Happiness
is spending some time with senior citizens.
While in Lonavala, I visited ‘Senior
Citizen Home’ at
Varsoli Village off old Mumbai-Poona road managed by Swami Ramanand Shastri
Charitable Trust. Stretched over 12500sq meters, surrounded by scenic beauty on
all four sides, with birds chirping away, the home for senior citizens at
Lonavala is a beautiful place to be.
Several times I have considered an old
age home for myself too, when I reach that ripe old age. I always romanticized on
an idea that if you pay the rent of a posh room, be in the company of
like-minded-people of same age and have cooking and cleaning out of way, life
could be easy.
But I think it is easily said than done.
I am not sure I want to be there.
The environment can be created taking
into consideration the interests of the group. For example, many senior people
are inclined towards religion, so there was a small temple in the campus of the
home.
The rooms were large with two beds per
room, an attached bathroom, and a small pantry in the balcony. There was a
small cushioned bench outside every room where they could interact with their
neighbors. A large park and a walking tract dominated the campus. A community
kitchen and a gym situated at the further end of the building were clean and
spacious.
The management has made their uttermost effort to make their stay as
comfortable as possible. On the day I visited, most of the seniors had gone out
for one-day picnic to a tourist spot. There are regular eye-camps held and they
are well looked after. They are even allowed visitors to come and spend few
days with them, but still, I didn’t see 100% contentment in their faces. When I
spoke to some of the sweet old women at the home, I realized that they miss
their family a lot. I got the feeling that it’s the compromise they have made
by coming and living away from their family.
When senior citizens are in the midst of
their family, they get involved in all the activities; they have an opinion in
family decisions and are surrounded by their grandchildren and relatives.
Indians are used to community living and
they like to stay in familiar setting. Young children want to take care of
their parents, but sometimes it becomes difficult because of other pressing
priorities. Moreover, there is stigma attached to the home, that makes it
difficult for young people to sent their parents to 'Senior Citizen Home'. Parents also feel unwanted and rejected if they are sent away from the family.
Nevertheless if senior people need a
secure home, a place where they don’t have to worry about cooking meals, a
place where there are professional doctors and counselors to look after their
needs, a place where they don’t have to worry about anti-social elements that
is prevalent in the society, a home for senior citizen is a perfect choice.
So
here I am, with the project of ‘100 Happy Days’I am posting pictures each
day here on my blog then sharing the link on my page on FB too. You can enjoy
my work either here or on my page at FB at Pushee’s World
