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“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud”. – Maya Angelou

May all elders lead a life of dignity, health and peace!

Giving social, economic and emotional security to the elderly people is our collective responsibility, says Rosen Kumar, a social entrepreneur. He suggested that organisations working for the welfare of the old age people adopt a problem-solving attitude. Greater awareness creation of the plight of the elderly can help a lot. Many factors contribute to the alienation of the elderly. Young couples migrate from the rural areas to cities in search of better employment. Youngsters are sometimes not well disposed of towards their parents. The life pattern is changing, kinship bonds are weakening and family composition is undergoing rapid transformation. With a fast increase in the number of elderly population and under the condition of socio-economic transformation, the elderly population is experiencing a difficult time.

Apart from inevitable medical complications of old age, they feel unwanted in the family as well as the society.

An old age home is a facility where senior citizens are given love and care, as their children and family abandon them. Old homes are fast becoming the last resort for the elderly.

“Asha Bhavan” is an old-age home situated at 12, Carmelaram, Chikkabellandur, Bengaluru. The staff of BRS Global School, Bidaraguppe and a few students were privileged to get an opportunity to visit Asha Bhavan on 16th December 2022. Their contributions were utility items necessary for daily life. The old inmates of the home were overwhelmed with joy seeing visitors from BRS school. They looked happy but there was an underlying expressions of sadness.

A visit to an old-age home is a life-changing experience. It awakens sensitivity to the old in today’s world, where some people consider the elderly a burden. They don’t want to spare time for the aged.

It’s a challenging task to find appropriate care for the aged. The government should ensure the basic needs of the aged – food, medicine and shelter. We must remember, “To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors” – Tia Walker.