The number of older persons is steadily increasing in the Philippines… and in the whole world, for that matter. This means that there is also a greater need for elderly care, due to the growing number of referrals in residential care facilities.
As Filipinos, many of us are accustomed to taking care of our elderly family members at home. However, there are many older persons who are now without family — most of them have been abandoned or neglected, and they need a place to stay. Among the facilities that accommodate the elderly is GRACES. In this article, we shall learn more about this residential care facility.
What is GRACES?
Formerly known as Golden Acres Home for the Aged, the Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and Other Special Cases (GRACES) is a residential care facility. It provides residential care (i.e. temporary shelter, programs, and services) to indigent, abandoned, neglected, lost, unattached, and homeless Filipino senior citizens who are in need of special protection.
GRACES is managed and funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD – NCR), with the support of other government organizations (GOs), non-government organizations (NGOs), and private organizations.
Notably, GRACES is a place where senior citizens can enjoy a “home-like” environment. It is a place where they are well taken care of, so that they can be healthy, have emotional stability, and peace of mind.
Vision, Mission, and Goals
GRACES envisions a residential care facility that provides a holistic package of geriatric care services responsive to the varying needs of its residents, who are abandoned, neglected, lost, and unattached senior citizens.
The mission of GRACES is “to implement protective and rehabilitative programs and services for the residents.”
As for the goals of the facility, it aims to:
- Assess the felt needs of the clients upon admission at the center;
- Provide temporary and/or long-term shelter to clients;
- Provide appropriate services for the physical, social, emotional, psychological, medical, and rehabilitation needs of the clients while staying in the center;
- Facilitate immediate reintegration of clients to their families
and/or transfer to other residential care facilities, as applicable; and - Access clients to other government and non-government agencies and facilities where their needs can be properly attended.
Target Beneficiaries
The target beneficiaries of GRACES are senior citizens or persons who are 60 years old and above, who are considered lost, abandoned, neglected, or unattached.
Target clients arrive at the facility through walk-in, reach-out cases, or are referred by concerned local government units (LGUs).
To facilitate the admission of clients into the center, referring parties are required to submit the following documents:
- Referral Letter;
- Social Case Study Report;
- Medical Certificate with Laboratory Results;
- Psychological Report;
- Updated Whole Body Pictures;
- Dental Records (if any);
- Birth Certificate, Residence Certificate, Government IDs; and
- Other pertinent documents to establish the client’s identity.
Programs and Services
GRACES provides a wide range of services to its clients, including: social service, medical services, psychological service, homelife service, dietary service, productivity service, admin service, and security service.
Furthermore, the facility conducts leisure activities like games and exercises, along with prayer meetings so that clients can express and/or practice their spiritual beliefs. Psycho-social interventions are also provided, depending on the needs of each client.
In addition, productivity services are also given, including activities that enhance the social, cognitive, and physical skills of the clients. They are involved in productive and income-generating activities such as vegetable gardening, urban gardening, arts and crafts, rug-making, and propagation of ornamental plants, among others.
At this point, it must be noted that for each client, temporary care is provided for a minimum of six (6) months to a maximum of one (1) year. During this period, the facility’s social workers shall facilitate the tracing and return of the clients to their families.
A rehabilitation team composed of social workers, psychologists, house parents, and a medical team shall coordinate with LGUs and media (i.e. TV, radio, print, social media) to locate and/or trace the existing families or relatives of the clients.
At the same time, the clients’ needs (e.g. physical, social, medical, emotional, psychological, etc.) shall be provided in the center based on the recommendations of the rehabilitation team.
If a client’s family cannot be located, his/her period of stay in the center may be extended as needed. Eventually, he/she may also be referred to other institutions or residential care facilities that can provide long-term care.
Video: Failon Ngayon Features GRACES
In 2018, the radio and television show “Failon Ngayon,” hosted by veteran broadcaster Ted Failon, featured GRACES in one of its episodes about elderly abandonment awareness. Watch the said episode through this video shared by GRACES on Facebook:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Meanwhile, here are some commonly asked questions and answers about GRACES:
1. What is GRACES?
GRACES stands for “Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and Other Special Cases,” a facility that provides residential care to indigent, abandoned, neglected, lost, unattached, and homeless Filipino senior citizens.
2. What are its vision and mission?
GRACES is envisioned to be a residential care facility that provides a holistic package of geriatric care services to its residents. Correspondingly, its mission is to implement protective and rehabilitative programs and services for them.
3. Who are its target beneficiaries?
GRACES’ target beneficiaries are senior citizens or persons who are 60 years old and above, who are considered lost, abandoned, neglected, or unattached.
4. What are its programs and services?
GRACES provides a holistic package of services to its clients, including: social service, medical services, psychological service, homelife service, dietary service, productivity service, admin service, and security service.
5. How can I learn more about it?
You can learn more about GRACES by getting in touch with the facility through its contact details, which are given below.
Contact Information: GRACES
Address: Golden Acres Rd, Bago Bantay, Quezon City, 1100 Metro Manila
Telephone: 0932 342 2654
Email: graces.foncr@dswd.gov.ph
Website: https://ncr.dswd.gov.ph/centers-and-institution/graces/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GRACESDSWD2013?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Google Map:
Final Thoughts
If you know any senior citizens in your area who are homeless, abandoned, and have no family or relatives to take care of them, consider getting in touch with your local City or Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (C/MSWDO). They could help in admitting the senior citizens into facilities such as GRACES, so that they can receive quality care while their relatives are being traced.
Speaking of the elderly, the DSWD has various programs for them. Check out this article to read about the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC), and this article for information about the DSWD’s Home Care Support Services for Senior Citizens (HCSSSC).