A helping hand at their dusk

Our elders deserve respect because they have experienced life and gone through a lot more than we have. Children must be taught how to behave from a very early age. Teaching them to respect others,especially the elderly,begins at home.

Old-age home visit
Students of Class XI of G D Salwan school,Rajendra Nagar,visited Sukshalla,an old age home in Rajendra Nagar and spent quality time with the residents. The event was organised by The Indian Express.

Pooja DattaMbr>Primary Teacher
I was on my way to visit a home for the aged during a school trip,wondering how I would feel when I met them and how difficult it must be for them to live the twilight of their lives away from their families. I have heard and read a lot about the care these homes provided to their residents,but a visit painted a tragic picture.

We spoke to the elders there and heard about the meals they were given and the place they live in. One elderly man cried as he told us how he had sacrificed everything for his children and they in return put him in the home,never to visit him. They all long to return to their homes and live with their families. They felt cheated after the years of love and care they had showered on their children.

Old age is a vulnerable time when we need the love and care of our near ones the most. But unfortunately,old people are put into homes for the aged for convenience and are forgotten. While the government has built special homes for the elderly and provides care ,it is no substitute for one’s own home.

There was one old lady at the home whose husband had died a few years ago,after which her three sons didn’t bother to help her. She blessed all of us and when we were leaving,she said she would include our names in her everyday prayers.

The visit left me with several unanswered questions. Why do people neglect their old parents and consider them a burden? Don’t the parents deserve the love they gave to their children?

Priyanka Thurkral
PGT Commerce
As we were heading towards the old age home,my students bombarded me with questions like,“Ma’am,what are we going to do there?”,“Who all will be there?”,“How does an old age home look like?”

With these questions, we entered the home to find the 23 elderly residents eagerly waiting for us. They had dressed up in their best and welcomed us with smiles on their faces. All the senior citizens shared their thoughts with us and told us about their experiences in life. My students were a reason for them to smile and they enjoyed every bit of the interaction. Those moments were of immense happiness and some of my young students were moved to tears by their unconditional love.

It is very difficult to understand why one has to face such an ordeal at the end of their lives. We as a generation are so engrossed in fulfilling our needs that we forget to care for those who have made us capable of whatever we are today. While climbing the success ladder,we forget who taught us to climb in the first place. We hardly bother to turn around and look back at those who have contributed their whole lives for us. The time constraint forced us to say goodbye but I wish to go back soon and spend some more time with them. I am also grateful for the opportunity that has sensitised us towards the problems of old age and also giving the younger generation a reason to think about their duties.

Rohit Srivastava
There are lots of experiences and interesting anecdotes in one’s life. But this was an extraordinary day for me. I accompanied by my teachers and classmates to an old age home in New Rajendra Nagar. Before reaching the home,I didn’t have many thoughts about the kind of experience I’ll have there. It would be just another trip and we would meet them and return,I thought.

But when I reached there I saw the image of my own grandparents in the frail residents. They were very happy to see us. We spoke to each of them and shared our thoughts. It was quite emotional and touching. Listening to their stories,I was almost in tears.

In between the conversations,we sang songs and danced for their enjoyment. As time progressed,they mingled freely with us. We also shared our lunch with them. They too offered us biscuits. It was a memorable day of my life. I learnt a lot from this experience.

Tushar Mittal
On December 7,we went to an old age home to meet the elderly residents. We were all very excited,but at times there were certain thoughts that came to my mind,like how to interact with them once we reached the place. But when we actually went there,the entire experience was the most memorable one.

At first we were hesitant to talk to them but finally I took the initiative of introducing myself,as they wanted to hear us talking in Punjabi. We sang songs for them. I went to each and every person and shared their life experiences. They were all very happy to meet us. The most cherished moment was when we shared our lunch with them. I was moved by their emotions. It was a learning experience.

Nalini Prasad
It was yet another Monday morning and we had a class test scheduled. Afterwards we were to visit an old age home. While boarding our school bus,I had loads of questions in my mind: “What questions to ask them?” “What would be their attitude towards me?”

Then the bus stopped at an old age home at Rajendra Nagar. I don’t know why but suddenly my feelings changed. We had fun out at the home with the residents and time passed in a jiffy.

We danced,sang and played with the elderly there. They told stories of their lives and gave us important moral lessons to remember.

Children who have grandparents are very lucky. I learnt that the love and respect that we give to them is the biggest gift for them. If you treat them with respect,you will be respected in turn by everyone. What you give now comes to you in the future.

Sanya Verma
Today,I went to an old age home with my classmates to meet elderly people and share their experiences about life. We were very excited as most of us had never been to an old age home before. When we reached there we gave them a salutation and introduced ourselves.

After that we sang songs and danced with them. There was an elderly man who told a lot about his life experiences. I asked him to share lessons with me that might help me in my life. He suggested that I keep faith in God and to keep my mind clean. I met also met and elderly lady who was sitting near to him.

I also spoke to the other residents who advised me to concentrate on my studies. There was a lady who stayed in London for seven years and had worked as a teacher throughout her life. Nowadays she writes books in English as well as in Hindi. It was a memorable experience for me.

Harman Virdi
Our parents teach us everything and therefore we are the image of our parents. Isn’t it then our moral duty to take care of our parents?

The bitter reality is that many don’t care for their parents. When our parents turn old,they need only one thing from us,that is love. We must act as caretakers at this stage of their lives.

But everyone does not understand that and leave their parents at old age homes.

I visited an old age home recently. Before reaching,there was a question in my mind: “What will I do there?”

But as I stepped in,I felt as if they all were my grand parents. I was very excited and overwhelmed after meeting them,so much so that I didn’t know how to react. I felt like crying and laughing at the same time.

Talking and interacting with them was the most joyful experience of my life. I didn’t try to investigate the reason or circumstances for their being left there,since I did not want to spoil their mood. The few hours there passed like minutes.

Parents are like God to us,who always need to be thanked for what they have done for us. They are like monuments who need to be preserved. With the blessings of the residents of the old age home,I now look forward in my life with a fresh point of view. I have promised myself that I will revisit the place.

Ehtran ur Rahman
Recently,I had the opportunity to visit an old age home. I enjoyed meeting the elderly residents and shared their moments of happiness.

I felt that most of them were dejected with their lives. There were around 10 elderly men and thirteen women. Most of them were lonely and unhappy. Life had become a burden for them. They remembered various incidents of their lives and became nostalgic.

They missed their children who rarely came to meet them,but the residents were keen to go back and live with their families.

Those who did not have children,expressed satisfaction at the care they received at the old age home. They felt such a home is a blessing for them. Meeting with the old people was a great experience and I wish to visit them frequently.

Hahhad Jalil
Along with my classmates and teachers,I recently visited an old age home situated in New Rajendra Nagar. There were 10 to 12 rooms,each occupied by three to four old people. We stayed there for a few hours and tried to entertain them up by singing songs and making them dance with us. We also shared our lunch with them. They were extremely happy to have us with them. They offered us biscuits,snacks and cold drinks. We had a long conversation with them.

They advised us to love and respect our elders. We didn’t come to know how time flew and it was soon time to leave. We took leave from them and boarded the school bus.

They were all very loving and our hearts were filled with tears to see their condition as they were not happy to be away from their families. In spite of their condition they were worried about their children and still loved them with all their hearts.

They had many questions to ask from the present generation. It was an impression that would last forever in our minds. I hope when I grow up that I will be able to solve some of their problems. In the end I would like to say: “The trees are bearing fruits but,with decaying roots.”