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Time of India
28-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Ungrowing old: How seniors are tackling loneliness
CHENNAI: Since retiring, N Ramakrishna has turned RK Nagar Park into more than just his morning walk route. It's now his stand-up stage. Every Saturday, notebook in hand, the 83-year-old performs for a small group of seniors, cracking jokes about everything from joint pain to politics. 'My jokes are mostly anecdotal talking about imaginary awkward situations I've been in. I look forward to the open mic all week,' he says, adding that he now looks for a punchline in everything from doctor visits to daily errands. While a recent HelpAge India report says that nearly 50% of elders, especially those above 80 and living alone, cite loneliness as the most common negative feeling associated with ageing, a growing number of seniors in the city, such as Ramakrishna, are refusing to let isolation define their later years, choosing instead to build their own little communities around shared interests. From board games in community halls to pottery studio sessions, they're taking every effort to stay socially and emotionally connected. RK Nagar Park association regularly hosts music sessions, TED-style talks, knowledge-sharing sessions, and informal debates, besides open mic programmes. They also facilitate an alternative community living setup by running daycares that serve as hangout joints for seniors. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai T he Dignity Foundation, an organisation that works for the welfare and care of the elderly, says more elders are signing up for Tai Chi, basket weaving, carrom and pallanguzhi. 'I sign up so I can interact with people my own age. Every evening, I go home looking forward to the next day's meet up,' says Sivagami V, a 74-year old resident of Beach Road who leaves home at 7.30am as part of the foundation's day care pro gramme. 'I live alone, and the loneliness can be over powering at times. But here there's someone to ask me how I am doing, and I'm grateful.' 'We promote intergenerational events as well, like we recently held a fashion show where seniors walked the ramp wearing designs put together by youngsters from the National Institute of Fashion Technology,' says Merita Joseph, chapter head of the Dignity Foundation in Chennai. 'It was ex citing,' says Nir mala Krishnaswamy, one of the models. 'Walking along with my husband on the ramp was such a special moment.' Merita says that when The Dignity Foundation was established 27 years ago, it had a magazine by seniors for seniors where it was mostly health and wellness that was discussed. 'Over the years it has become more about creating spaces for seniors to meet each other and 'hang out' because we realised that was what they needed more, a sense of belonging,' she says. Today, the Foundation's programmes have also been extended to underprivileged communities free of cost. Gated communities are also going the extra mile by creating exclusive seniors' clubs. Alliance Galleria Residences in Pallavaram has more than 500 members in its seniors' club, where elders celebrate observance days and go on trips together. 'My daughter lives overseas and I live alone here,' says Usha Raghothaman, a resident. 'Initially, I felt cooped up as I had no friends to meet and didn't have anyone who could take me outside. Since I've joined the club, I have been to Yelagiri to celebrate Valentine's Day, Kanjeevaram on temple tours, and visits to beaches in the city. This group has become an ex tended family for me,' says the 76-year-old. NUMBERS TALK 1. 73% of elders believe technology can help them connect with youth, but only 13% use digital tools like social media, email, or video calling 2. 87% of youth and 84% of elders said discussing personal matters is their main mode of connection Source: HelpAge India INBO Report 2025
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Heat and medication: A bitter pill
Maria Aruna notes this summer has been extremely cruel to her 87-year-old father, disrupting his routine. His typical day involves being picked up from his home in Mylapore around 9 a.m. in a van, which makes multiple stops to board other seniors en route to Dignity Foundation's Dementia Day Care Centre in Anna Nagar. The summer heat is adding to the discomfort of a long commute and taking a toll on this octogenarian with dementia. 'Dad had loose stools, so I did not send him to the day care centre for a week; I fear the heat and the travel would drain him further,' says the school teacher, who also had a tele-consultation with the doctor. High temperature can impact seniors (or anybody else) in another critical manner. Doctors point out high temperature and humidity can affect the efficacy of medicines. Venkatraman Karthikeayan, senior consultant neurologist with Kauvery Group of Hospitals, feels that those with multiple sclerosis are the most affected by summer heat. 'When I was running my clinic in Liverpool, the Brits would leave for Scandinavian countries during summer. They could not tolerate the heat. There would be 'reproduction' of all their symptoms. It is not a relapse but we term it as pseudo-relapse because of the heat around. The affected neurons will not be able to compensate when the heat is high. This is particularly a problem for those diagonised with multiple sclerosis living in cities where humidity is high,' says Dr. Karthikeayan. As heat-related fatigue can be hard on seniors, particularly those with such ailments, Dr. Karthikeayan has a word of advice for them: he asks them to 'reserve their energy for the most important and productive work'. For example, watching television does not equate with resting. 'People think brain becomes tired only while working but brain becomes super tired more with cognitive work than physical work. So I would ask them to cut down on such activities and take a quick nap,' he says. Medicines and dehydration Sridhar Vaitheswaran, consultant psychiatrist, Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), says some medication can amplify the risk related to heat and summer — dehydration. 'While some medicines can make our body deal with dehydration, there are some others that can exacerbate the condition. There are a few medicines that can increase sweating as well. Some of the medicines used for high blood pressure and heart disease would also make the body lose water. It is important that the patient and the caregiver are aware of these problems and the medicines that can cause them; the physician needs to explain these things to them,' says Dr. Vaitheswaran. 'The dosage of some of the medicines might have to be changed depending on the timing of the dose and how it causes those problems. Some medicines such as Lithium, which we prescribe for bi-polar disorder, can sometimes act up so we have to be careful,' says Dr. Vaitheswaran. Doctors says it is important to follow the instructions mentioned on the back of the tablet box or strip while storing medicines. Drugs should not be exposed to direct sunlight or left in cars for hours together anytime — more so, during summer. 'Certain tablets when kept under direct sunlight will lose its efficacy,' adds Dr. Vaitheswaran. Changes in appearance, smell or texture could mean the medication has been damaged.
