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Oasis of compassion
In the midst of bustling Bengaluru, Rajashree Balaram meets silvers who have found solace after losing sanity.
Rajeshwari’s gaunt face lights up at the mere mention of food. She talks animatedly about lunch and dinner while nibbling on a biscuit. Between bites, she also narrates her experiences in various cities in India. But ask her about her children and she struggles to remember their names, her eyebrows knit in severe introspection and the lines on her face more pronounced.Agter a long silence, she gives up with a sheepish smile.
Rajeshwari, 78, has been suffering from Alzheimer’s for over ten years now. But thanks to Asha Jeevan Home and Care Giving Centre for the Aged, she does not have to be alone. Of the 79 old age homes in Bengaluru, Asha Jeevan is the only one that takes care of silvers suffering from mental disorders. Located on the end of a dusty lane off Bannerghatta Road, the home caters to 96 silvers – 66 of them suffer from mental illnesses such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s and bi-polar syndrome. The 30 other residents are mentally fit but immobile due to severe bone fracture, paralysis or an amputated limb.
Established in 2000 by Sujata Bhat and Kalpana Mallya, Asha Jeevan consists of two buildings built over 10,000 sq ft. The main four-storied building has 34 rooms, a kitchen, a dining area on each floor. The adjacent three storied building, called the retirement block, has 12 rooms. In1991, Bhat, then an administration executive with the RPG Group, quit her job to look after her infant son. A decade later, with more time on hand, she felt she should do something that would enable her to contribute to society. Ager much introspection, she decided to start an old age home. Good friend Kalpana Mallya, an anchitect, shared her passion. She gave up her flourishing practice and offered to become the other trustee.
Asha jeevan started out as just another old age home albeit on modest scale. The first setup on a modest scale. The first setup was a small, rented bungalow in Bilekahalli where silvers paid a monthly charges of Rs 1,500. “Among our first batch was a lady who was expelled by an old age home where she was staying earlier because she had fractured her hip and could not move,” Bhat recalls. Soon, another resident at the home started displaying violent behaviour. Though she was clearly suffering from mental illness, her family had not disclosed her condition at the time of admission.” That’s when I realized that most old age homes are only keen on silvers who can take care of themselves,” says Bhat. “Kalpana and I decided to focus on the ones who couldn’t. We did not have any qualification in social welfare or even the faintest idea how to deal with people with mental illnesses. At the same time, we felt it was highly unfair that these silvers were marginalized simply because they had lost control of their mental faculties.”
The two of them started attending weekly counseling sessions at the nearby National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience(NIMHANS) to understand how to deal with mental disorders. Slowly, the first few residents who had earlier displayed disturbing behaviour calmed down in a couple of weeks. Within a few months, Asha Jeevan became a sanctuary for silvers whose minds and bodies could no longer keep up with the ruthless pace of the world. Impressed by the dedication of the two trustees, a generous donor, Dayanand Pai, offered the land at Bannerghatta at subsidised rate. With more donations and a loan of Rs 3.3 million borrowed from Canara Bank, Asha Jeevan shifted to its present spacious address in 2004.
Most silvers at Asha Jeevan have families, though the home also has a few destitutes. Apart from a 50 percent refundable deposit of Rs 60,000, families pay Rs 3,500 t Rs 4,500 per month depending on the accommodation-they can choose from single/double/triple occupancy rooms or opt for the’retirement blocks’ that consist of a bed room, a toilet, a utility space and a sitout. The fee includes food, medicine and fees for psychiatrists and physiotherapists. A complete medical history has to be submitted during admission. Bhat also takes residents for a basic medical chek-up-ECG, chest X-Ray, blood and urine test.
At Asha Jeevan, silvers are monitored unobtrusively by 42 full-time caregivers who live on the premises. Bhat provides intense three-month paramedical training to all caregivers. They are trained in reading blood pressure, diabetes care, catheter insertion, Ryles tube feeding, dressing bedsore and handling oxygen cylinders. “Most of the training is hands-on,” says Bhatt. “All caregivers are aged between 18 and 24. Their vivacity serves as a good counterfoil to the depressing aura that surrounds silver residents.” In the past five years, 21 year-old Shweta, a caregiver at Asha Jeevan, has learned to drive the ambulance and Knows the medical history of each resident. She even knows how to deal with their mood swings, which range from aggression to mischief.
Gopalan Iyengar, 101, is the oldest silver at Asha Jeevan. He is mentally filt but hampered by blurred vision and impaired by blurred vision and impaired hearing. Iyengar is always smiling and takes five rounds, unescorted, around the grounds every day. Another silver, Chandrashekhar, 82, who earlier worked with the Railways in Bengaluru, suffers from Alzheimer’s and is prone to sulking, even threatening to leave the home. Bhat hears him out over a cup of coffee and offers solace. By the end of the conversation, Chandrashekar is cheerfully talking about cricket. On the other hand, Leni Joseph, 38, a schizophrenic who lives at the home with her mother Mary, 76, who suffers from aphasia(difficulty understanding the speech of others or expressing verbally), loves to make bouquets. Asha Jeevan makes an allowance for young, mentally disturbed people like Leni based on the seriousness of their mental illness.
The childlike innocence of these residents is heartbreaking. “unless necessary, I don’t give them sedatives prescribed by psychiatrists,” says Bhat. “I thing it’s a disservice to confine them to their beds.” Bhat’s concern runds deep-she lives next door, so she can be accessible 24/7.
Though there is ample freedom of movement, residents are not allowed to step out of the gate unescorted. To lighten up the ambience, rabbits, lovebirds and Kittens frolic in the courtyard. Bright curtains and potted plants add a splash of colour. A book case filled with well-thumbed books stands near the entrance. “You should see how they all wait for the clock to strike four in the evening-that’s when we switch on the TV,” says Bhat with an indulgent smile. The television is kept in the large meditation room, which also serves as prayer room. Silvers here love all music and sports channels. The dining area on each floor is a noisy meeting point filled with chatter and giggles.
Godha Iyengar, who recently admitted her 85 year-old uncle R Venkatasehan after he was paralysed, talks highly about Asha Jeevan, talks highly about Asha Jeevan. “The old age homes that I visited earlier seemed very depressing and clinical,” she says.” At Asha Jeevan, the attitude towards each resident is very positive.” Bhat, however, waves aside the praise. “I respect the appreciation but what we need right now are sponsors,” she says. “We desperately need one more ambulance. Even a weeks’s worth of pulses, cooking oil, vegetables…any donation will be appreciated.”
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A new asha for the elders
Friday, January 27, 2006 The Times of India, Bangalore
Asha Jeevan home and care giving centrefor senior citizens opened its new wing "Ashvasan" on Wednesday and was inaugurated by governor T N Chaturvedi.
The new wing situated on the second floor of Asha Jeevan at Gottigere, will house 28 senior citizens who will be looked after with the 72 inmates of Asha Jeevan.
A 100-year-old resident of the association Gopal Iyengar was felicitated by the governor T N Chaturvedi on the occasion.
Reacting to the founder trustee's statement that no financial help was forthcoming from the government for them, Chaturvedi said the guidance rules for sanctions to non-government organisations (NGOs) needed to be rationalised with sensitivity and understanding of their problems.
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Improve old-age homes, says Chaturvedi
Thursday, January 26, 2006 Deccan Herald, Bangalore
Governor T N Chaturvedi on Wednesday called upon various voluntary organisations and trusts to take up the cause of improving the existing old-age homes by insulating them with basic amenities.
Delivering the key-note address after inaugurating the new wing of 'Ashvasan', a 30-bed old-age home for elders, he said that majority of the old-age homes were lacking in basic infrastucture facilities like proper beds and medical services for senior citizens. Lauding the work of Sujatha R Bhat and Kalpana Mallya, the architects of this facility -- Ashvasan Foundation and Asha Jeevan Home for the Aged -- Mr Chaturvedi hoped that several other old age homes would model their facilities on these lines. The newly-opened wing has the capacity to accommodate more than 28 senior citizens and has 11 rooms with attached bath and other medical services. There are already more than 72 elders availing of the facilities in the other wings.
He also called upon youngsters to play an active role to accord respect to senior members of their family by providing them with love and affection in abundance.
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Take time out to listen to love and care for your elders
Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Deccan Herald [Spectrum], Bangalore
From being a citizen of India's Silicon Valley and walking on the inevitable hi-tech cloud to meeting Sujatha Bhat and Kalpana Mallya was a thud back to reality and living. Our lives today are just focused on the fast track to success, how many of us take a breather and think about our old and infirm parents and relatives who are totally helpless in their old age. With the joint family system being blown into oblivion by most of us and the nuclear family taking over there are so many old people who have nowhere to turn to in their twilight years.
The problem has been amplified with the exodus to the West to greener pastures by their children to countries which are unfamiliar to the older generation, and they are left behind to manage as best they can in India.
This is where Kalpana Mallya and Sujatha Bhat have stepped in. Rattling along the almost non-existence Banerghatta Road in their rattle trap old Fiat to the Old age home, one cannot be, but impressed with the fervour in Sujathas eyes, or the quiet commitment in Kalpana's when they talk about Asha Jeevan.
"We have inmates of all religions with us at the moment ranging from 30years to 103 years both male and female. We initially began in rented premises in Bilekahalli, where we took a small four bedroom house. Then we did not have much experience about the difference of caring for the aged and the problems faced managing Alzheimers and other griatric diseases. Many people brought their parents to us saying they were fine and never revealed the health problems they had. Once we began taking care of them we realized the challenge of managing them on a daily basis," she said.
"Once we began taking care of the elders we realised the challenge of managing them on a daily basis."
"We initially asked for twenty thousand as deposit with a two thousand monthly maintenance. But the people we rented the premises from, would threaten to throw us out and wanted to increase the rent thinking we were raking in big bucks. Realising we needed our own premises to function realistically, we approached various philanthropists who appreciated our good work and came forward to help," said Kalpana.
Dayanand Pai sold them the land at discounted rates, and spread the word in his business circle to friends about their credibility and vouched that they were genuine. With his backing, people came forward to help them. They got a loan from the Canara Bank but that was insufficient. Thy got a donation from Khotari and Jain Shah of Rs 10 lakh and that added the name Asha to Jeevan.
As the fiat came to a rattling halt one came face-to-face with the huge efforts made by these women. On 8200 sqft of land they have already built two floors of large, well-lit single, double, triple occupancy rooms and plan another floor as the demand is so great. There are also a lounge, pooja room, a spacious dining room, kitchen, laundry and a ramp to give the whole building wheelchair access. They also have cottages for couples and those who prefer total privacy. While we walked around the premises, Sujatha and Kalpana called out cherry greetings to all inmates while helpers were around in every room, taking care of their needs. All helpers were neatly turned out in a white shirt and grey trousers. One has to walk barefoot in the tiled premises to keep it perfectly clean which is an excellent practice.
Marianne de Nazareth tells us that it is a tragedy when India known for its obsession with the 'family' are beginning to go the West way and are dumping their elders at homes without taking the time to listen to what they have to say or care for them in anyway.
"Besides the furnished accommodation we also give the inmates vegetarian food, round the clock nursing care, there ia an ambulance on call all the time, regular doctor visits and there are basic medical equipment like the BP meter, the Gluco-meter, the nurses can handle the Ryle's tube feeding, bedsore management, and can give oxygen and insulin injections," explains Sujatha.
"We train the local persons to take care of the elders as they speak their language which increases comfort."
"In the early days we would travel to Kerala and get our nursing staff from the Red Cross. They held us to ransom and we really suffered with their demands. Now we have begun our own training facility where local underprivileged girls and boys are trained to be nurses and para-medical staff. That way they are familiar with our inmates languages and so both are comfortable with one another," says Kalpana.
Frail Chacko who is 103 this year, is the oldest member in the home. He has been abandoned by his family after they paid the initial deposit.
Like Chacko there are 21 other inmates who have been abandoned with their families untraceable. "We cannot show them the door, chorus the women, but we nee sponsors and generous people to help us with money to sustain our work that's all. Today, we take Rs 50,000 as deposit and depending on the condition of the patient the monthly expenses are either Rs 3,000 or Rs 4,000," explains Sujatha. Considering the amount of effort and love they bestow on their inmates, the money asked is a pittance.
Also as one can see, the money is being pumped directly into the premises and the two women look at nothing for themselves.
Pretty obvious from their simple clothes and rattle trap car, these are angels in disguise for the 65 human beings who are kept in their care.
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Care for the aged
Monday July 12, 2004 Deccan Herald 
Asha Jeevan Home for the Aged, which had their new facility "Asha Jeevan Retirement Homes and Care Giving Centre" inaugurated last week at Gottigere off Bannerghatta Road, has stated that the new facility can house 70 residents along with staff members. The facility is available for geriatrics and others who need assistance and nursing care. Asha Jeevan is also offering cottage facilities for elderly couples as well as for people who prefer independent living, say its trustees Kalpana Mallya and Sujatha Bhat.
The inauguration saw a sprinkling of dignitaries including Mr. Dayanand Pai, CEO of Century Builders and Mr. G.M. Row, former president of Rotary Clup, Lavelle Road. For the construction of this Rs. 62-lakh project, Asha Jeevan, apart from taking a loan from Canara Bank, has also received donations from philanthropists like Mr. Dayananda Pai, Mr Naresh J Shah and Jayantilal Shah family of Basavanagudi, Mr. Kishanlal Kothari and Raichand Jain of Jain Group, Jairani Kapoor Trust, Mantri and Salarpuria groups. For more information on the familities call - 9845184079