False Pride

False pride is something you proud yourself of, that you don’t have. Many people fall into this trap easily. And practical people don’t do. It is easy to get trapped into this, but hard to get rid off and come out. Once you are into this, you will lose track of reality and keep on trying to outdo others around you. It is manifested in many forms around us. Parents attain false pride about their kids, is the most common one. They do it about their kids while they are in school, whether the kids do well in the school or not, parents boast about their achievements to others. Once they finish the school and get a job, where they are yet to mark their milestone, parents boast about their kids. This is not limited to the kids alone, people retain false pride about themselves and their parents. They are under the impression that nothing can go wrong to them unless and until it is proved otherwise!

What is your opinion on the topic of discussion? Do you think, it is an unwanted thought? In your opinion, how we can come out of this situation? How it is affecting our value system?

HEALTH

Health is one of the most concerned issues of the people. Most of the aged people living in India are succumbed to blood pressure, diabetics, cholesterol or combination of the above mentioned and the complications resulting out of it. It is reported that these life style diseases are on the rise in an alarming way and many people will get affected to it, if proper precautions are not taken in advance. Apart from these, other diseases affecting the aged people are also on the upswing.

India is undergoing fast changes in every sphere of life and medical care is no exception. Latest practices in the field of medicine from the world over are reaching very fast here. Latest medical equipments, life-saving drugs etc. are available in India from reputed overseas and Indian manufacturers. It has helped to improve the medical care facilities in India.

Indian medical system is highly regarded for its achievements. Medical education system in the country is of high standards. In India, medical education system ensures that the best talents only get admitted as medical students. It is also similar in other areas of medical education which requires latent talents and skill sets.

Indian doctors are viewed with respect by their counterparts the world over for the sheer number of patients they are treating everyday successfully. They observe that the diagnosis of a disease by an Indian doctor is very fast. This is due to the fact that they are examining a large number of patients a day, which is very true especially in the case of doctors working with government run hospitals which offers free treatment or at a nominal amount to patients.

Indian nurses and other health care professionals form a major chunk of migrants to other parts of the world, where they are respected for their professionalism. They are also a major driving force behind the foreign remittance to India as expats. 

Even though, Indian health care is primarily driven by the government, private hospitals and clinics are found to offer more patient friendly services. And therefore there is a marked preference by people for the services of private hospitals and clinics. 

Apart from this, many charitable organizations are running hospitals and medical education centers all over the country, at affordable costs, which is very laudable.

Many of the corporate houses entered into health care industry, by establishing hospitals of world class standards in India, which is a welcome sign. And almost all of them are running their hospitals at multiple locations very successfully. They ensure that best practices in the health care industry are being followed in their institutions and remain patient friendly among other things to offer best services. 

    

Thus it can be concluded that, since health care system is of high standards in India, aged people who need medical attention will get proper health care and attention, provided, they reach the hospital without fail in time. If you are away from your parents, taking them to a hospital when a need arise will be a major challenge, especially, if they are living alone. In that case, you need to figure out a solution to take them to a hospital in the case of an eventuality, which should be suitable both to them and the place where they live and arrangements should be made for it in advance.

It is recommended for aged people who are not living close to well-run hospitals, where they can seek medical assistance, if the need arise, to consider relocating to a locality where you have a well-run hospital, if situation permits.

A major concern remains to be addressed is the case of patients living in rural areas. Many of the state governments have achieved a great presence of health care to its people in rural areas. But some of the states are still lagging behind in their attempt due to many reasons.  We can without an iota of doubt believe that the sweeping reforms happening in every walk of life in India will address this problem properly.

Suggested Solution: #3

EXCLUSIVE TV CHANNELS FOR THE AGED

In India almost everyone is very fond of TV programmes. It is noted that the majority of the viewers are homemakers and aged people among, who have more disposable time at their hand. Mostly these people will be at home and they can view the programmes at their convenient timings.

In India channels targeting viewers of almost all segments are there. But it is hard to find a channel exclusively broadcasting programmes for the aged people. It can be in English, Hindi or in any other vernacular languages. Viewers exist and viewership is assured, provided you air programmes that interest them.

SECURITY

Security is very essential in the case of a human, which is met by various means to safeguard his/her interests to live as a law abiding citizen of a country. From the attack of a different country, armed forces and related agencies provide it. From the antisocial elements the police force protects him/her. If he/she has a dispute he can approach a court or a mutually agreed arbitrator to get it addressed.

Apart from this people use many methods to protect themselves in day-to-day life. The most common way how he protects his/her family is by a pet dog which he keeps with him at his home or takes with him/her where ever it is allowed and for necessity or fancy. In all spheres of life we are using security whether it is your home, work place, car, computer, telephone, banking and online transactions of all sorts in every activity of life, it is called for!

Now it is the age of high tech security age and we use highly sophisticated gadgets and space age technology to achieve it.

As a child our security is provided by our parents by taking care of our needs. They take care of us by feeding, bathing, clothing, meeting our other day to day needs, educate us, instill value system in us so that we can become refined and lead a happy and rewarding life when we grow up. As children, when we were not what we are today they were everything to us.  So when our parents get aged, it is our duty to give it back to them what we received from them when we were children. We should be sincere to ourselves in this. Also we should take necessary steps from ourselves to ensure that we are imparting a secure feeling to our parents by our actions.    

Security of aged people, especially who are living alone has become a daunting task to the police these days. Almost every day you can watch in the media, the criminal intents to which they are subject to. The worst and fearsome act is the crime committed to these people for monetary gains. The influx of migrant workers to different states from other parts of the country has compounded this issue. Police is finding it very hard to track down the real criminals from other state, since they don’t have any information of these people and whereabouts, so that they can track and book them.

As our value system has changed over the years and now we live in the instant gratification age, many people from our own state is committing crime for monetary gains to appease themselves than never before. Mostly, in this case also they target aged people in their short-cut to ‘glory’. 

It is high time that we should lobby hard with the government to find a permanent solution for this problem. Mere statements and assurance from the authorities won’t fix the problem. We need to think on a fresh perspective and a realistic and everlasting solution should be arrived at, implemented, monitored, reviewed and enforced without fail.

Moreover, for aged people information should be available, how to handle these kind of situations, if they are going to face in the present scenario in Kerala. Also they should be made aware of the process of getting aged, their medical conditions, facilities extended to them by the government, the products and services available in the market which can make their life better. A source through which they can educate themselves on their health, fitness and wellness conditions, how to get help and the processes for it on different day to day challenges they are facing is also necessary. This requires constant involvement of the government as well as private sector, to a great extent. Unnecessary and uncalled dogmas of getting old and living a sedentary life which is prevailing in India should be eradicated with the committed involvement of the concerned.

Suggested Solution: #2

PERODICALS FOR THE AGED

If you got the habit of looking for periodicals at news-stands, nearby stores, super markets or retail chain outlets, to buy it for reading, on the basis of interesting cover stories, you might have noticed the flood of new publications in the market, especially in India. Did you notice, while in India any publication targeting the niche market of aged population? The answer may be an affirmative no. Why it is so, do you wonder? Is it because the readership will be less? No way. Because you can reasonably state without exaggeration that India is paradise for pensioners, since many of its young generation are living overseas, leaving their family here. It points you the targeted segment, to whom you can launch a publication. If it is reasonably priced, good in quality and content, you can do a dream run by filling the vacuum in the market place. 

I hope major media houses in India, will be listening, understanding and proactive on this issue. Apart from the media houses, entrepreneurs, organizations and religious groups are also welcome to offer this solution.

Don’t forget to overlook the fact that, when it comes to media, content is the King!

Little Genius! Sam Cherian Jacob, New Jersey, USA with his invention

LONELINESS

Can you recollect the last time, when you asked your mom or dad, “Are you feeling lonely?” Chances are that, they may be feeling lonely! You may wonder why, especially, if they are living with you. You are there to look after them, your spouse and kids are around them to help them to make their life merrier. They seem to be happy. How is it possible, you may think? The fact is, when you people are among them, they are happy. What about the time, when you are away? You may reason the question by thinking, both my parents are alive. If only one is alive or is around here, the chances are that they may feel lonely. Apart from the occasional disagreements, they are getting along very well and happily married for the last so many years, with children well settled in life and with proud grandchildren. Then, how can it be?

Did you ever really try to figure out, what they do, when you are away, busy attending your daily chores? Typically, they may be doing the following: 1. Reading news paper/s, 2. Reading religious or other book/s, 3. Watching TV, 4. Browsing the internet, 5. Listening to music, 6. Praying, 7. Talking to each other, 8. Going for a walk, 9. Working-out if they are fitness conscious, 10. Cooking, 11. Washing clothes, 12. House-keeping, 13. Talking over phone with some of their relatives or friends,  14. Visiting their doctor, dentist, counselor or therapist, 15. Shopping, 16. Visiting nearby religious place/s, 17. Visiting a restaurant or a bar, 18. Doing social visits, 19. Attending some classes, seminars, workshops, concerts or live-shows, 20. Visiting exhibitions, 21. Visiting public places of interest, and in many other ways of their own choices. It varies daily and from person to person.

It is highly unlikely that both of them share many common interests among them! That being the case, the scope of joint activities, gets limited. So one tends to join or follow the other in an attempt to please or oblige, but presence will be limited in the physical form and the mind wanders which takes them to a different world of their own. This fuels loneliness!

So for a moment, imagine the case, if your parents are away from you and not with any of your sibling, if you have any. Or, if unfortunately one of your parents is no more, doesn’t matter, if s/he is with you or with your sibling or away. How long they were together in life? How they have supported each other in their difficult times? It is not necessary that they should have been made for each other. But the emotional attachment between them can’t be stated in mere words! Once you miss a life-partner, can’t figure out on which roller-coaster ride your mind will follow! In that case for being sane, you will have to pull all your wits together in a logical fashion coupled with sound reasoning. You will understand and appreciate it in a much better fashion if you had faced any failed relationship ever in your life. Loneliness engulfs these people also.

Needless to mention the case of the aged parents, who is not staying with their children, but staying with their spouse or alone back at home!  Their plight is, well documented and attracts the constant attention of the media. They breathe, eat and sleep loneliness.

 On the above perspective, think, how loneliness might have crept into their life and haunting them like never before! Don’t do you agree that it is high time that they need help and you should draw up an action plan to follow?  An action plan that list ways to alleviate their loneliness first, of course!

Suggested Solution: #1

Think of forming clubs for your aged parents along with like minded people in your locality. You can take the initiative by convincing them about the idea of the club, its formation, how it should work, etc. The idea of the club is to engage them with like minded people so that they get energized. It is not necessary that you need a club house for that purpose. If it is available, it is well and good. Otherwise, you can ask them to assemble at a mutually convenient place or in each member’s residence, in turn.

 It is also a good idea to engage the club in social work, preferably, under the guidance of a trained social worker, so that their domain experience can be used for the betterment of the society. You can approach nearby hospitals, clinics, clinical labs, pharmacies, other service providers to the aged for a tie-up for their services. Also, arrangement for ambulance services can be fixed in-advance, in the event of an unexpected hospitalization.

Bed-ridden people deserve more sympathy. It is suggested that they are also invited to join the club without their physical presence at meetings held away from their home, which should be compensated by frequent meetings at their place, if situation permits, followed by frequent visits by the members to them, so that they will get relieved emotionally to a great extent in the presence of like minded others.

Counseling can be offered to the club members, which is very much required if a person is senile, or suffering from life-threatening diseases.

Offer the services of preachers to improve their spiritual life progress. 

Help for Looking after your old parents of India

BACKGROUND

Looking after aged parents living in India or parents living abroad with their children requires lot of effort from the family members, since the longevity has increased in recent years. Longevity has increased due to many reasons. The main reasons are:

1. Advancement in the medical science, 2. Increase in income, 3. Progress the state has achieved in public health care, 4. The state of the art health care facilities, that are, available at the private sector hospitals, 5. Availability of affordable health insurance in the country, 6. Availability of latest life saving drugs in the country, 7. Increased awareness about health, etc.

On these background it can be safely assumed that the longevity is tend to increase further in the coming years. Since, the joint family system is no more and nuclear family is the norm of the day, to look after their aged parents, Indians need out of the box solutions.

A large number of Indians are expats who are living abroad with their families, with or without their parents with them, where medical expenses are very high. Medical expenses in India are very competitive. This has resulted in so many foreigners coming to India for treatment. Tourism industry is also benefitting out of it. And even medical tourism exists. That being the case, one is poised to ask: “If you are an expat with your parent/s with you, being always on a hectic schedule, negating the most cost effective and highly competent,  health care facility available here?”

The problems faced by the parents of expats living in India are many-fold. They spent considerable amount of their life-time and money on bringing up their children. After completing their education the children used to migrate to greener pastures of developed countries or middle-east to make a living as well as to enjoy the good standard of living and earning potential these countries offer. Getting a decent job in many Indian states is very difficult and this forces a vast majority of people in this states to relocate to other states of India, in search of a job and tend to settle there, eventually. In this case also parents are left behind mostly. Others move out of the state to other parts of India for starting businesses, since they feel that business environment in many states is not that healthy also settle there. They can take their parents with them to their work place, if their parents are willing to relocate. The most troubled people are those who are forced to stay back in leaving their children, by their own decision or circumstances. They have to depend on others even to get even small things get done.

In all these cases parents will have to suffer mental agony. Most of these parents are born, brought up and were settled in places of their occupation or native place before their children moved out of the state or country. Even if the parents are living with their children in other parts of the country or the world, most of them prefer to stay back where they used to, if the situation permits! The children should understand and respect the feelings of their parents.

There are many instances where all children of a couple are settled or working abroad. Some parents prefer to go abroad and live with their children, while others prefer the relaxed living of a retired person in the state itself. Parents who have gone with their children to live abroad may face isolation from the society which is having a different kind of value system and belief, contrary to that of them. This cultural-shock may force them to become depressed, which goes undetected in most cases leads to the deterioration of physical health of the concerned. Moreover the parents of the expats, who decide to live with their children abroad has to face many hurdles to settle in the country they have landed. The main is travelling. You need to understand and undergo a U-turn of your driving habits which you are used to. Then you need to learn different skill sets in every sphere of your driving skills. You need to learn to, read maps, GPS to name a few. This learning process can make them restless, since it is believed in this part of the world that learning skills go down as you become old. Some may need to learn a new language which is the spoken language in that country. This requires time, application of mind and motivation to learn a new language or accent/s which is the first litmus test waiting for the parents of expats who moved along with their children abroad. This can be a frustrating experience for many. Another grey area is travelling alone. They have to learn to travel by a new way. Initially they may find it difficult to settle in the society which is upholding different value systems. These factors coupled with the untimely demise of a life partner may force him/her to make a comeback and they need care from trusted ones.