Subarta Trust focuses on its beneficiaries, and thus on you. We cannot change the world on our own, but our activities aligned with social transformation and the revised CARE model can. These recipients have another source of delight in their lives.
Swapnalok: Social Reform and Future Security Model
Subarta Trust is striving to develop a model for old age security so that people of all ages plan and implement the same through their own means. This model would be replicated throughout the country.
The model involves setting up a fully serviced senior citizens complex in urban, semi-urban and rural settings, where senior citizens can live, take care of their basic needs, get medical attention and engage in productive and recreational activities,. Subarta will manage the complex and provide all services.
These serviced residential units, such as cottages or suites, will come under the corporate ownership of Swapnalok. Those who own property will be in a position to bring about a social change or reform in the way we view and make arrangements for our old age.
People talk of not being a burden to their children but rarely take practical or timely steps not to be a burden to themselves; there is also the issue of who will provide care when we are no longer able to care for ourselves.
Ownership of Swapnalok property allows the development of professional caregivers and provides the best alternative to a family having to look after an elderly member: community care and interaction. Individuals or companies who own Swapnalok property will not only have Subarta Trust managing an upscale facility for ageing family members or employees, but will generate funds and resources for the welfare and security of abandoned or distressed senior citizens under its direct care; the able bodied among them will have jobs in Swapnolok. People who can afford Swapnolok service-accommodation and the elderly-in-need will both benefit. When an owner or family no longer needs such accommodation, it can be donated or sold for use by other senior citizens. By investing in Swapnalok, owners become social reformers.
Distinction between Traditional Old Homes and Subarta’s Approach to CARE
| # | Old Home | CARE |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | One time service based – Beneficiaries take shelter and go there to acquire care services when it is needed. | Ownership of Special Property -– Beneficiaries buy and own lifelong care (through ownership of property) that can be transferred from generation(beneficiary) to the next generation (beneficiary). |
| 2. | Considered a burden and stigmatized. The occupants of an old home are often admitted as a last resort by the family as the family either refuses to care for them or considers them as burdens. | Promotes a mind-shift change. The beneficiaries receive the care not as a last resort but as a lifestyle choice that provides freedom to keep up a lifestyle with individual independence. |
| 3. | Many do not choose to be in an old home and live due to family detachment or rejection. This cultural phenomenon as well sentiment gives rise to further insecurity, and low social value | One of the Trust’s main priority is the culture and environment the beneficiaries are part of. Hence is it designed to encourage and build dignity and pride amongst its beneficiaries through mind-shift change, social and emotional care and establishing a family within the Subarta home. |
| 4. | Care provided is not structured or well researched, and often maintain the same standard with all residents. | Subarta provides: trained professionals, absolute accountability, complete transparency, monitoring of the care provided, and care is structured based on both medical and non-medical expertise. |
| 5. | The care provided is not holistic and living conditions and environment are not considered as part of the care. The residents and their families often think of old homes as ‘a place you wait till you die’. | Residents of Subarta encourages ‘Ability growth’ of its residents. Beneficiaries can contribute in the Subarta Circle with their individual skills and expertise. In case of someone who has neither but has the physical and/or the mental capacity for it, the Trust provides training to support their independence. In short, the residents entrepreneurial and intellectual capacities are nurtured. |
| 6. | Beneficiaries usually come to the old homes as they have lost all their property or their agency. | A resident of Subarta is an owner of property that they can attain through renting/buying/payment in instalments. The Trust aims to bring about a breakthrough concept of special housing. |
| 7. | Classification of residents is based on economic ability. | Classification is based on but not limited to intellectual, financial, social and economic ability. |
| 8. | General care given to all, but primarily provides shelter to the beneficiaries. In Bangladesh, old homes usually refuse to take medically dependent residents. | CARE research – Medically supported, resident-specific and need-based (customized) care. |
| 9. | It is specific to senior citizens and serves as a last resort for many occupants. | CARE – Any can access the care homes regardless of their age, physical and mental abilities. Anyone can start planning for their CARE. |
Scale and Future Goal
Subarta’s larger vision is to introduce holistic CARE services with accessibility and affordability to every person and establish the CARE sciences in Bangladesh.
Through Selina’s vision to establish at least one major elderly care centre in every district, and develop smaller units of elderly care centres in more remote and rural areas which includes –
Shogonbari in every Unions that will ensure beneficiaries access to first aid, primary care training, minimum care facility and access to care information centre.
Shopnopuri in every Zila and Upazila level that will ensure beneficiaries access to first aid, secondary care training and facility and complete access to care information centre.
Simultaneously, to influence the quality and standards of care in the country, Subarta is also trying to work with the Government to create construction mandates for establishing elderly care facilities, specific building codes in all major housing developments, residential and commercial facilities, and ensuring adequate policies are in tandem to the work Subarta wants the care industry to establish.
Currently, medical science is merged with elderly care, which means care is only looked at from a medical standpoint. Subarta’s work over the last two decades has given clear insights that CARE has physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social aspects that must be part of the system. Subarta’s extended vision is to establish a new sector called CARE sciences that introduces – CARE: Education, Institute, Property and Finance.