How to keep yourself busy: Read up anything you can lay your hands on

How to keep yourself busy: Read up anything you can lay your hands on

Are you the one who will read any scrap of paper lying around? I know some who do. This includes my father-in-law. He felt so lonely that to while away time, besides peering through every page of three newspapers we used to subscribe, he would pick up any scrap of paper and start reading. Newspaper inserts, handbills, invitations etc don't miss his eyes.

Many years ago, grocery shops in neighborhood used to sell things wrapped in old newspaper. It was a skillful job those days to transfer dal, rice, sugar, rava and the like to a piece of rectangular scrap paper and fold it such that nothing further, like stapling, tying with thread / twine / suthli etc is needed. The folding itself would be sufficient to provide stability to keep stuff stay put in the packet.   Some vendors used to make a paper one of sorts, fold a tiny bit at the bottom of the cone, put grocery item into it and seal it at the top without glue – just the fold would hold it fine. In the case of cone packings jute thread may be used. In my school days, paper scrap recovered from such grocery packets would be used for other purposes and re-cycled. I don't know if some of you remember we used such scraps of paper for swiping shit off a toddler's butt.

Chennai publishes a Tamil weekly called Kumudham. In my college days Kumudham used to publish a column called 'pottalam'. The author of this column depended on newspaper scrap scavenged from grocery stores deliveries for his content-inspirations. He will refer to something he chanced to read and comment on it. I liked his innovative sourcing of subjects to write about and the outcome as well.

By now you would have realized what I am coming to. I am advising senior citizens not to while away whining all the time about being lonely. Read up any scrap you can grab. There could be a treasure of your lifetime, if you are lucky. You will at least discover that many you never knew have died, if what you are looking at is obituary part.

Dr P Vyasamoorthy
30 Gruhalakshmi Colony, Secunderabad 500015 Telangana
LL 040-27846631 / Mobile: 9490804278

His capacity to understand simple things is so abysmally low that I am  exasperated and exhausted every time I write to him

Red Cross NMT Dementia DCC Hyderabad

Red Cross-Nightingales Trust Dementia Day Care Centre, Hyderabad

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On 31^st March 2017 Nightingales Medical Trust of Bengaluru and Indian Red Cross Society, Telangana State Branch started a Dementia Day Care Centre in Banjara Hills. It is the largest such facility having a capacity to serve fifty persons. The ultra-modern day care is equipped with physiotherapy, board games,  books,  rest rooms, siesta corner, Telemedicine, teleconferencing, transport  etc on the physical side; and physiotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, dementia care givers, dementia experts on staff side. Red Cross has provided infrastructure, funds and reaching out while NMT takes care of personnel and management aspects. One could witness decade's experience of NMT in planning, equipping and providing this centre.

The centre would offer:

Transportation from and to the centre; Physiotherapy and re-habilitation; Group / individual Games; Music therapy;  Reality orientation; Reminiscence therapy; Outings and excursions; Hobby development

If anyone is interested in volunteering, he can teach, sing or entertain, help in administration, sponsor some patients etc

In the same floor there is a full-fledged AYUSH Wellness center with experts in Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy, Nature cure etc all under one roof.

Mr Mital and I attended in the inaugural function. Both the facilities were inaugurated by the Governor of AP and TS, Sri ESL Narasimhan. Red Cross and NMT signed a formal MOU in this regard.

Mrs Radha Murthy, Trustee NMT, said dementia is becoming an epidemic and support facilities are negligible.  She briefly gave details of NMT activities for the past two decades which included: 88 bed Dementia residential care facility, Active aging centre, Enrichment centre, Helpline supported by police, second career activity bridging employers and job seekers, RRTC engaged in capacity building,  website called Indiaelderconnect etc.

The Governor praised the services of Nightingales Medical Trust & Red Cross. He said that it is indeed a Red Letter Day for Telangana. We were also told that the Day care centre is just the beginning and very soon we may expect, near Hyderabad, full-fledged residential care home too. He repeatedly emphasized that the Government of Telangana is very serious in improving health care services in the state. We should expect certain positive changes soon. He strongly requested media not to exaggerate minor shortcomings but to highlight several good things that are happening. One thing I can straight away point out happily: The meeting started ON time – something rare when politicians are involved!

Contact:  Red Cross-Nightingales Trust Dementia Care Centre Adjacent to Gymkhana Club Road No 2 Banjara Hills Hyderabad 500033 

dementiahyd@nightigaleseldercare.com  

Ph 040-42706565 Shreya Mane +91 9731133322   / 80 – 42706565

Dr P Vyasamoorthy
30 Gruhalakshmi Colony, Secunderabad 500015 Telangana
LL 040-27846631 / Mobile: 9490804278