My Sharing on ‘Care-for-Elderly’

My Sharing on ‘Care-for-Elderly’

My Dear Brethren on ‘Mother Earth’,

I write this piece in absolute happiness, almost with baby-like joy. I came back on Monday after an awesome Thanksgiving to my/our Friendly Father, Affectionate Teacher and TRUSTED Friend, ‘Simply DIVINE Ayyappaa’, abode Sabarimala.

I happened to attend the 8^th M.V.Arunachalam Endowment Oration at ‘The Park’ yesterday, sponsored by MV Arunachalam Centre for Information & Education in Neurosciences(Murugappa Group) www.murugappa.com and the God-like ‘Voluntary Health Services’(VHS), Chennai. The Oration was on “Managing the Aging Mind- A 21^st Century perspective”. I enjoyed the presentation by Prof. Suba Banerjee from UK. Though a PPT, he dwelt on the ‘length-and-breath’ of the SITUATION among senior-citizens, its financial impact, WHY and WHAT of non-communicable diseases like Depression, Dementia, Alzheimer’s’ etc. The Oration ended without a Q&A session, leaving many of the ‘humane’ 200 voluntary participants- like Yours Truly - a little restless, towards the end. Maybe it turned out to be a ‘blessing in disguise’ for ME and I started thinking seriously and hence this ‘sharing’ to you.

Before I share THAT ‘single idea’, a ‘NEW-but-not-new’ IDEA in this BLOG (The crux of the whole ‘piece’), for THOSE who have an interest in the functions of brain, HOW and WHERE our thoughts originate, you may ‘read and re-read’ and thereby ‘cherish and enjoy’ blogs of Dr.Ennapadam S. Krishnamoorthy (ESK), the distinguished son of the legendary Neurologist, Dr. Krishnamoorthy Srinivas who has alleviated pains of millions though decades of selfless service. Dr. ESK is a senior consultant in Clinical Neurology and Neuropsychiatry and is also The Hon. Secretary of VHS in Chennai.www.vhs-chennai.org His website is www.neurokrish.com I was fortunate that I was able to listen to their words of wisdom, albeit for a very short time. I need to mention the sheer simplicity, in their thoughts, words and deeds - of the scions of the Murugappa Group who were also present, amidst their hectic schedule – All for a ‘noble cause’.

Kindly refer to the article “Population ageing: an area of darkness” by Dr ESK. http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/22/stories/2010092254601300.htm to have an understanding of the SITUATION. Ultimately Dr.ESK concludes that “There is little doubt that the care of the elderly must remain vested within the family Unit”. HOW is it possible in this “Parents-in-India-Children-Abroad” (PICA) ‘new-age’ SITUATION? Yes, I agree. Moreover, tomorrow with OUR children maybe in Mars or Venus as well! (To Mars, hopefully in another couple of years, thanks to my ‘Business-and-Life Guru-Like’, Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Group www.virgin.com through Virgin Galactic www.virgingalactic.com Pl NOTE All seats FULL for the first flight!)

Dr. ESK adds “The absence of a safety net for the elderly has exacerbated the SITUATION of Elders with the PICA situation” Well, I take a devour here and share with you another ancient words of Wisdom in Thamizh, which when translated means,”Any society, where the Elderly, Women and Children are in ‘despair’, for whatever reasons - That society is bound to attract Nature’s wrath - THEY would be instable, in a myriad of ways. Some leading to DESTRUCTION and ANHILIATION”!

A decade back, we observed in France of such a SITUATION for ELDERS. France experienced temperatures over 32 Deg C (Gulf citizens, Indians, Africans digest this; WE survive 45 Deg C upwards, sometimes!), most Frenchmen could not could not bear and many took off for vacation, SOME (or many, I don’t know), leaving the elders, at their home someone else homes or HOUSES! Some very-elderly, my nanny-like and great-grandpa-like, devoid of any medical attention (for depleting energy levels because of intense heat, in that cold country), breathed their last before their children came back from vacation!!! How CRUEL and PAINFUL to SEE?

I Cried. Was ANGRY. Volcano was burning inside. NOW-NOT.NEVER. Thanks to NLP, the ‘Sanmaargam’ for ME, Ravichander Venkatraman. In this ‘birth’. (San in Sanskrit means Good and Maargam – Path) Sanmaargam for ONE Could be a particular religion, WORK or simply NOTHING, and I respect that)

The ‘simple idea’ I am going to share is / was practiced in the ‘yester-years’ of India, Great Britain and other parts of world as well. Maybe NEW to Americans. No issues dear Americans, come to India. Will share with you happily, We Love America, but would NEVER get Americanized, thanks to our deep-rooted culture, class and conviction. Where ‘Wealth was created with Wisdom’. Wisdom shared through the ages – Like the ‘Sage-like-and-Friendly Father- ‘Distinguished and Dedicated Son’ duo in Neurology mentioned above.

A ‘Simple Idea’ I propose to Humanity

My simple idea is to form weekly - formal and informal get-togethers among the ‘Children and the Elderly’ – The children can listen to their words of wisdom, play board and Card games, sing-and-dance, mild badminton or soccer may be – In short, ‘JUST be WITH them and AROUND THEM’- Maybe for a period of 30 minutes to 2 hours or more depending on the time available. Simple, isn’t it? Again no cost – So, no “templates” - Thereby no comparisons. Ha hah! Only ‘sharing’, uninhibited joy and laughter all around thereby abundant Universal Energy generated, isn’t it? That Positive Energy, a benevolent one, is very useful for healing, they SAY. Schools and Colleges can send their wards as well to places like VHS (OR) ‘Elder homes’ as part of their extra-curricular activities, isn’t it? What for Ravi? To JUST BE WITH THEM.

The venue could be just anywhere, wherever there is space available – BE it your independent home, verandah, corridor / terrace of the flat, beach, park…(One condition, though. Children’s parents strictly prohibited at the venue, for ALL the RIGHT reasons – However, if they WANT they may peep and SEE, without disturbing!)

Note: In the event YOU or your community or your locality practices this, do share the experience. Else am sure you would make an effort in making the above simple idea HAPPEN in YOU / your locality. Do notice change in ENERGY levels among both Elders and Children after couple of meetings, weekly once ideal, I suppose- On a weekend, preferably. Do share the 

NEW experience among the elders and children.

I intend to make myself available 1-hour / week of Quality time with elders, online or offline. I make that WANT stronger by writing this BLOG. Hope an opportunity beckons me, SOON! You, the wonderful reader as well, if you develop that WANT!

I sign-off DISSIPATING through my thoughts, words and actions -Through this BLOG, tons of Universal Energy, to all ELDERS, including in your FAMILY or your neighbor’s as well.

Love

Ravichander Venkatraman