When Time Is Not On Your Side - A Look At Old Age Homes

When The candle is almost at an end and the flame is flickering isn't the need for the sheltering hands even more urgent ?????

Old age is such a tough disease to fight . How does one live when the body gives up and the mind starts showing the strain ?

A HelpAge India estimate says the number of elderly people in India, pegged at 70 million now, is likely to go up to 117 million by 2025. It’s only natural that most of the existing old age homes will prove inadequate by then.

When i look at my grandparents generation , i see all of them living the same script . A generation that is used to hard work and independent living , many of them staying alone , with Children abroad or in Metros . Even the daily chores become a struggle .... Arthritis , Back ache , Diabetes ..... all enemies to be fought against .

Today , one of my friend's grandmother told me ...i wish there was an old age home where i could stay with my husband . A doctor would come for weekly visits , there would be other people of our age to talk to , and every one would be free to do what they want be it praying or watching K - Serials . What she yearned for was a little less responsibility , so that she could age in peace .

Finding domestic help , Nurses to stay and help those who are bed ridden or seriously ill is really tough these days . An NGO in Bhubaneswar called Shurusha trains young girls in basic nursing and care taking of the aged . And then the families in need can contact this organisation to get the required help . However the demand outstrips the supply . And the job being such a tough one , its difficult to find people who will stick to it .

We Indians always equate old age homes with irresponsible and cruel children who have abandoned their parents . But today i felt that for many people it would be a rather practical solution , especially if parents don't want to leave their home town and go to an entirely alien place .

But practically , i feel it is a feasible solution to a problem that is just increasing in magnitude . With changing social situation one needs to change oneself , and i feel that establishment of more old age homes , retirement colonies and other such facilities is imperative .