It was my first visit to any old age home and trust me me, if you are as sentimental as I am, prepare yourself psychologically!!
The one I visited was run by MEANS (NGO) in Hyderabad and was more a healthcare centre for the aged abandoned or kept by their children living abroad. Nonetheless, the loneliness mixed with desperation and insecurity screamed out loud. I felt like an intruder and a tourist of another kind. I mean what can I do by being there for an hour?
But I met a 70 year old Radha amma, who in her fluent English, he big smile and wisdom stole my heart. Parents nurture us, make compromises to give us the best and give up their dreams to fulfill our's.
Have we lost the patience, sensitivity towards them once we grow up and earn big bucks? What are we teaching our next generation?
Time to reconsider...if we can't live with them, we can at least give them our time and love!
The one I visited was run by MEANS (NGO) in Hyderabad and was more a healthcare centre for the aged abandoned or kept by their children living abroad. Nonetheless, the loneliness mixed with desperation and insecurity screamed out loud. I felt like an intruder and a tourist of another kind. I mean what can I do by being there for an hour?
But I met a 70 year old Radha amma, who in her fluent English, he big smile and wisdom stole my heart. Parents nurture us, make compromises to give us the best and give up their dreams to fulfill our's.
Have we lost the patience, sensitivity towards them once we grow up and earn big bucks? What are we teaching our next generation?
Time to reconsider...if we can't live with them, we can at least give them our time and love!
3 comments:
Same here Tushita. this was my first visit too, to an old age home. And the first person i met seemed to have come from a very good family, educated. her husband died and 3 yrs back she had paralysis attack. so since 3 yrs she is in this old age home. i felt guilty of reminding them of the past, of making them cry, of reminding them of their own children whom they wud ve brought up with all care and who left them at the time when they needed care.
This is a harsh world, Tushita, and harsher are the ways of life. It is rather sad that we can be so insensitive to them whom we are ourselves a part of. Nevertheless, it instills in readers an urgent need to act, and act must each one of us immediately,to tell our own selves, that we care,to ease the plight,in any degree or in any which way possible.Thankyou very much for a soul rendering write-up.
no words fr this...like u n Susan mine was also the 1st visit...during that time what i felt, can't describe..only wanted to ask/tell their children THIS IS THE PRICE THEY HAVE GIVEN TO THEIR PARENTS.???
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