The renovations to the two-story wooden house, on Nanai Rd, were carried out under a joint project involving the Phuket branch of the Red Cross Society along with Patong Municipality and the Phuket Office of Social Development and Human Security, explained a report by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket).
Leading the delegation today (Oct 2) was Ornsiri Raktaengam, of the Social Welfare Department, joined by Phuket Red Cross members and officials from the Phuket Social Development and Human Security Office and Patong Municipality.
A small ceremony was held to mark the occasion, including attaching to the home a small sign marking the renovations completed by the project.
Charuay Singha, 71, a widow, lives on the ground floor of the home, while three of her grandchildren live in one open room upstairs, PR Phuket explained.
Ms Charuay does not have a job. Her total income is B2,000 a month that her grandchildren give her plus the B700 per month elderly living allowance. The grandchildren do have jobs, but the family’s total income is B99,000 per year.
The roof supports, the floor of the second floor and the walls of the second floor house had all suffered extensive damage from termites.
Ms Charuay had appealed for help to only repair the floor of the second floor. However, by pooling their efforts, officials were authorised to spend B80,000, which saw the upstairs walls and floor replaced, and electric lighting added at four places in the house.
The project aimed to provide suitable and safe living quarters for the elderly and provide them with a better quality of life, the PR Phuket report explained.