Saraswathy worked on her husband's farm after they were married. She had two daughters who in turn were married, and moved away. Saraswathy's husband died many years ago and she ran the farm on her own until she was too frail to work. She sold the land and gave half each to her daughters on the understanding they would look after her.

One day she visited the city with her friend, and was involved in an accident where she broke her leg. She was taken to Government Hospital, and her daughters were asked to go and care for her there. However they never visited or enquired about her, and when her leg was healing she was discharged on to the street. Jacob's found her and admitted her to the Care Home to convalesce. In spite of requests from us she has never heard from her daughters since, and so has made Jacob's her home.

Residents

Sivan Pillai worked away from home as an assistant in a boarding school when he was young. He went home as often as he could to see his wife and baby daughter, sending money via his brother and leaving his property in his care. He arrived home for a visit one day to find his brother had disappeared with his money, and had sold his property. He was devastated, and the trauma left him mentally ill. He wandered away and lived on the street for years.

He came to live at Jacob's after breaking his leg in a road accident and although he has never really recovered mentally, he is stable and enjoys life. We found his family living many miles away and they were re-united for a meeting in 2008. His daughter is now married; she was thrilled to meet her father, and they now keep in touch.