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Hope for the aged, hope for new life
Wednesday, May 23, 2001 The Times of India, Bangalore
Given the furious pace of today's techno-driven life, who has the time to tend to the aged? Very few. Our parents and grandparents, once revered, are now victims of neglect. Theirs is a poignant human cause and Asha Jeevan, a city old age home, a likely answer to their prayers.
A service-oriented institution, Asha Jeevan sets out to improve the quality of life of the old by giving them an opportunity to live in dignity and comfort. It is the first of its kind in Bangalore with nursing facility catering to the needs of the inmates. While most care-houses take physically fit people, Asha Jeevan accommodates even those who need medical attention.
This one-year old institution is situated on the Bannerghatta Road with two homes, one for the men and the other for women, both equipped with medical facilities and trained attendants. It is attached to the Shanthi Polyclinic run by Dr Guru Raj Rao, who attends to all emergencies.
Sujatha Bhat, a promoter and trustee, says, "Asha Jeevan sees an increasing need to address the problems of the senior citizens".
The inmates are accommodated in furnished single, double or triple bedded rooms with attached toilets. With a dietician on hand, the institution is well placed to tend to the nutritional requirements of its inmates, particularly those with special dietary needs. Beyond rest and food, the senior citizens can recreate themselves at the institution's library, watch TV or indulge in a little indoor sport.
Janaki (74), an inmate, tells that she enjoys watching cricket from her window even though she's bedridden from a hip fracture and is Parkinson's. Another inmate, Krishnamacharya (75), a well-known violinist who once gave music to Kannada movies, is now suffering from Senile Dementia and says he enjoys his stay here.
Kalpana Mallya, a promoter and trustee of this institution, talks about the future plans, among them a baby-sitting centre and an orphanage.
Asha Jeevan, a professionally managed NGO, sustains itself on donations made by philanthropic individuals and corporate organizations and anyone with a heart for the city's aged is welcome to do his but for its inmates.>
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A bright twilight zone
Monday, November 5, 2001 The Hindu, Bangalore
Institutional care for the aged is rare in India. One such geriatric care home in Bangalore is Asha Jeevan. It has two branches - one in Vijaya Bank Layout (behind IIM) and another in Hulimavu on Bannerghatta Road.
Asha Jeevan, run by Ms. Sujatha Bhat and Ms. Kalpana Mallya, is unusual for it takes not only old people who are healthy, but also those who are bed-ridden and need complete care and attentions. Besides providing lifetime shelter to those in need, Asha Jeevan also admits cases of short-term care, where the children or caretakers may have to go out of town for a certain period of time.
Right now, the place has 40 residents, some of whom have crossed 80. one can see here people from various social and religious backgrounds. Among the inmates are well-known figures such as the music composer and violinist, Mr. Padmacharan, and the aunt of the tennis player, Mr. Vijay Amritaraj. Some people here suffer from ailments such as Parkinson's disease, rheumatism, and psychiatric disorders. Asha Jeevan has a tie-up with Shanti Clinic for medical attention. Psychiatrists also visit the place regularly. There are facilities for yoga, meditation and indoor games. Nutritious vegetarian diet is given to the inmates.
Earlier, the institution depended entirely from people from Kerala, through the Red Cross Society, for nursing help. But now, Asha Jeevan imparts training to people aged between 18 and 36 in nursing care and also assures the placement. So far, 193 people have been provided placements.
Orphans, destitutes, and physically-challenged are also recruited to help inmates. They are provided boarding and lodging, and their salary is credited to their bank account.
Ms. Bhat and Ms. Mallya give full credit to the nursing staff for the success of the institution. They say that the institution gets no financial assistance from the government or any NGO, but charges a reasonable fee for the care.
Asha Jeevan can be contacted on 663814 or 6595620.
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Opt for the hope zone
Thursday, June 21, 2001 The Times of India, Bangalore
Should the lives of senior citizens come to a standstill because they are no longer useful to their kith and kin? Don't they deserve happiness in the twilight years? Most people agree theoretically that they do, but when faced with the task of looking after older people, they back out. The problem is more severe if these senior citizens have physical disabilities as well. The last option often left for their family members is to find old-age homes.
Asha Jeevan, the only old-age home for people with physical disability was started by Sujatha Bhat and Kalpana Mallya. "We started with just three inmates and now the number is increasing day by day," says Sujatha. Because of the increasing number of inmates, they opened their third unit a fortnight ago.
To take special care of the inmates, they have assistants who are trained in the in-house training centre called the Asha Jeevan Home for Healthcare Helpers Services. It is a one-and-a-half-month course where people from economically backward families are trained to take care of the inmates. Some of their duties include giving bed pans, taking them on their daily walks and in general, looking after the sick. Besides having these helpers, Asha Jeevan is assisted by a hospital, Shanthi Nursing Home, as well.
This home has inmates suffering from Alzheimer's, paralysis and other physical disabilities. "This concept of taking in old people with disability is sometimes not understood correctly by most of them and we get people suffering from mental disability coming to us. It is only after we have them here that we come to know of it. Most of the time, family members hide this problem from us. These days we also have many old people suffering form schizophrenia," adds Sujatha.
Whatever the disability, these inmates have one thing in common: they are all here because of practical problems faced by their close relatives. Some inmates have relatives who are old themselves and need the support of other family members. Also the concept of the nuclear family system is responsible for the spurt of old-age homes in the city.
This home is a true home in every sense, because some of the relatives even make requests to perform the last rites. So it is not just taking care of these people for a monthly amount of Rs 2,500, but also performing the last rites when necessary. "We have had 14 deaths till now and some of them have been cremated by us. The family members sometimes lacked facilities to perform the last rites and requested us to do it," adds Sujatha. Call 6638154 for details.
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Choti Si Asha: Old age home makes space for the disabled 28 June 2001 The Asian Age
It's a warm Sunday afternoon. A couple walks into Asha Jeevan. "My father-in-law is diabetic. He had a stroke and is partially bedridden. He needs physiotherapy every week. We are moving to Coimbatore and won't be able to take care of him. Will you'll take him in?" the man asks anxiously. The reply is comforting: "Just tell us when you will be bringing him in."
Admitting a loved one to an old age home is probably the last resort. And till sometime ago, finding an old age home for a disabled person was probably an arduous, if not impossible task.
This is where the founders of Asha Jeevan decided to make a difference. Asha Jeevan is unlike other old age homes, for the simple reason that it not only welcomes healthy senior citizens, but also those who are partially disabled and bedridden.
The project began a little over a year ago, thanks to the concerted efforts of Sujatha R Bhat and Kalpana Mallya. "We realized that there were homes which cared for orphans, destitute and old people, but none for the elderly who were bedridden or disabled," says Kalpana, asked how the idea came about. The home was conceived with the purpose of providing the aged with comfort and care during the last years of their lives.
The first Asha Jeevan home was set up in April 2001 at Hulimavu, in a rented house, with just two inmates and a small staff. Gradually, in the span of a year, the number of inmates increased and this forced the duo to rent another house. At present, there are about 22 inmates, housed at three Asha Jeevan homes.
Asha Jeevan has its own list of celebrity residents, including tennis player Vijay Amritraj's aunt, Gracy and well-known violinist Krishnamachar who says "I have veen here for three months and still practice my violine for an hour-and-a-half everyday." Then there are others like Zubaida Bi, 70, who hails from Coimbatore and is mentally ill. She believes she has been at the home for just four months, but in reality, has lived there for the past 11 months. And Janakamma, 74, who has been bedridden from almost 3 years now.
The rooms are fully furnished, equipped with single, double and triple beds. "The nurses who look after the inmates come from economically backward sections. We inform them in advance about what to expect and give them complete practical training. We then offer them a job, with a respectable salary," explains Sujatha.
The residents are given free check ups twice a month by a visiting doctor. A television set and various books and magazines make up the simple library to keep the inmates entertained. Asha Jeevan is also attached to Shanti Polyclinic, where seriously ill residents can be admitted.
"We cannot offer free service as we do not have adequate funds. The rent and other expenditure, which amounts to Rs 22,000 per month, is borne by us. The only support we have received is from corporate bodies like Hyundai and BPL, both companies have sponsored a person each. The State Bank of India has donated an ambulance," Sujatha explains.
Asha Jeevan plans to start an orphanage in the near future. "We need land though and are not asking the government for free land, just a concession," says Sujatha.
Those interested in contributing can contact: Asha Jeevan Home for the Aged, M-21, LIC Housing Colony, 25th Main, 5th Cross, 1st Phase, J.P. Nagar, Bangalore - 560078 or phone 6638154.