BHUBANESWAR: Senior citizens are a lot. After having led an active life in their prime years, they need personalised care and a life of dignity in their sunset years. In today’s fast-paced life, children find it difficult to take time out for their parents, who feel ignored and left out. They get into depression or are afflicted with illness. Keeping this in mind, Silver Age Foundation for Elders (SAFE), a not-for-profit set-up started its journey a year back in September 2017. It’s a platform where people of the same age group will get an opportunity to speak out and share their thoughts, worries and happiness with others.
This idea has led to the formation of Silver Age Elders’ Activity Centre at Lewis Road, Bhubaneswar. The first batch of 20 concluded October 1, coinciding with the International Day of Older Persons. The second batch, with 20 members already enrolled, will start from 5th October and they are getting invited to open centres in Patia and Khandagiri. The participants who completed the course were awarded a “Certificate of Happiness”.
This is the first of its kind in Bhubaneswar and Odisha. Also, it is the only one run privately so far. Silver Age Foundation for Elders is the only NGO in Odisha that is completely focussed on seniority. The centre is one of its activities. It will soon roll out home care services for elders. The registration for a magazine for senior citizens titled Silver Age Rocks is in process.
Overcoming loneliness
The course consists of 25 classes spread over 2 months. Classes are held thrice a week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4pm to 6pm. The slogan of the course is “Four o’ clock is playtime for elders.” The course has been curated based on research in other cities in India, by interviewing elders, through engagement with senior citizens’ associations and with inputs from doctors and caregivers.
The sessions take place in and around a range of topics such as music, yoga, dance, smart phone use, health talks by doctors, introduction to senior citizens’ products, legal and financial awareness, etc. They are also customised based on whatever is sought by the members.
Silver Age is the brainchild of four trustees who are caregivers for their parents in Bhubaneswar. The trustees are aged between mid-forty and fifty. The challenges they faced led them to this initiative. Such things exist in larger cities, but were lacking in Bhubaneswar.
Their aim is to make a difference to the lives of elders. The Foundation will work at the level of society as well as household. At the society level, raising awareness on senior citizen issues, research and publication, providing inputs for policy and promote reporting of abuse and ageism are some of the activities envisaged. At the household level, services, recreation and hobbies among others will be provided.
Lucy Patnaik, Trustee & Co-founder, said, “Loneliness is the biggest bane for elders in today’s fast world. Even when children are around they are busy with mobile phones. This prompted us towards this initiative.”
Banita Mahapatra, Trustee & Co-founder, said, “Rolling out our services for an elder is our priority. We are in the process of tying up with service providers. There is a critical need for this to make the life of seniors comfortable in their own home. Bhubaneswar does not have senior living facilities and security is a big issue. Because jobs are less in Odisha, many children go out leaving their parents alone.”
Not just learning new things, outings are a key part of our Healthy Aging program. Our members went to watch Akshay Kumar starrer Gold at Inox. It was first time at a multiplex for many. On International Day of Older Persons we had lunch at Bhubaneswar Golf Club with our members.
The Foundation has so far engaged with more than 1,000 senior citizens through its activities in old age homes and senior citizens associations.
NIDHI SINHA, OP