Senior citizens can continue to live in a comfortable world if proper infrastructure is provided for them. Their children are all grown up now, and their duties almost complete, they have the time to do what they please, if their health permits.
Sadly they have the limited capacity to do things and they get bored easily.
Okay, I agree, they can go for walks, or to religious or social events, or
watch TV all day, but still that is not enough. Their family have the life of
their own and may not get time to pamper their parents, so its important that
there is some day care centre where they can be entertained regularly.
One such seniors day care centre I visited in
Frisco, a small town in Dallas. My uncle and aunt, who are in their late 70s,
visit this government sponsored centre regularly. A bus transports them to and
fro from their house to the centre, picking up more seniors on their way.
Frisco Senior Centre is a beautiful place to spend few hours everyday.
This one has an impressive entrance
that sets you in the mood.
They have volunteers on regular basis
who come to help with different activities. There are regular doctor visits for
different problems like ENT, heart specialist, physicians, etc who look after
their health problems and advise them on how to keep fit providing free
medications.
There are lots of activities happening
at this centre. Every month they have birthday celebration where the seniors
celebrate their birthday month together. During my stay in Dallas, it was my
uncle’s birthday, and I decided to attend the birthday party.
Everybody was asked to bring a dish
catering to eight people. There was a great variety of food from every
participant. People were called to the dinning area in turns, by calling out
the birthday persons first, then smaller groups according to their table numbers.
Everything was systematically managed. There was variety entertainment program
after lunch. Birthday persons were given a chance to speak about themselves,
and this was followed by musical show put up by the senior people at the centre.
It was interesting to see all the participants dressed in cowboy style with
hats and scarfs and singing the country songs.
The music program was amazing. I was told that they had been practising
for this day since a month, sometimes waiting till late evenings. They had
formed their own music and singing group and met regularly at the centre.
How can they ever get bored when the
centre provides all the comfort? Different room had different activities and
people could choose the room according to their interest.
There were cards room with round
tables, this also had comfortable sofas for people who sit prefer to relax
watching TV.
In the canteen room, one could buy
food and drinks at nominal rates
While some people chatted over cup of
coffee, there were separate tables for people who preferred to enjoy playing board games with friends.
In one room there were 2 billiard
tables..what a wonderful game!
There was table-tennis room
Art and craft room had people who
were interested in needle work and other handicraft work. They sat together to
create beautiful work that they sold during annual exhibition held at the
centre itself. I had the opportunity to visit the exhibition on another day and
even bought shawls, and costume jewellery.
In the gym room, besides the
equipments there was a large TV too so that they could watch TV while
exercising.
Then was was a computer room where
you could check your mail or play online.
The library room was really beautiful
with comfortable sofa and a soft music in the background.
Every morning, five days a week,
uncle and aunt get ready at 9am to wait for the bus to arrive and they are gone
for good 4-5hours at the centre, come home after lunch to get their afternoon
sleep, go to the park in the evenings and late evenings they sit with their
ipads or TV and watch their favourite programs. Outstation trips are also
planned regularly, while I was there, uncle spoke about the cruise that the
centre was organising at nominal rates of 500 US dollars for one week stay. Uncle
was quite excited to take this trip because he is very fond of travelling.
Their time is spend beautifully and
family members happy too that their senior members have some diversions away
from home……
