Elderly Monks The First Tibetan Refugees in India There are elderly monks still living who were the first refugees coming in to India from Tibet. They were the original founders of Gomang Monastery in southern India. These monks are not only in Gungru Khantsen but in other parts of Drepung Gomang Monastery as well.
	White Tara, Deity of Long Life

Malnutrition is common among all refugees, and combined with the general lack of hygiene, the combination can be deadly, especially for the most vulnerable.
Most people have damaged immune systems.

The elderly are among the most vulnerable
and many succomb to Tuberculosis. Many still die from TB today, even though the medicines exist to eradicate it. Medicine is available to those who can pay. Individual sponsorship helps.

Maitreya Charity sponsors several elderly Tibetans. Some still live with their families, and sponsorship eases the financial burden on the entire family, provides needed food and allows medicines to be bought when necessary.Some are in "nursing homes", and others live in monastic settings, with no family to provide any support at all.

Sheltered Accommodation
Panchen Otrul Rinpoche would also like to see them getting the special care that all elderly people need. Through his charities in the west he would like to see built for them what in the West is referred to as "sheltered accommodation", providing good clean rooms, comfortable washing and toilet facilities and to provide help with their washing and cooking and daily care.