I feel blessed when ....

I feel blessed when  ....

1. When the servant maid comes late when I have given up hopes
2. When I see the morning paper thrown by the vendor has not landed in wet front yard
3. When a friend visits me unexpectedly, says just for a minute and really leaves quickly!
4. When a friend gives me a new year calendar or diary
5. When I get a Greeting card by post (snail mail)
6. When I trace out whereabouts of a long lost friend
7. When I visit my school after  a gap of several decades
8. When I am setting out, drizzle ceases and does not turn into downpour
9. When electricity comes back while I am watching an interesting TV serial
10. When my enumerating ability lasts long enough to pat myself on my back

Which one did you like best and why? Tallied with your experience?

My Visit to Chennai Age Care Centre

My Visit to Chennai Age Care Centre

During my recent trip to Chennai, along with my brother Sri Ramachandran, I took the opportunity to visit the Chennai Age Care Centre (aka SHEL – Smart & Happy Elders Lounge) in Royapetta. It was inaugurated by the Governor of Tamil Nadu in October 2018. The founder is my schoolmate, Sri S Sathyamoorthy, whom I have known for about 60 years.  Sri Sathyamoorthy, taking care of nonagenarian mother, witnessed firsthand, the plight of loneliness among senior citizens. That paved the way for setting up SHEL.

It is in ground floor, some 1800 sq ft of air-conditioned facility, fully equipped with board games  like chess, Carom and cards,  TV, newspapers and magazines, full fledged music systems with head phones, comfortable sofa etc. You won’t believe, there is a small kitchenette also if anyone wants to cook his own quick bite. Situated strategically with easy access to shops, hospitals, medicines and colleges it is easily reachable by Uber, Ola, Auto bus etc

There is no initial registration fee. Users may pay daily, weekly, monthly or annually.  Longer usage (rather commitment) entitles lower pricing. Members will be helped to visit doctors, hospitals or elsewhere escorted by trained caregivers.

The place is truly an activity centre promoting active ageing. Talks, Bajans, training classes (example: smart phone usage), music sessions, celebration of festivals etc are all there. They are planning to add visits, picnics, physiotherapy etc.

The centre is a boon to senior citizens who are left all to themselves by busy children or those living alone. The atmosphere in SHEL is cozy, comfortable & congenial, the facility is affordable and the experience is enjoyable.  

If you wish to know more about the centre, see:

http://digitalpresense.com/articles/a-unique-day-care-centre-for-elders-at-chennai-526744

Want to know what the Governor said during the inaugural?  It covers Scenario of Senior Citizens in India nicely. Read it here:

http://www.tnrajbhavan.gov.in/Speeches/2018/Sp011018-2.pdf

Want to listen about it from the founder himself? Watch this interview, that is, if you know Tamil !!

 https://youtu.be/c2ImFTNjy98

My only desire is that there must be many more such facilities supporting active ageing in the city.

Where do senior citizens congregate?

Where do Senior Citizens Congregate?

As a person working for the welfare of senior citizens I am always interested in meeting several of them in one place. Therefore I used to go to places where they are normally seen in good numbers. I took the help of a web group called sss-global and found out places where I can further explore looking for old people. Here is a gist of my findings. They are given no specific order, because categorization freezes free thinking!

·         Senior Citizen Associations when they conduct regular meetings

·         Day Care Centers attached to such SCAs

·         In the west, McDonald outfits offer discounts to seniors in the morning hours and for early elderly lunchers:  therefore, McDonald outfits.

·         Alzheimer's Day Care Centers

·         Retirement Community Activity Rooms

·         Banks on first few days of the month to collect pension

·         Parks in the evenings to while away time

·         Temples to bribe Gods and to gossip and perhaps worship too!

·         Typical clubs and pubs to meet friends; play cards; relax with a drink

·         Lectures planned for senior citizens

·         Libraries to borrow / return or read books

·         Hospital out patient geriatric wards for obvious reasons

·         Old Age Homes and retirement facilities (senior homes)

·         Post Offices to deposit or collect pension or interest income

·         On boulevards, parks, gardens, walking or jogging paths - walkers

·         Locations where laughter club sessions are held

·         Near schools waiting to collect grand children

·         Any bus or train bogie carrying travelers on pilgrimage

·         Railway booking counters meant especially for senior citizens

·         Any marriage function – not necessarily reception – is full of oldies

·         Any Bhajan sessions, religious discourses, temples, churches, mosques

The listing will be useful to product or service providers for this age group. Banks offering special FD schemes, Health Insurance companies, suppliers of assistive devices etc to mention a few. If you can extend my listing I shall be happy. If you reflect deeply upon the question: "What do senior citizens do?" and try to answer "where" they do it in good numbers, I am getting you!

Dobara - Second Innings

DOBARA – Second Innings

 

Mr Manish Rai of Dobara (Second Innings) gave a talk in SCF on 2nd December 2019. Dobara is an NGO working to improve mental and social well being of senior citizens. Financial and health, medical or food related issues are not their main focus. They work with about twenty volunteers and many of them are themselves senior citizens. They conduct regular programs in old age homes, engaging the residents in a variety of activities – singing, games, art work, crafts, coloring, puzzles, games, etc. I was surprised to learn about a long list 40 activities which can be tailored to suit the needs of individuals and groups. NEAT (Neighborhood Action Team) visits OAH, assess their needs, provide meaningful engagement on regular basis. Bridging intergenerational gap by sensitizing youngsters about needs of the aged is an important activity of Dobara.

 

Active and mobile seniors can assemble in specified location for engagements. Volunteers can be sent to OAH to entertain residents. They cater to women's groups via social gatherings also. Activities are well planned, highly structured, tailor made for each recipient group. It was pleasing to know of one volunteer who spends time engaging people over phone – getting nearly 100 friends!  Dobara is associated with Pass It On Network in Paris and another global Human Rights Network of older adults.

 

Contact: DOBARA. Mr Manish Rai Co-founder 7406131819

 

 

 

Dr P Vyasamoorthy
30 Gruhalakshmi colony Secunderabad 500015
040-29552016 / 09490804278 / 

Apart from language, caste, nation etc, Gurujis and Godmen are also strong binding factors