Disaster Recovery- Elders, San Antonio Puerto Rico

During this quarter the emphasis of Proyecto La Nueva Esperanza was the elderly health. A new nurse went to the eldery homes to get related with their health conditions and to verify if they were following the doctor instructions. She verified their blood pressure and glucose levels. Medical appointments for special health conditions were made for: urology, hearing and cardiology. Another two appointments were made for participants regular follow up.

The northwest area is having a running water problem because of a long dry period and the lake that supplies the water to our area (Guajataca Lake) level is getting lower constantly. Since February 22, 2019 our area has running water every other day: 24 hours of water and 24 without it. This will continue until the lake level increases. An oasis (truck with potable water) was located in our community but it's difficult for the elderly to go where it is, and imposible for the ones with physical limitations. For this reason, Proyecto La Nueva Esperanza distributed bottled water to the participants, nutritional drinks and disposable plates, forks and spoons.  Groceries and clothing were delivered to those with most need. 

Since November 2018, we are delivering meals on Friday, Saturday and Sundays. A cook prepares the food in our kitchen and the driver with the help of volunteers distributes them among our participants. We recruited ten (10) new volunteers. One of them told us:  "I'm pleased to be part of a helping hand to the elderly, they look so happy when we arrived." In this quarter our organization delivered 1,723 meals to our participants.

Some elderly had lost their documents: birth certification, electoral card, PAN and TANF and our organization helped them to get a replacement at the corresponding offices.

Thanks to our GlobalGiving donors we can provide the elderly with their basic needs, specially during this difficult time.

The last 2018 quarter Proyecto La Nueva Esperanza was able to continue with activities for the benefit of 50 elderly participants from the Disaster Recovery Program.  During this period we delivered 2,165 meals, distributed nutritional drinks twice, water bottles once and water filters.  Christmas presents and special meal was prepared to share the joy of this season.

We bought products so the cook could prepare the meals and the driver distributed them.   The donations help us to cover the payroll for them.  Our old Ford vehicle who is the one used to deliver the meals had problems with the front bulbs.  New bulbs were purchased and other minor repairs had to be made.  The kitchen was fumigate to keep it vermin free.

These were the accomplishments during the quarter:

1. Recruitd three (3) new elderly participants.

2.  Nurse reports showed that the elderly participants health has been improving after the traumatic hurricane experience. 

3.  Water bottles and water filters were distributed to the elderly to prevent epidemic diseases.

4.  Follow up showed that the elderly their nutritional needs were covered. 

5.   During this period we reached our goal to improve the living conditions of the elderly.

Year 2018 was a difficult one but thanks to all our donors we were able to continue providing services to the elderly.  Our personnel and the elderly appreciate that even with different problems after the hurricane, Proyecto La Nueva Esperanza was able to provide to their needs.

After hurricane María impacted Puerto Rico last year, our 50 participants were affected in several ways and still need special emotional attention. Social Workers visits from the ASSMCA Program were contacted to help them cope with the situation in coordination with our organization. The nutritional aspect was improved months ago as we were able to increase the meal distribution from two (2) days a week to five (5) days weekly.  

Proyecto La Nueva Esperanza has been providing follow up for those hospitalized and to all our elderly participants for their basic needs such as: disposable diapers, nutrition drinks for adults. We helped them with the medicine expenses also. A nurse visits the elderly at their homes regularly and another service we provide is a housekeeper for those that required special attention. She helps them to keep their homes clean and in a healthy environment.

Because of the economic situation many elderly couldn’t complete the process to receive services at Elderly Centers, to buy medicines and/or groceries, visit government offices, etc. The vehicles has been in use all the time which increased the gasoline and maintenance expenses. Thanks to the donations we were able cope these expenses including for the driver salary as there were additional trips which were not in our budget.

Our organization is very grateful for the Global Giving donors which helped us make a difference in the lives of the elderly.

During the last months Proyecto La Nueva Esperanza has been helping our elderly participants with hurricane recovery.  We've been working with the participants in different areas:  physical, emotional and with house loss.  Recovery has been slow but we have achievements.

For Father's Day the elderly received a present:  basic need articles and the participants expressed their joy with what they got.

Thanks to the donations we were able to increase the days for the meal distribution.  We are distributing meals five (5) days a week, from Wednesday until October 2018.  Prior to this we distributed meals two (2) days a week.  

One of our participant home was without running water prior to the hurracane.  We coordinated with other organizations to help him with this situation.   He authorized Proyecto La Nueva Esperanza to go to the corresponding agency to complete the process for him as he was unable to do so.   We also help him financially during the process.  The participant was without running water for ten (10) months after the hurricane and he had to buy bottled water or ask his neighbors for help.  Now, he is very happy and grateful as he will improve his hygiene and house chores with the running water.

Two elderly participants had a dermatology condition and our organization helped them to get their medicines as they didn't had the money to buy them.  We are doing follow up to their conditions.

To continue with the nursing service we bought blood glucose test strips, alcohol swabs and lancets.  The nurse will follow up the elderly health.

Another service we were able to provide was to fumigate some of the participants homes so they can be protected against insects and rodents.  

The donations helped us with these achievements, thanks to all.     

During the quarter our elderly participants received the meals as usual.  They are very grateful because after hurricane Maria impact our island last September as some of them lost their belongings (partially or total loss).  The cook have prepared 867 meals which were distributed by our driver to the elderly homes.  We were able to add another day to the meal distribution besides Saturdays and Sundays to help the elderly cope with the situation.  Part of the donations were used to pay the cook and driver because the grant budget we had for it was due.  We are searching new fund opportunities to cover this area.  

Hurricane Maria recovery has taken more time than expected.  Some of the participants who lost their belonging such as:  the roof, furniture and/or household goods, came to our office to request assistance.  We helped them to contact the corresponding agencies.  We have donated groceries and some meals to elderly people in need in the community also. 

 We bought gas for the kitchen stove and groceries to prepare the meals.  The kitchen has been fumigated to keep it clean and prevent the insects and vermin growth.  Our two vehicles required frequent maintenance and gas because of the continuous use and the contributions we received helped us to do so. 

The new hurricane season will start on June 1, 2018 and we started our preparations if case of another emergency.  Groceries inventory was done and we bought non-perishable goods so that the meal distribution won't be affected in case of another atmospheric emergency.