She believes that due to the economic crisis, several families have moved to the states, leaving their elderly on island without anyone to socialize with.
“There’s nobody at home so they rather go here,” she said
Mondala said more senior citizens are joining the center’s activities, which include dances, computer classes and games.
This year, there are 94 congregates registered on Saipan, 25 on Tinian and 43 on Rota.
Last year, Saipan had 65; Tinian, 35; and Rota, 20.
This year, of the total registered congregates, more than 50 percent are Filipino-Americans, Mondala said.
She is encouraging other senior citizens to avail of the services of the center.
“If they stay here they will live longer because they will enjoy all our activities,” she said.
Also this year, there are 101 registered caregivers of manamko’ on Saipan, 17 on Tinian and 27 on Rota.
The total number almost doubled compared to last year, Mondala said.
There are senior citizens who cannot physically come to the center and are being cared for by a person, either a family member or a part-time caregiver.
She said the center provides two meals to the congregates everyday and one meal to the caregivers.
The center, she added, is providing 469 meals every day to the elderly and the caregivers.
Each meal costs $6 on Saipan, $8 on Rota and $7 on Tinian. The cost varies because commodities on Rota and Tinian are expensive compared to Saipan’s.
