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:
Want to know what the Governor said during the inaugural?
It covers Scenario of Senior Citizens in
India nicely. Read it here:
Want to listen about it from the founder himself? Watch this
interview, that is, if you know Tamil !!
My only desire is that there must be many more such
facilities supporting active ageing in the city.
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