Friday, September 30, 2011

Knowledge Nugget - How to offset Right Click problem?

I have learnt today (I always make out a message and send it myself
under the subject Knowledge Nugget).

Some websites disable right click function when you browse a page.
Their idea is to prevent you from select & copy info from that site.
Somehow I feel this is highly undemocratic and goes against the
principle of sharing. I can somewhat understand if the item thus
protected is one's own property like photos, drawing, image etc. Even
publicly retrievable info is "right click prevented" in many sites.

http://www.oldagesolutions.org is one such site. This site is very
valuable for its rich collection of article. I have great regard for
this content provider. But all pages are copy - protected. How do make
a copy for your self? Or send it to someone you love?

Here is one way: Disable javascript for that single site. In Google
Chrome you may proceed like this:

Tools -> Clear browsing data -> Under the hood -> privacy -. Content
settings -> Javacript -> Manage Exceptions -> Enter the URL of the
offending site in the field to indicate that Javascript must be
disabled for the particular site; THEN save whenver you are asked to.

After this if you open www.oldagesolutions.org you will find a small
icon with X over it on the right hand top corner in the URL bar. This
indicates that javascript has been disabled. Presto, Job done. Then
copy whatever you want.


Dr P Vyasamoorthy, 30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph
040-27846631 / 9490804278.My blog:
http://vyasa-kaaranam-ketkadey.blogspot.com/
Have you seen the revised website of AISCCON? http://www.aisccon.org/

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Himachal Pradesh to announce special holiday package for senior citizens

My observation:
The concession is limited to a few couples and that too during Tourism
Week. Compare this with MP - details given earlier.
Should we not, however, be happy about the role of SCA in HP in this
context? -- PVM
=====================================================

Himachal Pradesh to announce special holiday package for senior citizens

SME News, Wednesday, Sep 28, 12:53:15 PM IST

SHIMLA: The state government will soon announce a special holiday
package for the senior citizens, providing a discount on room tariff
and food in state-run hotels and restaurants.

Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of the state, said, "The
Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation would offer a special tourism
package to 10 senior citizen couples besides providing rebate on room
tariff and food in its hotels and restaurants."

The minister announced the special holiday package while addressing a
state-level World Tourism Day function. The function was organised by
the state tourism department in association with the state chapter of
Age Care Association of India.

Mr Dhumal, who also holds the tourism charge, said that in the
previous year the state had attracted 13.2 million tourists which
includes 454,851 foreigners.

Currently, the state has 2,100 registered hotels with 23,000 rooms and
over 55,000-bed capacity. The destinations such as Shimla, Narkanda,
Sangla, Kasauli, Manali, Palampur, Dharamsala and Dalhousie are the
most demanded tourists places in the state.
===========
http://news.indiamart.com/story/himachal-pradesh-announce-special-holiday-package-senior-citizens-147456.html

Dr P Vyasamoorthy, 30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph
040-27846631 / 9490804278.My blog:
http://vyasa-kaaranam-ketkadey.blogspot.com/
Have you seen the revised website of AISCCON? http://www.aisccon.org/

South Korea, Becoming the Worst Place for Senior Citizens

South Korea, Becoming the Worst Place for Senior Citizens
Article See photos in original site (url at the end)


By Kay Aviles | September 27, 2011 6:31 PM EST
As South Korea gears up for economic advancement, the South Korean
government seems to be overlooking a domestic issue-the protection and
welfare of the elderly.

While South Korea advances in armory, it falls short of protecting its
dear senior citizens who suffer different forms of abuses, poverty,
loneliness and commit suicide as they reach more than age 65.


According to Ministry of Health and Welfare, South Korea has 5.54
million senior citizens aged 65 and up. The figure is more than 11
percent of the total world population. Of the figure, the Ministry
told media there is one in three senior citizens suffering from abuse
such as verbal, emotional and physical. Abuses at home accounted for
86 percent, while abuses by children and in-laws accounting for 73
percent. In 2005, there were 2,038 reported cases of abuse. The figure
soared to 3,068 cases in 2010. Cases of counseling and therapy rose to
47,988 in 2010 from 13,836 in 2005, an increase by 3.5 times.

More News

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Soviet-Era Pill From Bulgaria is a Cheap Way to Help Smokers Quit

Lawmaker Kwon Sun-Tak, head of Liberty Forward Party told Chosunilbo
senior citizens account for 34.6 percent of every 100,000 killed in
traffic accidents. Data collated from National Police Agency revealed
2,100 to 2,300 cases of senior citizens getting killed while driving
or crossing the streets.

Statisticians also told the media poverty is what awaits senior
citizens if they fail to prepare for their future while they are still
able. Jeon Hyun-heui, Democratic Party lawmaker showed the data
suggesting poverty rate of 45 percent among senior citizens.

With such disheartening scenario for senior citizens, many of them
consider suicide as the sole hope to escape. The Ministry of Health
and Welfare stated that for every 100,000 elderly, there are 160.4
senior citizens aged 75 and up that committed suicide. Experts believe
the rate is eight times higher than OECD average. For senior citizens
aged 65 to 74, the suicide rate is 81.8 per 100,000.

Unless lawmakers address the concern seriously, the data collected
from South Korea reflects a gloomy future in a country that has an
increasing number of senior citizens as against the younger
generation.

===========
Source:
http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/220442/20110927/south-korea-is-becoming-the-worst-place-for-senior-citizens.htm


Dr P Vyasamoorthy, 30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph
040-27846631 / 9490804278.My blog:
http://vyasa-kaaranam-ketkadey.blogspot.com/
Have you seen the revised website of AISCCON? http://www.aisccon.org/

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Pilates is good for senior citizens

Pilates is good for senior citizens
Posted on : 13 Jan 2011

Gone are the days when senior citizens dreaded exercise. Things are
different now. Exercise is vital as you advance in age. Aging does not
stop at retirement. You need to watch whatever you do to yourself and
body. Many have gone to fitness centers to keep their body in good
shape. At least that is the very best they can do so as to enjoy their
muscular and heavily built body for as long as possible.

The reality though is that, exercise is crucial for each one of us. It
goes a long way in protecting our health and body from lots of
needless troubles. For example, to further minimize the chances of
succumbing to osteoporosis, experts recommend strength training. It
plays a significant role in boosting the quality of the muscles that
wrap around our bones. You may have probably been victim of confusion
as a result of being overwhelmed with health requirements. Planning a
regimen becomes daunting and tiring. If so, you now have Pilates for a
solution to your dilemma. Many people have reaped extra ordinary
health benefits from this form of exercise.

Pilates has stood the taste of time. It started as a regimen for
dancers who were in need of keeping their body in good shape even
after they have retired. Many other people followed suit, and joined
the lessons. It eventually gained popularity and many could not help
but realize just how much stronger they felt. Getting started in
Pilates is as easy as acquiring a copy of a DVD. Do it on a regular
basis, about three to four times a week. This form of exercise starts
and ends in the center of your body. That is the part of your body
that everything convenes: the main avenue of your body.

Many senior citizens have enjoyed the fruits of Pilates, the most
significant being acquisition of well-built spine that will give your
body the perfect balance it needs. Osteoporosis becomes a thing of the
past as your body posture is drastically improved. Besides, Pilates is
a low impact form of exercise that suits the needs of the advanced in
age. There are no chances that you will exert severe pressure on your
joints when doing the poses and movements here. Pilates works on
breathings and quality-controlled movements. More over it puts
emphasis on proper alignment as you will tend to become more conscious
of your body's position at all times.

Additionally, Pilates does an excellent job when it comes to your core
strength. It elongates and strengthens the muscles so that your joints
become more flexible. Remember, it does not tire out and over exert
the body, making it an excellent recommendation for the older
generation. Pilates is not only unique, it was also designed to make
you stronger, more flexible, and less likely to fall as you body has
adjusted to making use of all its muscles. Concentration and correct
breathing parts of this exercise are what make your body able to
recruit the smaller, supportive muscles to aid the bigger ones. You
will feel a tremendous boost in your abs, back, and legs with Pilates.
The secret behind its being effective lies in the amazing job it does
on the core center of your body- the region where all motion
originates. Whatever movements you take will be stabilized because the
muscles in charge of each are in their best shape.
==============

Source:
http://www.articlepages.co.cc/2011_26_11042

International Congress on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine 2012

Shall get contact details soon and post it here.


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

We invite you to the International Congress on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine 2012

Dear Delegate(s), 
We invite you to the "2nd International Congress on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine 2012. It will be held at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) & University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi from 25th to 29th February 2012. 

The goals of this meeting are to provide a platform for discussion of issues of greatest relevance and importance in the fields of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine as they pertain to the Indian subcontinent. Special areas of focus include pioneering models of care for long term care of the elderly and use of assistive technology to maintain and optimize function, independence and comfort in the golden years. International and National Faculty of repute will lead interactive workshops and make didactic presentations during the Congress.



Organizers 

•All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS): It is an autonomous institution that was inaugurated in 1956 in New Delhi, India. It is the premier Institute in Health care, Research and Medical Education in India with a hospital that operates over 2000 beds.

•University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS):This medical school is under the auspices of the University of Delhi. It is a leading Institute of quality medical education and research and is attached to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, a 1000 bed tertiary care hospital in the capital city of Delhi.

•Indian Academy of Geriatrics (IAG): It was founded in 2002 as the leading Indian professional body devoted to the promotion of geriatric education and research and related academic activities. Its ultimate goal is to promote the delivery of quality geriatric healthcare in India. It is a growing body with many chapters throughout India in keeping with its mission to advance scientific knowledge and quality of healthcare provided to the elderly Indian population.

•Delhi Chapter of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics.
=============

Dr P Vyasamoorthy, 30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph 040-27846631 / 9490804278.My blog: http://vyasa-kaaranam-ketkadey.blogspot.com/

You can have a website of your own, like me: http://about.me/vyasamoorthy

Elders Mela in HYderabad

First ever Elders' Mela to be held in Hyderabad

Often thatha or aaji are ring tones on mobile phones used by the senior citizens instead of voices of their grandchildren calling out to them in the same house. Whether we like it or not this is the new reality for a majority of senior citizens who will be celebrating World Elders' Day on October 1.

Although senior citizens are reinventing themselves to cope with the present scenario, several challenges confront them. Escalating medical costs, unreliable domestic help, lack of public conveniences are only a few of the problems they face.

Yet, senior citizens are making choices like never before, from taking up membership in senior citizen clubs, to embarking on group yatras, even enrolling for classes that widen their horizons. With a rapid growth in the population of elders, their needs too have increased. Often they are unaware of new policies, services and products in the market that can make their life happier and more independent.

Volunteers too are at a loss as to how and where they can assist. To bridge this gap, the Federation of AP Senior Citizens' Organisations (FAPSCO), Help Age India and Federation of Organisers of Elders' Homes in AP (FEDEHAP) are holding the first ever Elders' Mela in AP," says Dr Rao VBJ Chilikani, President, FAPSCO.

Times surely have changed - with living and working having gone global, it's not always possible for children to live with their parents and it's equally difficult to uproot parents to another country.

Despite this Old Age Homes are still looked upon with some disdain in India. As a result, a majority of senior citizens are having to literally fend for themselves be it in everyday chores, errands, financial planning or emergency situations.

Stalls for health check ups, para-medical services, legal counselling, elder travel coupled with some fun and games are on offer too at the Elders' Mela (entry free) from September 30 to October 2, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Zoroastrian Club, SP Road, Secunderabad. For information contact: 9848488894.

Keywords: World Elders' Day


This is from The Hindu

Dr P Vyasamoorthy, 30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph 040-27846631 / 9490804278.My blog: http://vyasa-kaaranam-ketkadey.blogspot.com/

You can have a website of your own, like me: http://about.me/vyasamoorthy

Monday, September 26, 2011

SEnior citizens of Chennai enjoy traveling

Verve, vigour and vitality intact

UNWINDING: A yoga class, with some senior citizens, in progress at Officers' Colony Park near Collector Nagar. Photo: K. Pichumani


But entertainment options for the elderly are limited

At 90, A. Shanmugam's joie de vivre of life is unbeatable. He goes on at least two long-distance trips a year.

A few months ago, when he registered for a seven-day trip to Andamans along with other members from the Tamil Nadu Senior Citizen Association, many were taken aback.

But Mr. Shanmugam surprised everybody in the group with his spirit. "He takes all precautions when he goes on tours. For instance, he took a doctor, a senior citizen himself, with him to Andamans, so we were assured of his health," says his daughter Malathi.

There are many senior citizens out there like Mr. Shanmugam, who, despite their age, love going on tours or keep themselves busy with different activities.

From a brisk walk along the beach every morning to yoga sessions to dance classes to indoor sports, for most senior citizens each of these is a form of entertainment to keep them engaged, healthy and meet peers of their age group.

However, many such activities are limited to members of an organisation or club, and the patronage depends on how accessible the place is.

Dignity Foundation, for instance, is looking for more venues where Chai Masti centres can be started to alleviate senior citizen of boredom through various activities. "Many of our members do not make it to our centre at Ashok Nagar because of the commute. Ideally a place in Anna Nagar, Adyar and T.Nagar that can accommodate 40-50 people and that can be given on a part-time basis is our requirement," says A.R. Sreeja, general manager, Dignity Foundation, Chennai chapter.

V. Hariharan, member of Tamil Nadu Senior Citizens Association, suggests that the government build a free day care centre in some major localities to encourage better interaction. However, some elderly who stay alone are afraid of venturing out, while for many getting somebody to hear them talk is the best entertainment.

Most associations agree that site-seeing tours are most sought-after by seniors but lack of enough tour operators who cater to this age group, restrict outings to places in and around the city. D. Rajasekaran, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Senior Citizens Association, says as tour operators never come up to the satisfaction of the elderly, they decided to organise trips by themselves.

"Demand for such trips is only increasing. In the last one year, we have organised four such trips for groups of 30-40 to places such as Malaysia, Nepal and Singapore," he says. To run errands, the group would always have five-six members who are in their thirties. "This way all requirements of the senior citizens are ensured and as we organise budget is less by 10-15 per cent," he adds.

-- http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2486401.ece


News sent by 
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SPORTS OF SENIOR CITIZENS HELD IN KATHMANDU

Sports of Senior Citizens held


HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

• local briefs

KATHMANDU: The Elderly Citizen Welfare Society, Chabahil organised the Sports of Senior Citizens festival here at the Nepal APF Club grounds to mark the International Elderly Citizens Day on Saturday. More than 150 elderly citizens of Kathmandu Valley participated in the one-day festival featuring six events — spoon race, musical chair, seven-a-side football, breaking the pot, badminton and Intelligence Question test. Founder member and the attorney of the society Chhatra Pradhan said they organised the festival for the first time to support the elderly citizen. "We want to spread a positive message to the society through such festivals," said Pradhan. 


-- http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Sports+of+Senior+Citizens+held&NewsID=303792
Controbuted by 
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Sunday, September 25, 2011

Old Age Home gays in Gujarat

Old Age Home for Gays Comes Up in Gujarat Village
An old age home for gay men, perhaps the first such centre in Asia, has come up in neighbouring Narmada district of Gujarat.

The old age home at Hanmenteshwar village, located on the banks of Narmada river, was inaugurated yesterday and named after late American writer Janet, who generously donated funds for the project.

Talking to PTI today, the main architect behind the project, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil said, "I decided to name it after Janet as she had contributed a lot in its set up. She was like any other ordinary person...And that added more beauty to the project, which was initiated in 2009."

The centre was inaugurated by Janet's sister Carlafine, who accompanied by her husband, flew down from US for this purpose.

Gohil belongs to the royal family of former princely state of Rajpipla. He is the only known person of royal lineage in modern India to have publicly revealed he is gay.

"The home can accommodate 50 elderly homosexuals," said Gohil, scion of the 650-year-old Rajpipla dynasty.

The project has been developed under the auspices of Lakshya Trust, a community-based organisation founded by Gohil, known as India's gay prince, to provide support and promote HIV/AIDS prevention among gay men.

Gohil hoped his project would remove misgivings about homosexuals and help in promoting a society where people from different sexual orientation can co-exist peacefully.

He said he was happy that a priest of a temple located near the home attended the inauguration ceremony along with his family which is a "good sign" and indicated towards changing mindsets.
=============

Dr P Vyasamoorthy, 30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph 040-27846631 / 9490804278.My blog: http://vyasa-kaaranam-ketkadey.blogspot.com/

You can have a website of your own, like me: http://about.me/vyasamoorthy

Banking Ombudsman scheme gets diluted?



http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2011/9/24/lifefocus/9454679&sec=lifefocus

Read the above. I do not follow the details but gather that the Banking Ombudsman scheme is getting diluted, working against the interests of the customers. Bankers may explian this in simpler terms.

Dr P Vyasamoorthy, 30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph 040-27846631 / 9490804278.My blog: http://vyasa-kaaranam-ketkadey.blogspot.com/

You can have a website of your own, like me: http://about.me/vyasamoorthy


Cosmetic surgery for senior citizens

Read about a son's concern in the 'looks' of his father in order to 'prepare' him for re-marriage. And about what parts of the human bodies are subjected to cosmetic embellishments.  Need of the day to look great, availability of surgeons & procedures (technology), surplus money are some reasons for increasing number of older people opting for this. VYasamoorthy

=========

Saturday September 24, 2011

Nip-tuck for seniors

BY NEETA LAL

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2011/9/24/lifefocus/9454679&sec=lifefocus

India's senior citizens are opting for surgical methods to enhance their looks.

COSMETIC surgery, often associated with celebrities, is fast acquiring a new and loyal constituency in India – senior citizens.

Not content with growing old "gracefully", 60-plus parents and even grannies and grand-dads are shaving years off their faces and bodies by going under the knife.

This was the case with a 55-year-old businessman who recently underwent cosmetic surgery at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital. What propelled the tycoon to go in for "facial rejuvenation" (a euphemism for a facelift) was his 24-year-old son's insistence that his dad look younger and re-marry!

Inspiration: Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan is pushing 70 and looking great, and elderly Indian citizens are inspired to follow suit by going for plastic surgery.

"After his mother's death a year back, the son was keen that his father re-marry," Dr Mohan Thomas, the senior cosmetic surgeon at Breach Candy Hospital who performed the operation, told journalists. "Before starting the bride search, he wanted his father to improve his appearance."

Plastic surgeon Dr Anil Tibrewala of Hinduja Hospital, too, says he performed a facelift on a 73-year-old, high society male recently.

Overall, Indian surgeons and cosmetologists report a sharp upswing in the number of senior citizens going in for "lifts" and botox treatments. Women usually want face, eye and breast lifts, they say, while men plump for liposuction on their love handles, tummy tucks and hip reduction.

"Face and eye lifts are among the most popular surgical procedures for those who are 65 and over, but Botox injections, which are less invasive, are at the top," reveals cosmetologist Dr Pratibha Khanduja of Kaya Skin Clinic, one of India's premier skin and hair clinics.

Examples abound. For instance, Nidhi Baweja (name changed on request), 53, didn't celebrate her husband's elevation as the CEO of a multinational corporation with a family get-together or a holiday. Instead, the savvy woman made an unusual request to her rich husband: "Please fund my nose job!"

Similarly, Anil Tewari, in his mid-50s, prepared for his daughter's wedding with a visit to a city-based surgeon to address the crow's feet around his eyes, the frown lines on his forehead and grooves near his lips. They all disappeared with botox shots and fillers.

Dr Rekha Seth, seen here with her husband, says nearly half her customers are in their 50s.

Dr Sunil Khetrapal, a Delhi-based cosmetologist, was approached by a 60-year-old mother who he says wanted breast reduction surgery. "She had been embarrassed about it for decades but had only now gathered the courage to go under the knife," he says.

There is no denying that aesthetic surgery is gathering momentum even amongst those who have entered their golden years. What is the reason behind India's elderly – who until recently were content to lead lives of retirement and play doting grandparents – going in for surgical enhancement of their looks?

"People are living far longer," says sociologist Dr Sunita Khandekar. "They're living healthier lives and don't perceive themselves as being old. Also, with a perceptible increase in life expectancy, elderly Indians are keen to live their lives to the fullest by improving their appearances and marrying in their 70s and 80s."

Life expectancy in India has ratcheted up from 45 years in the 1960s to 70 years now, according to the latest census. Moreover, ego, a longer life span and a better quality of life are pushing senior citizens to re-assess their long-term goals. They are no longer willing to live in the shadow of their family and are thus seeking a more fulfilling lifestyle for themselves.

Higher income and heftier savings are also propelling people to invest in their looks.

"However, some of them make unrealistic demands and expect me to work miracles in days," shares Dr. Khetrapal. "I hear them out, tell them what I can do and leave the decision to them."

Intriguingly, the surgery in many cases is on the insistence of the senior citizen's kids.

"Older people do not know about the availability of world-class procedures in India and their affordability. We have seen sons and daughters bringing their parents in for discussion about possible improvements," says Dr. Khetrapal.

According to dermatologist Dr Shailesh Sood, elderly Indians are finding role models amongst older celebrities, particularly Bollywood actors.

"People see Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, who is pushing 70, looking great. So they want to go for plastic surgery!" says the doctor.

The field of cosmetic procedures is growing fast in India. The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery placed India after the US, Brazil and China in terms of the number of procedures performed every year. Dermatologist Dr Rekha Seth, founder of the Cosmetic Dermatologists Society (India), says nearly 50% of her clients are in the 50-plus age group.

"People nowadays know that they can do something to check aging. And they're keen to explore those possibilities," she says.

However, doctors concede that the trend also has much to do with a deep-rooted anxiety that most people live with – that they are not good enough. Images endorsed by the beauty and fashion industry make matters worse.

Despite the euphoria over surgery dramatically enhancing looks, doctors warn senior citizens who are considering such procedures to think things through. Medications and health conditions, they iterate, can have a serious effect on cosmetic surgery.

Patients must first understand the risks and complications that accompany each procedure. Before a patient commits to a procedure, he or she should be fully aware of the details of the operation, including recovery time and psychological effects, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

"Some patients are hardly aware of the failure rate of surgeries and the possibility of things going wrong," cautions Dr. Sood.

Be that as it may, mother-daughter duos and father-son duos coming in for cosmetic surgeries together form a fast-rising segment.

"It's heartening to see a rising number of older people coming for cosmetic surgery because of their children," adds Dr. Khetrapal who receives a steady stream of older customers. Would the good doctor treat a person of any age who was keen on surgery?

"People have to be medically fit and healthy. I don't think age ought to be a deterrent to surgery," he concludes.


Dr P Vyasamoorthy, 30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph 040-27846631 / 9490804278.My blog: http://vyasa-kaaranam-ketkadey.blogspot.com/

You can have a website of your own, like me: http://about.me/vyasamoorthy

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Municipal Elections in Maharashtra: Senior Citizens NGOs to cooperate

Following link may be read

http://www.mahasec.com/subdomain/admin/inbox/secadmin_211931_namuna%20form2.pdf

Maharasthra takes the lead.

Here the State Election Commission is asking NGOs SCAs and Voluntary Organisations to help the state for BE A VOTER CAmpaign in connection with upcoming Municipal elections in the state in Feb 2012.

For the first time senior citizens are recognised as Voting group worthy of governmental attention (at least Election Commission).

This I believe is due to efforts of AISCCON and its constutuents like Fescom Silver Innings etc.

Dr P Vyasamoorthy, 30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph 040-27846631 / 9490804278.My blog: http://vyasa-kaaranam-ketkadey.blogspot.com/



Friday, September 23, 2011

AISCCON Website Revised

Website of All India Senior Citizens Confederation has been revised and updated.

http://www.aisccon.org/

Contents have been moved to a faster hosting site as well. Revisions primarily are in data relating to members of the Federation and about new office bearers. A new Contact Page has been added. Newsletters upto April 2011 have been uploaded. The home page has been rendered more attractive. Details of forthcoming 11th Annual Conference in Vizag during 21st & 22nd November are given with links to further details.

Visitors may kindly give feedback for improvement of the site to me.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Guardians of the golden hour

Guardians of the golden hour - Dementia Care givers - ARDSI HYderabad

NEERAJA MURTHY

Neeraja Murthy meets a group of caregivers offering a pillar of
support to their loved ones affected by Alzheimer's
It is a sylvan house in a quiet road in Jubilee Hills. You enter and a
group of senior citizens are playing a game. Shyamala, a 69-year-old
former teacher looks around cheerfully as her 71-year-old husband
Krishnamurthy stands behind her. There is sudden excitement as the
group gets ready for a music session. The members sit in a group and
first start with a few stretching exercises. Shreshta, a little girl
in the group accompanying her grandparents narrates a Sardar joke and
there is laughter all around.

The music session begins and a 61-year-old participant Kavitha sings
the song Mera Jeevan kora kaagaz, kora hi raha gaya…. The get-together
ends when the co-ordinator Safina announces that their Meet on
September 21 will be at Sainikpuri. This is a weekly routine for
Shyamala, Kavitha and a host of other senior citizens like them, who
are no different from an old monument showing signs of decay and
resilience. Bogged with memory issues and behaviour problems to not
being able to do simple day-day activities… these senior citizens,
suffering from Alzheimer's continue their twilight years with the
support and care by their caregivers. Amidst regular media reports
about the harrowing time senior citizens face due to the neglect by
their children, it is heart-warming to meet the caregivers and know
the support they offer during testing times.

"Retired but not tired," exclaims Krishnamurthy, Shyamala's husband
who is her constant companion. "Shyamala's mother passed away two
years ago but she has forgotten it and sometimes she says she wants to
meet her mother," says Krishnamurthy.

"I was shocked that my heart did not break into pieces when my husband
forgot that he was a professor in an univerisity. Imagine seeing him
feel lost and disintegrated and not being able to connect things,"
says Prameela tears welling in her eyes. Safina, co-ordinator,
Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India, Hyderabad Deccan
(ADRSI, Hyderabad Deccan) says these awareness sessions try to engage
the participants with different activities. Kavitha, a native of Udipi
was working with a public sector organisation till she retired two
years ago. Her son, a software engineer accompanies her to these
sessions. "She gets angry and becomes aggressive. Sometimes, when she
sees my son playing, she starts shouting at him that he will fall off
while playing. That is a genuine concern but she would get too
paranoid," he says. The caregivers say it is heart-rending when the
family members see their parents or husbands/wives turn from dynamic
individuals, who could take on any challenge to disintegrate,
deteriorate and become dependant even to do basic things. "My husband,
a former banker was game for any challenge in life. Now, he forgets to
sign on cheques and cannot differentiate between currency notes. He
was a short-tempered and impatient person. I should have known the
symptoms," says Manjula.

Rukshana Ansari of ADRSI, Hyderabad Deccan says the awareness about
Alzheimer's is still low in India. "Even among general physicians, the
awareness is low. If a patient goes to a doctor to discuss about
his/her forgetful nature, the doctor just sends him/her back saying
that it is simple 'matimarupu' or ' satiyajaana' due to old age," she
says. Recently at the care-givers meet, she spoke about the functional
rehabilitation for persons with dementia. Alzheimer's is the most
common form of dementia and experts say one can delay the process by
being physically and mentally active. "Use it or lose it," smiles
Rukhsana pointing towards the brain. However, the irony is that there
are examples of people like Nani Palkhiwala, a brilliant legal brain
who was affected by Alzheimer's. As we observe World Alzheimer's Day
on September 21, it is significant that we not only speak about the
agony of senior citizens affected by Alzheimer's but also acknowledge
the support and care given by the caregivers.

(Names have been changed on request)
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http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2470289.ece

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