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Sanctuary for senior citizens
Friday June 15 - June 21, 2001 CITY Reporter Of News, Information & Features, Bangalore
While the younger generation is out there in the big bad world coping with escalating competition and workload, senior citizens are left behind at home.
Feeling lonely and insecure. "It's not that my brother's family doesn't care for me, it's just that they are busy with their lives and don't have time to look after me," says 83-year old Grace Thomas, who doesn't have any children.
Asha Jeevan home for the Aged Trust, an NGO, was set up a year ago to address this problem, which has its roots in today's fast paced lifestyle.
"Asha Jeevan aims to provide a home where senior citizens will feel secure, wanted and looked after. It has a homely atmosphere; so they won't miss their family," says promoter and trustee Sujatha R Bhat.
Asha Jeevan has rented three houses on Bannerghatta Road to accommodate 22 people. The trust has trained attendants to look after the inmates. It also provides nutritious food, with menu planned under guidance of a dietician.
Asha Jeevan does not restricts entry of members unlike many other old age homes, which only take in "able bodied and mentally sound" senior citizens.
Some of the inmates at Asha Jeevan have a history of mental disorders. Visiting psychiatrists from shanty nursing Home and NIMHANS treat these patients. A physician visits the home every 10 days for a general check up.
Even on a short visit to the homes, lots of stories unfold before you.
58-year old Godavari is unmarried and has a history of epilepsy. Her brother and sister are old too and cannot take care of her. She has been at Asha Jeevan for a year now. "I like the atmosphere here. Earlier I felt sad because I'd left my family. But now I've grown used to it. My brother's children visit me sometimes," she says with a content smile.
Grace Thomas too is at peace with herself. "Food is tasty and girls take good care of me," she says.
What does she do in her free time? "I pray. At other times, I think about the past… about happier days," she says.
But not everyone has come here of their own volition. 58-year old Rekhamma is a schizophrenic whose husband has deserted her. "She is obsessed with babies and thinks she is here for delivery," says Bhat. According to her, most family members come often to visit the inmates.
Bhat said that the trust was looking for a site to build a bigger house to accommodate more senior citizens. But good intentions are not enough. It needs to be backed by financial support.
The trust has not received any governmental help though we have approached various ministers for aid. We want to initiate lots of changes and extend our activities but we will need funds for that," Bhat says.
People interested in contributing to the trust financially or otherwise can contact Asha Jeevan, Home for the Aged Trust, 449, 9th Main, Sunderam Shetty Nagar, Bilekahalli, Begur Hobli, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore 76. Ph: 6638154/6595620.
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An oasis of love for 'Grey Eminences'
Sunday, September 16, 2001 The Hindu, Bangalore
Dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's. Just old age. Not everyone has the good fortune of enjoying the twilight years as revered Grey Eminences. As the country's elderly are growing in numbers, the problem of their care and the afflictions of the geriatric are multiplying too.
Ironically, as the needs of the elderly rise by the day, the space and attention are decreasing at an alarming rate. Old age homes and institutional care seem to be the ideal solution for families with the elderly to care for. But in the City, homes that take in the elderly who are chronically ill need constant nursing attention are rare.
In fact, Asha Jeevan, a home for the aged run by Ms. Sujatha Bhat and Ms. Kalpana Mallya, seems to be the solitary exception where 17 of the 27 inmate are those who need nursing round-the-clock.
Mr. Krishnamachar, well-known yesteryear violinist, who also composed music for Kannad films such as Papa Punya, Maleya Makkalu and had one every award and honour worth the name in Karnataka, is a resident. The 86-year-old, who was known under the pen name "Padmacharan" is suffering from dementia. "His family looked everywhere but no one was willing to take him in," Ms. Bhat says.
Another patient is Mr. Upadhyaya from Nagaland, an All India Radio correspondent who has suffered a debilitating stroke and is immobilized. "These people are doing a wonderful job," he said of Ms. Bhat and Ms. Mallya. After coming here, his hopes of a miracle coming his way had risen considerably. He maintained that a rival's "black magic" had reduced him to this state.
In one of the four houses off Bannerghatta Road, where Asha Jeevan has installed its extended family, there is even a schizophrenic whose violent behavior means he has to be confined solitarily.
Ms. Mallya and Ms. Bhat have trained young girls and women from the neighbouring area to nurse and care for their residents. They are mostly from the rural pockets around Bannerghatta, where their families have been working on the farmlands for more than three decades.
At present, the home is run on the income from the fee that the residents' families pay. While Asha Jeevan ensures appropriate medical attention for the patients - they have tied up with Shanti Nursing Home in Jayanagar IV Block - the tab is picked up by the relatives. Asha Jeevan is particular about the families of their inmates being in touch regularly with visits and calls. "We have dealt with many people who are inclined to leave their aged parents here and never look back, but we don't entertain them," Ms. Bhat says.
Their good work has impressed Ms. Tejaswini Ananth Kumar, wife of the Union Minister for Urban Development, Mr. Ananth Kumar. She visited their homes a couple of weeks ago and has promised to see how she could help them. Interested persons can call Asha Jeevan on ph: 6638154 and 6595620.
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Contact Us
ASHA JEEVAN
Asha Jeevan Home for the Aged Trust,
57, 7th Cross, Pavamana Residency,
Kembathalli Road, Gottigere,
Bannerghatta Road,
Bangalore 560 083.
Phone :
Ms. Sujatha Bhat: 98451 84079
Ms. Saritha Bhat: 98450 55715 / 98449 14409
Email :
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