A panel discussion held yesterday as part of a training program for care givers of elderly mothers and fathers had speakers sharing their experiences as care givers for their parents and grandparents.
Tausi Feagaiga, or Covenant Keeper, refers to the unspoken but inherent role of Samoan children that when their parents reach their golden years and are no longer able to look after themselves that the children will care for them.
The focus of the training program is to equip caregivers at the only facility in the territory which houses and cares for the elderly, Hope House.
The late Cardinal Pio Taofinuu who established the home at Fatuoaiga saw the need for a facility of this type in both Samoa, Mapuifagelele and American Samoa, because of changing lifestyles where a lot of families were working and with the onset of modern lifestyle diseases, some parents needed more than the basic care available at home.
Today the home for the elderly and children with severed disabilities always has a waiting list.
The Tausi Feagaiga project has brought down a team from the University of Hawaii , John Burns Medical School , to train care givers at Hope House.
The training involves both hands on skills training as well as lectures and spiritual counseling ,.
Some of the cultural aspects of taking care of the elderly were highlighted by children and grandchildren who’ve taken care of their loved ones at home.
Attorney Toetasi Tuitelepeapga became a care giver for his father for several years before he passed.
He often had to deal with family members and friends visiting his father and showing their love with gifts that the doctors dont approve of.
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