Showing gratefulness

I watched this senior citizen engaged in rolling a leaf held between his hands, sitting in the front portion of a public building which was closed, being a Sunday. For about an hour, I happened to be in that place  listening villagers  who were telling me about their distress in having to travel long distances to fetch water, as  the piped in water is available only once in a week. 

This senior citizen according to them was showing signs of dementia. It is his habit to sit at the same spot every day most of the afternoon doing the same thing every day. Fortunately he has a caring family who takes care of him. The villagers do not think that he is getting any medical attention. He hardly speaks and needs help to look after his daily living needs. He would eat only when made to eat.

One out of ten in a village is ordinarily a senior citizen and this is on the increase to become one in five, in ten years from now. They may get some old age pension or subsidised food if they are from an economically disadvantaged community. Otherwise they are left to fend for themselves and some of them have no family support.

The community Medicine department of CMC Vellore started senior citizen's day care facilities in the Gudiyatam Taluk about five years back to offer recreational, occupational, relational and self development opportunities. As more than half of those who come are people with special needs, they receive help professionally and from each other. The consultant in charge of  this programme  told  me once, that, 'this group is another helpless group in a community'. The senior citizens make paper bags and other handicrafts items to engage themelessves meaningfully. The outcome of this initiative is that there is a decrease in the depressive behaviour among the senior citizens.

There is much volunteerism in health care and  yet senior citizens are not beneficiaries of much help. I wish this will become an area of concern for rural hospitals and faith communities, who have a significant role to show the way!

The 'burden of care' is a social responsibility and but I hope we would not make the senior citizens a burden on us. 

Ever since Anna and I have come to live with my mother, we are made aware of the reduced lives the senior citizens live because of their physical or mental limitations. And yet, this is the opportune time to reciprocate gratefully to their life long service of love by caring for them.   

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)