What is the definition of old age? The World Health Organisation considers age 65 and above as old age. This is the time when the various signs of old age start appearing. Those who are employed retire from their jobs at the age of 60. Suddenly, their hectic life comes to a stop.   While they work, they enjoy many privileges such as higher income in the form of fat salary, power and authority to control people, all of which comes to an end with retirement. All these changes are stressful for seniors, who feel this loss and experience emotional shock. Left with more idle time now, they do not know how to spend time. They get bored easily. They should develop an attitude of being active and keeping good spirits.     This is possible if their mind is not obsessed with negative thoughts of helplessness and declining functions of old age. They should spend time in meeting people and actively exchanging ideas. They should read good books, understanding and exchanging new ideas with others. They should spend at least an hour daily reading as it stimulates the brain and delays deterioration of cognitive functions.   They should not withdraw from outside activities. They should challenge their debilities. For instance, they should walk despite feeling a little pain in the leg. They should see their abilities /strength or what they can do rather than what they cannot do or their debilities. Being preoccupied with debilities leads to low self-esteem and poor self-image.   To reiterate, people who are beyond 60 years can still lead a reasonably peaceful, happy and active life, despite the characteristics of old age. Most old age-related problems occur due to a wrong attitude of looking at ageing negatively.  Instead, seniors should accept it wholeheartedly as a natural phenomenon, be confident that they are still left with their potentials and capabilities which they can use to lead happy and active lives.   Seniors should not brood over their social loss of not being able to connect with as many people as they could in their earlier years and consciously adopt change in lifestyle of a relatively quiet life in old age. That is, see old age in a new and wholesome perspective. Thus, they can add life to years rather than deduct years from their lives.   This blog post is by Dr A. Sreekumar Menon, resident of Serene Urbana by Columbia Pacific Communities.  

Born, educated, employed, married Had children, educated them, They got employed, married Begot children. It is a perennial cycle.   We, the seniors of above sixty, Neither belong to the previous generation Nor merge with the present decade Fighting to live in between the devil and the deep sea.   Memories of our young age We obeyed parents, teachers and elders Meticulously followed their advice Lived a life taking everything in stride.   We lived in our youth in a joint family With grandparents along with Brothers and sisters, paternal Uncles and aunts with their children   A banyan tree of ten to twenty members The word selfishness didn’t exist. The eldest man managed the finance The eldest woman headed the kitchen.   No doubt there were many shortcomings But everyone sailed along with the current With quarrels, murmurs, and displeasure No one dared to break the family bondage.   Modern Vanaprastha as prescribed in the ancient Hindu text of Manusmriti After toiling for several years to fulfil worldly duties such as running the family, begetting children and grandchildren, one has to hand over the responsibility of running the family to the next generation and go to Vana (forest) to lead a detached and serene life. The main concern for seniors is to adjust and accommodate according to the expectations of the children. That is where the problem starts and results in a strained relationship. After their hair turns grey and their skin gets wrinkled, to live happily and allow the heirs to live happily, seniors had to go to modern vana.   Majority of us at Serene Pelican belong to the third stage of Ashram namely Vanaprastha. Neither attachment nor detachment with heirs but leading a good life not being a burden to heirs and at the same time living a dignified and independent life with quality care.   Independent villas (kudils), good food at A/C dining hall, well organised housekeeping service, 24×7 medical assistance, A/C auditorium, gymnasium, prayer hall, makes this a great place to stay in. No tension for the seniors, as well as no worry for their children. The seniors are in an enclave where their health is looked after and their children don’t need not worry about them. The inmates are mostly in the age group of 60 and 80 and a few are above 80. In modern vana there are no wild animals to fear. Seniors from various walks of life live happily with an extended warranty of life.   This blog post is by resident A Ramasami, resident of Serene Pelican by Columbia Pacific Communities.

Dedicated to my heavenly wife R. Mala.   I’m not myself, when you are here As you fill my heart with happiness I feel as if I’m sitting on an ivory tower I wish, I wish joyfully to reach heaven   I’m not myself, when you are away As I miss you, miss you so much I feel as if I’m a forsaken lamb I hate, I hate sadly to reach hell   I’m always myself, when things happen As I make them, make them happen I feel happy, happy to be with my loved one I wish to have my loved one always near me   I’m never myself when things fail to happen As I let them, let them fail miserably I feel bad, bad for letting them fail I regret, I regret just to be an onlooker   I’m neither myself nor myself as I look at myself I’m either myself or myself when you look at me I’m yours, yours, as I see an angel in you I’m barren without you, as you are my queen.       This blog post is by resident A Ramasami, resident of Serene Pelican by Columbia Pacific Communities.  

The fly got tired of hearing the loud noises on the road. As it got hungry, it started looking for a place to eat. As it flew, it sensed a wonderful aroma from a nearby building. It followed the smell and entered the building through a window. Once inside, the fly found itself in a hall filled with the loud chatter of elderly persons, seated at tables and having food. The fly decided to look around for options before deciding on the menu.   A gentleman at one of the tables said, “The idlis are soft today and taste so good with the chutney.”   Another person said, “Yes, but the thickness, size and diameter of the idlis are small.”   At another table, a lady said, “The masala dosa is very good today.” The person seated in front of the lady said, “Yes, but the quantity of vegetables inside is very less.”   At yet another table, two elderly people were analysing and criticising the Upma served on that day.   (The fly tasted small quantities of all dishes when the diners were busy talking and did not notice it)   One gentleman was talking loudly with food in his mouth, even as the food particles flew from his mouth – left, right and centre.   One person appreciated the crisp Medhu vadas while her friend beside her commented “Yes, but the holes at the center are small.”   Another lady commented “The puris are soft and tasty,” to which, her husband replied, “Yes, but so much oil in the puris. Too much oil is not good for health”   The fly stopped by a table where two persons were having coffee. One said, “Ha! The coffee tastes just the way I like – hot, thick and dark – without any sugar.” The other person responded, “I don’t know how you drink such bitter coffee. I like my coffee light, with more milk and 3 spoons of sugar in it.”   The fly’s curiosity got the better of it and it tasted a drop of coffee from the cups carried by the bearer.   The fly heard many voices, and found some persons were smacking their lips with loud noise, some licking their fingers. Then it remembered the advice given by its parents –   Don’t be obsessed with food Eat to live and not live to eat Eat with your mouth closed Don’t indulge in idle chatter while eating Eat only half your stomach and quit for you have to be alert and swift when a human tries to swat you.   So the fly ate till its stomach was half full and flew to the next room which was empty and rest on a wall, away from the loud noise, until lunch time. This blog post is by Serene Urbana (Bengaluru) resident E.S. Sivakumaran.

OK boomer.   The phrase made international news when 25-year-old Chlöe Swarbrick, a member of New Zealand’s parliament, used it in response to an interruption by a much older parliament member. While “OK boomer” may have been used by the indignant next generations to define or mock an attitude (read – deep-rooted power structures of a society), one cannot deny that it is an ageist catchphrase.   It stereotypes all baby boomers and seniors as narrow-minded and conformist individuals who try to impose their ideas and opinions on the younger generations. And this is precisely why it is important to address the implications of the widespread popularity of “OK boomer.” As India’s largest independent senior living community operators, we believe that age is just a number and are committed to shattering age-related stereotypes.   At Columbia Pacific Communities, we believe that individuals, across age groups, have a part to play in society. It would be unfair to deem an entire generation as biased and indifferent to the concerns of the youth. For it is a generation that has a sea of experience, perspective and insight sought by younger generations. For it is a generation, like the generations before and after, that believes in relentless pursuit of the incredible. We believe that positive ageing is a way of approaching life because people are a sum of their experiences and aspirations and cannot be defined by a number.   We enrich the lives of our residents by providing both tangible and intangible means to age positively. We believe that one should be able to spend their golden years the way they desire. Our newest project, The Virtuoso Club and Serviced Residences, is India’s first independent senior living community designed to international standards. In addition to premium serviced apartments, a signature club equipped with unmatched senior-friendly amenities and world-class healthcare, our residents at The Virtuoso will also have all the support to age positively and live life just the way they want to. While the world tries to put labels on people and expiry date on ambitions, we politely yet firmly push back age-related stereotypes and set a new benchmark for senior living in India.  

A Ramasami, resident of Serene Pelican by Columbia Pacific Community, describes the immense pleasure he once derived from glancing upon dancing sunflowers during a long drive.   As I was gazing through the speeding car, A flash crossed across my eyes, A beautiful mind-mending delight, A colourful heart-filling display, A never-ending brain activator, A sight, lovely sight always to enjoy.   A sea of sunflowers fluttering and dancing, Twisting, twinkling and thrilling sunflowers, Gleaming, glowing and glittering sunflowers, A miracle blooming on either side of the road, A blissful vision for the gazing eyes, A gleeful spectacle ever to remember, never to forget.   At the precarious hour of melancholy, At the time, when spirits are at an ebb, A ray of happiness flashed out of memory, A gay of gaiety blossomed in the heart.   A recall, a sudden recall of gazing through a speeding car, An immense pleasure of seeing the sunflowers along the drive, A sprouting recollection from the slumbering subconscious, Assuage a way out of depression leading to elated high spirits.   This blog post is by Serene Pelican (Puducherry) resident A. Ramasami.

Last week, I was clearing up my attic when I discovered a collection of old photographs. I was drowned in nostalgia as the photographs rekindled memories of some lovely moments from the past. Moments that evoked so many emotions, even after so long. When I hear all the talk about “leaving the past behind,” I think it is too broad a statement. For sometimes, the memories of “sweet somethings” are required to bring back the smiles on worry-creased faces, to turn lines into curves. Why else are alumni bodies so active and school and college reunions such a hit?   I was very much impressed with this wonderful post on social media – “Silence and smile are two powerful tools. While a smile helps to solve many problems, silence helps in avoiding them.” In spite of knowing the truth of this statement, we seldom pay heed to it.   Generally, waiting in queues for our turn at hospitals, labs and banks tends to test our patience. Especially so when we feel that someone has jumped the queue (and that is a universal doubt that lingers!) Just the other day, I had to wait for seven hours to get a few tests done. However, the morose atmosphere of the place was enlivened by the joyous gurgle of laughter of an infant who had accompanied her grandparents.   The forty people awaiting their turn, had smiles on their faces as the toddler made her presence felt, attracting the attention of onlookers. The child kept spreading her infectious smile until she was awake. As the young one stopped entertaining and went off to sleep, the crowd’s patience wore thin, and enquiries about their turn started pouring at the reception desk. Reliving the day, the toddler gave us a little “sweet something” to reminisce.     This blog post is by Sujatha Sathiamurthy, resident of Serene Indus Valley by Columbia Pacific Communities.

We can neither see smiling faces Nor recognise grieving faces We can neither see happy faces Nor recognise angry faces We can neither see excited faces Nor recognise depressed faces We can neither see daylight Nor recognize the dark night.   We can neither see amorous eyes Nor recognise wicked eyes We can neither see questioning eyes Nor recognise demanding eyes We can neither see expressive eyes Nor recognise mesmerising eyes We can neither see happy eyes Nor recognise wet eyes.   We cannot see the sun Can feel its heat We cannot see the moon Can feel its coolness We cannot see a droplet of rain Can feel the moisture of the droplet We cannot see waves at the shore Can hear them crash.   We cannot see delicacies Can taste the deliciousness We cannot see flowers Can smell flowers We cannot see animals Can hear them bark and roar We cannot see cold ice Can feel the coldness of ice.   We are god’s special children We are differently talented We are visionless people We are the eyes of the world.   This blog post is by resident A Ramasami, resident of Serene Pelican by Columbia Pacific Communities.

As I spent a rainy Saturday bird-watching from my window with Sun Music (TV channel) thankfully playing a good selection of melodious numbers, I wondered how fascinating poetry as a medium of expression could be! Poetry truly transcends limits – be it time, space, circumstances, even reason. And yet it is so appealing. The more abstract the content, the more we can relate to it. What a paradox!   By saying less, much is left to the imagination of the reader, and that is exactly why the impact is profound and stays with the reader for long.   While some poets dwell in exaggeration to emphasise their subject’s beauty, using metaphors that spring out of nowhere, others appeal to the language of the heart, without baring it all, in a bid to engage the reader more.   The success of poetic expressions lies in their subtlety. The magic of the unsaid adds to its depth – it is entirely upto the reader‘s stretch of imagination and interpretation! Engaging in poetry is surely a rejuvenating exercise for one’s brain.   I leave sharing some lines that left an impression: “Will walking towards the west make the night fall early?” – Thamarai, Tamil poet   This blog post is by Sujatha Sathiamurthy, resident of Serene Indus Valley by Columbia Pacific Communities.

Nightingales and cuckoos are well-known and admired for their musical calls. Parrots, European goldfinch, American Robin birds, sparrows, peacocks and many other birds call out in soulful and musical notes. It has been scientifically proven that cows produce more milk when exposed to melodious music. It is also found that music stimulates the brains of birds, animals and man, alike.   The frogs croaking by the pond-side at night have a rhyme and rhythm, and so do the crickets and bumblebees. The constant whining of the mosquitoes may be annoying to our ears, but for them, it is a musical communication, informing each other of the availability of fresh human blood to be syringed out! However, if they “sing” into the ears of a musician, he may take it as a musical challenge posed to him by the mosquitoes. While people find an elephant orchestra amusing, it is believed that the elephants themselves find it calming and derive happiness from it.   Indian botanist Dr Jagdish Chandra Bose has scientifically established the fact that melodious music stimulates the growth of plants while violent music and sudden loud noise stunt their growth. In 1961 students and faculty at Annamalai University studied the effect of music on paddy fields. They found out that the fields exposed to Nagaswaram music of Rajaratnam Pillai every morning over a period of four months grew faster and better. There is a need to apply the melodious music therapy forward in various fields of human life.   Melodious music, whether it is eastern or western, has its effects and needs to be enjoyed within.   Non-melodious music, which is too noisy and uncomfortable, particularly to senior citizens, is preferred by youngsters. In a recent turn of events, researchers from Denmark have made a detailed comparative study of the melodious and non-melodious music and published a report on the effect of music on the protein chains of Amygdaloid bodies of the human brain and DNA changes. The damaging effects of non-melodious music are well brought out in that study.   Music is now being used for therapeutic purposes. Special children such as the ones affected by Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy or autism (to a mild extent) have shown improvement when exposed to Indian melodious music. So, it makes me wonder if we can use this therapy to bring about a positive change in criminals or terrorists? Can we use music in operation theatres, especially in pediatric clinics, to ease the tense atmosphere? Or perhaps to cure psychosomatic diseases particularly in senior citizens who feel lonely?   That’s some food for thought.   This blog post is by Dr Rajaram, resident of Serene Urbana by Columbia Pacific Communities.