and calmness. I can sit there for hours admiring Allah's creation and counting the bounties He has given us.” The management of the senior home is keen on organizing recreational trips and also offering educational lectures for women who ended up inside the walls of the home due to circumstances out of their control. The supervisor of the women's senior home, Lulwa Al-Zaqdi told Al-Watan Arabic daily, “Currently there are 13 women staying with us full time. The majority of these women are physically disabled and have begun to exhibit signs of dementia as their loved ones and families usually bring them here only as a last resort and when it becomes increasingly strenuous to care for them at home.” “The elderly women receive visits from their family members all year long, but much more frequently during the holy month of Ramadan. And volunteer teams that come here to visit and entertain the elderly in our center also become much more active during this month; which may be one of the reasons why these women rejoice so much on the advent of Ramadan. The administration also invites well known scholars and guest speakers to keep the magical buzz of Ramadan alive in the home,” added Al-Zaqdi. “During Ramadan, the breaking of the fast is a communal meal in our senior care center. While taking into consideration the nutritional and health concerns of the elderly, we always try to include some of the traditional Saudi Ramadan foods. For those women who suffer no physical handicap, we incorporate exercise in their weekly routine as a means to keep their muscles in good shape and a way to have some fun. They often play basketball and billiards. We have scheduled several trips during this month to the seaside, parks, and shopping centers to break the normal routine and bring some happiness into their lives,” said the director of the senior home, Khalid Al-Mulla. — SG
