Tuesday, 4 July 2017

Healthy Aging India, NGO Giving A New Life To Senior Citizens

On 1st July- Doctors day celebration to spread awareness among elderly people on being active in old age, Department of Geriatric medicine, AIIMS  in association with NGO Healthy Aging India as an extension of  its community outreach programme organised an participatory  interactive session on “Active aging and stress management in late life”  for  senior citizen at Satyagrahy Auditorium at Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti.  This programme is unique in itself spreading a unique concept of Intergenerational empowerment and meaningful engagement for elderly people. Theme of the program was based on inclusive and justiciable democratic principles of its Patron Professor A.B.Dey and Founder President Dr Prashun Chatterjee to empower, encourage and educate elderly people.

Guests from different walks of life across the generations shared their views and perspectives enthusiastically. Prof. Ravindra Kumar   Vice Chancellor (incharge)IGNOU, Shri Ramchandra Rahi-  Chairman of Gandhi Peace Foundation,  Shri Sandeep Chatterjee, Registrar IIT Delhi,  Shri S S Rudra, secretary of Delhi Senior citizen Association & Shri Dipankar Sri Gyan, Director of  Gyan Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS) were among the noted one.

Chief Guest Prof. Ravindra kumar discussed the practicality of Vedic wisdom for healthy aging and its relevance and application in day to day life courses especially for amiable family culture/tradition.

IGNOU VC along with Director of  GSDS and İIT delhi  registrar stressed and felt  that “ it is in best interest of all to  develop  an curriculum for elderly health education “  in association with department of Geriatric Medicine. Dipankar JI promised to provide facilities for organising more of  interactive  meetings with the help of Healthy Aging India  to mobilise elderly people for  active and independent aging till last date.

Shri Ramchandra Rahiji in a very humble way explained the intricacies of  gandhian philosophy and enlightened on inspirations from the life of Gandhiji, as the way he led his life is an message in itself and he also put forward his views on  “How Gandhiji and Vinobha Bhave ji  managed and maintained independence, activeness  and  selfless services  to society throughout their life”

Dr Chatterjee discussed various Psycho socio medical issues of aging population and its solution both through preventive methodology like vaccination against flu and pneumonia, installing grab bar at bathroom to reduce the rate of fall and life style modifications by  balanced diet, regular resistive exercises- yoga, prayer a etc. He also explained stress response and its management in old age. He aware people on the effect and power of thoughts and mindfulness on aging by illustrating scientific evidences on effect of prayers, meditation and yoga on overall mindset. 
Interactive dialogues of  400 elderly people with Dr Chatterjee was a major attractive  activity which helped elderly  to understand the small but effective measures of sustainable healthy life and also the perceptions, mindset, problems and life experiences of multiple senior citizens  from different walks of life.

Dr Chatterjee also announced  future initiatives which NGO Healthy Aging India is going to launch such as adoption of  50 vulnerable  elderly for their health care (includes lifelong free medicine at door step). People to adopt could be  from old age home and from various communities or areas. He also inspired the audience to adopt localised needy elderly people for their medical expenses. He proclaimed that Healthy Aging India in association with Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti  is launching 1st "Intergenerational learning centre " in India at Noida  where under previlaged school students will be mentored by educated retired professionals. He requested others to create similar self help group and serve the society.  As per Dr Chatterjee "it is win win situation for the both generations of the society"

All the elderly participants have been gifted with a plant for meaningful beginnings of a new life and a token of love was given to people participated from old age home.

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