We have frequently heard the context ‘Old people are in their second childhood.’ Well this means that they tend to be adamant and keep whining. They cannot take care of themselves, they need someone to take care of them. But a whole lot of youngsters of the 21st century don’t realize this fact and drop of their wonderful parents at old age homes.

Shakespeare in his poem ‘seven ages of man’ has said that old people are on the 6th stage of their life. They grow old and are seen in a pantaloon and spectacles. Their authorative voice grows weak. They become a child again.

The idea of old age homes spread from the western to our mother india. And nowadays a whole lot of old age homes are found all over india almost in every locality. And at least one our grandparents or our friends grandparents or we know at least one person who is left or is living in an old age home. I decide dto write this article only after I read the following story:-

One day a son by the name mark tuan, after the death of his father (mr.tuan) decided to leave his mom ( mrs.tuan) in an old age home and keep on visiting her every few days.

One day mark got a call from old age home that gave him the news that his mom was very serious. mark immediately went and saw that his mom was in very critical stage; she was in her death bed.

mark asked his mom to let me know what he should do for her? Mark’s mom requested him to install a few fans in the old age home as there is not even a single fan as of now and she also requested him to install a fridge here so that food can be saved and one should have cold water in summers with provision to save extra food so that same can be saved. She said that many times she slept without food.

Mark questioned his mom why she wants them installed now as there are only a few hours left for her to live and she cannot use them now .To this his mom replied that she was only securing his future. She continues that she has managed heat, summer, pain and hunger but she was afraid that mark will not be able to manage these things when his children would leave him here he would never have to face this type of situation in his life.

I actually felt bad for all the old parents who are being or have been left in old age homes as they are in a really helpless state.

As NRI’s we can contribute in our own way for the happiness of the old:-

•Change yourself- if you have left your parents or your parents have left your grandparents in old age homes try to bring them back into your family.

•Change others- well after changing yourself try to advice your friends or relatives who plan to send their parents or grandparents to old age homes. Try your best to persuading them into not sending their parents to old age homes .

•Spend some time with people in old age homes- the next time you visit india make sure to visit old age homes. Spend a day or two with the old people there and you will be proud of yourself for bringing smiles on their faces.

•Set up old age homes – if you feel so bad for those in old age homes, when you settle in why not voluntarily take care of 2 or 3 old people whose children have decided to send them to old age homes

•Adopt a parent- at times the loss of the person who brought you up with so much love and care may be devastating. But if you feel way too lonely why not adopt a parent who has lost the loved one he or she brought up.

Even after thinking a lot I couldn’t decide whether old age homes are boon or bane. Now it is up to you whether it is a boon or a bane

THANK YOU

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