A meet for Social Good

Attended  India + Social Good event in Mumbai yesterday. It was a great experience as it gave me an opportunity to listen to the experiences of various change-makers who are really doing great innovative work for social good in our society. It also gave me a platform to interact with like minded people working on various social issues.

Though, the topics covered in various sessions such as social media,health and innovation, development of cities, climate and energy and other developmental issues were generic, however they were relevant in the case of senior citizens too. I would request the organizing committee especially the UN Foundation to include specific issues related to senior citizens too in future.

With the population of senior citizens reaching around 104 million in India, promotion of their health and well-being has become an important issue for most of us. So, in future if such event are held I would appreciate if issues related to senior citizen's health, economic security, second career, human rights are also covered for the promotion of healthy and productive ageing in India.

I wish such initiative must go on, so that people like me can get an opportunity to meet like minded people around the world both in person and through Social Media.

Would like to request all those reading this post to please give your vote on various social concerns which matters to you on : http://www.myworld2015.org/. I have already given my vote! This is a great initiative by United Nations towards making the world a better place to live.

Same post has been shared on my Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/productiveageing

Nutritional diet a must for Healthy Ageing

Sharing an interesting video by WebMD (http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/video/aging-nutrition) which emphasizes that one's lifestyle and eating habit in his/her young age plays an important role in determining their health conditions in old age. Life Span Approach also mentions about this.

The video also highlights that intake of nutritional diets can help in controlling various health problems in old age and thus contributing in promotion of healthy, productive and active ageing.

Same post has been shared on my Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/productiveageing

World Health Day, 2014

Today on the occasion of  World Health Day, I would like to wish everyone a healthy and happy life ahead.

Health is an important issue at all stages of life. It has been proved in various researches that healthy and productive life in old age is dependent on healthy lifestyle in young age. So, if one is leading a healthy lifestyle in young age  there is high probability that he/she will lead an active, healthy and productive life in later part of life.

This year's message for World Health Day by World Health Organization (WHO) is Mosquitoes, flies, ticks and bugs may be a threat to one's health and that of their family at home and when travelling so one should take precautions to prevent themselves from being infected by vector-borne diseases which happens due to these insects. They have even circulated a video for taking such precautions (http://youtu.be/LutGFrwysRI).

Lets all of us pledge today to not only prevent oneself from being infected by vector-borne diseases but by other health problems too by leading a healthy lifestyle and taking appropriate precautions.

Same post has been shared on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/productiveageing

Happiness and Age

Happiness is not only associated with young age. This has been proved by the findings of the survey done by Harris Poll in April, 2013. In this survey 2,345 U.S. adults participated. With reference to age, findings revealed a higher level of life satisfaction for older adults than young adults. Nearly 41 percent of those aged 65+ were found to be happy, compared to just 31 percent of those between 18-24 years. (http://www.harrisinteractive.com/NewsRoom/HarrisPolls/tabid/447/ctl/ReadCustom%20Default/mid/1508/ArticleId/1200/Default.aspx)

This study very strongly negates the negative myths associated with 60+ and proves that at this stage also one can feel happy and satisfied.

Same post has been shared on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/productiveageing

Well done State Bank of India!

State Bank of India has taken a great initiative towards promotion of well-being of pensioners (75+) in India by delivering their monthly pension at their doorsteps. (http://bit.ly/1hI2l8o)

The pilot for the same will start from 1st April in Kolkata. Based on the response and success of the project, they plan to roll it out on pan India basis. They are charging Rs. 50 per transaction which in my opinion is reasonable as it is both time and cost saving for the senior citizens who might have to face inconvenience due to travel, waiting in long queues and at times adverse weather conditions.

This can prove to be a major step towards making banks elder friendly in India and making lives of 75+ pensioners more comfortable and stress free. I wish this project must run successfully and roll out in pan India soon.

Elder friendly policy: A must in India!

Through this post I would like to thank The Better India for sharing the story of 97 year old gentleman Mr. Shyam Saran Negi, a resident of Himachal Pradesh, India. Mr. Negi is one of the first voters of Independent India and since 1951 he has never missed to vote in any election no matter how tough the whether or other situations would have been. (http://bit.ly/1pzxjEa)

Mr. Negi being such a socially responsible citizen and an active person is an inspiration for all of us. He is contributing in this way towards the development of society.

My sincere request to our government is to appreciate the efforts of Mr. Negi and many other such senior citizens who fight with all odds to vote for the development of our country. This can be done by designing and implementing elder friendly policies which are based on their needs and rights and not just short term political gains.

This post has also been shared on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/productiveageing

More happy in 80s than 60s

Found an interesting study, conducted in UK in which 10,000 older men and women participated (http://dailym.ai/Nx6gwL) . The study highlighted that elderly people in their 70s and 80s were found to be happier with life as compared to those in their 60s. The reason for this is that those in their 70s and 80s have adapted well with life changes and experience a sense of achievement due to living longer and contributing well to their life and their society.

Explored something similar to this in one of the researches conducted by me in which elderly in the age range of 75-85 years reported higher level of adaptation and satisfaction with life as compared to those between 65-75 years.

These types of studies play an important role in negating the negative stereotypes about old age in our society and thus promoting healthy and productive ageing.

Situation of Elderly in Kerala

As per Census 2011, India has around 104 million senior citizens (60+). Among its states, Kerala has the highest proportion of older persons. There are 7.4 million people who are above 60 years of age in Kerala among them 3.3 million are males and 4.1 million are females. There health and socio-economic needs are an issue of concern.

The UNFPA India report entitled "The Status of Elderly in Kerala, 2011" (http://bit.ly/1g7Priz) is a great initiative towards highlighting the socio-economic status and needs of 60+ in Kerala.

A Session on Positive Aspects of Ageing

Had an amazing experience while taking a session on positive aspects of ageing for the nuns of FMM provisional church in Mumbai, last Saturday 8th February.

Most of them were above 65 years. Was very happy to notice that they are negating most of the myths existing in our society about old age through their own acts.Many of them are a real example of active and productive ageing who are actively contributing towards the welfare of society by working for the well-being of children, women, destitute elderly, people suffering from HIV/AIDS and many other special groups who require support and good guidance.

They made the session an enriching experience through their active participation.

66 year old Marathon Runner

I am amazed to see Lata Bhagwankare Ji, a 66 year old grandmother who participated barefooted in Baramati Marathon in Maharashtra (http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/another-fauja-singh-in-the-making/301888?relatedviaplayer). She won in the senior citizens category.

This shows that when one is determined to do something then nothing can stop her/him and also emphasizes on the famous quote by Mark Twain that "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter".