Add life to the years

The event aims at “qualitative ageing,and productive human talent as well as emergence of new markets. It will address trends and tipping points accelerating change in consumer attitudes,” organisers said.

Vision India,the International Longevity Centre,India Chapter (ILC-I),International Federation on Ageing (IFA),the Silver Innings Foundation and the Association of Senior Living India (ASLI) are hosting the expo in major cities. The event kicked off at Bangalore.

“Science has helped humans add more years to life. Science will help add life to the years,” said scientist and president of ILC-I Dr R A Mashelkar.

Janki Raman of Vision India said,“We had students who volunteered to help senior citizens at the Bangalore expo. We had young girls who performed and then danced with senior citizens. We wanted them to realise they need not live in isolation.”

The expo will exhibit products and services in health and wellness,integrated townships,senior housing and retirement communities,travel and leisure,vacations and resorts,hygiene and personal care,second careers and recruitment.

“There will be a senior officials’ meeting on qualitative and healthy ageing trends,recruitment desks and second career opportunities,workshops on insurance and banking,” Raman said.

Gerontologist and Founder President of the Silver Innings Foundation Shailesh Mishra said he has seen men and women of all ages,from 40 to 70,determined not to be sedentary. “They adopt the slogan of ‘Rewired,Not Retired’ and set out to prove it,” he said.

“In Bangalore,we had various companies from technology,banking and insurance sectors that came forward to recruit senior citizens. We hope more companies come forward in future,” Raman said.

The expo has been held at Bangalore and Pune,will be held at Ahmedabad,Goa,Chennai,Hyderabad and finally Delhi.