SMILING BEHIND WRINKLES

Help Age Elderly HUG Volunteer campaign

I saw her walking slowly towards the temple. She looked at me with a smile, as if wanting to say something. The lines on her face not hiding her age. But those eyes showering so many unsaid words. She makes me think about my grandma, and many other grandmothers who seek someone to speak to.

Old people also have many stories to share. They have lots of experience and wisdom gathered over years. But they suffer from loneliness. That is the saddest part. They are often neglected by their children and grandchildren.

Many old age homes are coming up. But they can be afforded only by rich people. However, in India, , there are more underpriveleged elderly people. Some even earn by doing physical labour.

HelpAge India provides care and support to the aged through its various programmes and campaigns.

According to its official website, HelpAge India is secular, not-for-profit organization, set up in 1978, and working to protect the rights of India's elderly.

After many interventions for the rural elderly, HelpAge is now focussing on the urban elderly with its HUG campaign. “Help Unite Generations”(HUG) aims at making college students interact with aged people and share their loneliness.

HUG is trying to get more volunteers, from college students to young professionals. It is focussing on the youth, because aged people want to talk and share with someone of their children’s age, and not grandchildren.

The senior citizens in urban areas are acquainted with and equally interested in technology. Some of them use Skype and also smartphones. They want to stay young at heart and want to participate in various ongoing social events. Hence, in some way the youth can relate to them also.

Urban elderly people do not need support. They are economically well off with almost no monetary problems. Their only problem is their solitude. That lack of a friend in their lives, can be fulfilled by young people like us. We can spare some time for them.

Each volunteer can choose one elderly and give a little time to him/her. He/she can assist the elderly for health check ups, or maybe for an evening stroll too; or even ask out for coffee. They can keep in touch through phone calls or internet.

April 2013 marked the completion of HelpAge India’s 35 years of age care.

On this occasion, a coffee table book “Out of the shadows into the light” was released. It was released and an event about HelpAge was held; in many major cities like Bengaluru, Kochi, Kolkata.

The HelpAge book launch and also the launch of HUG campaign happened in Saturday Club, Kolkata on 19^th August,2013. I was lucky to be present on that occasion. Bengal governor, Mr. M. K. Narayanan was the chief guest.

HUG is trying to build bridges between the generations. This would prove to be beneficial for both.

Aged people in urban areas who need help from the HUG programme, are majorly such old couples living alone. Their children might be working in foreign countries, or in some distant state.

Such elderly people live off their pensions. Hence, they have no economic woes. But they don’t get their children near and this emotionally affects them.

They want to see and talk to their children. They also are concerned, and want to care for and love their children. But they are deprived of these

.

The elderly want to be respected and cared for. They also want to give love and care. We should make the aged have self esteem, and not self pity.

At the launch of HUG campaign, Paromita Thomas, country head, HelpAge India said, "HelpAge has traditionally associated the young, particularly the school children in its age care awareness programs. HUG campaign aims to take this involvement to the next level by involving college going students and young professionals." –TNN.

HelpAge make the elderly feel wanted, relevant, respected; and important for the society. We, the youngsters; should try to volunteer for HUG campaign and care for the aged. We should make sure that they receive the love, respect, attention and care which they deserve.

 

Saswati Roy

UG-BMS

3rd Semester