Experts advise elders to accept changes

Nagpur: Taking up issues which plague senior citizens, ‘Ko Jagarti‘, a talk show organized by Shembekar Hospital and Charitable Trust on Friday at Scientific Society lawns, had a fine gathering of the elderly hanging on to every word being said by experts like psychiatrist Dr Sudhir Bhave, actor Sharad Ponkshe and gynaecologist Dr Chaitanya Shembekar who organized the event.Steering the conversation was anchor Renuka Deshkar.
When exactly does the process of ageing begins is a common query to which Dr Bhave said, “It is around 35 to 40 years when we begin to forget little details. We are also referred to as uncle by younger generation,” he said, evoking laughter. A sure sign of ageing is when we say “It was not like this in our times,” felt Ponkshe. “We have to take the changes very positively and accept them with grace,” said the actor who turned 50 this month. “My grandparents would go off to sleep at 7pm as there was nothing else to do. Today, television serials begin at seven and all are awake. These changes take place for every generation and we have to accept them,” he said.
Terming physical changes as an important part of ageing, Dr Shembekar warned the elderly that they should protect themselves from falls. “It is for the younger generation to be more sensitive towards the elderly. They can show their concern by putting up holding bars on the staircase and in bathrooms and antiskid tiles on the floor,” he said. Stressing on a calcium-rich diet, the doctor added that just walking is not sufficient as an exercise. “Stretching exercises and weight training strengthen muscles and help in maintaining body balance,” he said and also added that a night lamp in the room is a must for senior citizens.
Terming dementia as a condition which sets in after the age of 60, Dr Bhave said that forgetting details and events happens and one has to keep revising the events of the day to remember them. “We have to remember that our children observe how we are treating our parents and they will follow the same pattern so we should behave accordingly,” Ponkshe said. Blaming the current trend of overindulging the kids for many social problems, Dr Bhave said that this had lowered the levels of frustration tolerance and affects relationships.