Baloukli's Greek nursing home is situated beside the Greek hospital of Constantinople. Its financial resources come from the exploitation of real estate and Greek family's manors while it only houses Orthodox Greeks, free of charge. Today more than 110 elderly live there.

No Greek staff

The matron of the nursing home is the only Greek who works in the nursing home, the rest of the staff is Turkish. The Greek minority is hopelessly declining in Constantinople and the nursing home cannot be staffed by Greeks alone. Nevertheless, this fact does not impact the quality of the services provided, as the Turkish staff performs its duties impeccably.

The organization and the tidiness of the nursing home are exemplary while food, baths and medication are always on time. Greek satellite television can be viewed in every room and the elderly can practice their faith at the spacious church of Saints Anargyroi, housed in the same building. There is also a broadcast of the service over loudspeakers for those who are bedridden.

Bright and clean

On our way to the nursing home, we thought that we were going to see an old dark building, where forsaken, powerless old Greek people would be withering. When we got there, though, we were pleasantly surprised to see that it was a  hospitable, bright and spotless place.

The Greeks of Constantinople, who have experienced great sorrows during the past decades, are lucky to have an institution where they can live their last few years decently.
TEXT-PHOTOS: GEORGE ZAFEIROPOULOS
SOURCE: www.greecewithin.com

MORE PHOTOS

Saints Anargyroi’s Church inside the institution.

They live their remaining years decently.

The nursing home's only Greek employee is the matron.

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