Our grandparents and their forebears were blessed to have lived in a connected world. To say, there are no geographical barriers today, and we live in a world fastened by the thread of globalisation. But when our parents, or rather when we grow old(er), will we have a place to call home?
We are a generation proud of the technological advancements that we have made possible. We’re a generation that knows all the cool things- from the hashtags of Instagram to the artificial intelligence behind self-driven cars.
Maybe, what we’ve lost is the art of creating a home and a family.
The world is aging and so is its population, and we are failing to take care of the elderly. United Nation Department of Economic and Social Affairs predicts the population over the age of 60 to reach 3.1 billion in 2100, from 1 billion in 2017.
“My daughter-in-law orders me to wash clothes and utensils, and if I deny, she threatens me of not giving meals and medicines. When they go out, they lock me inside the house, all alone for long hours,” shares Savitri Devi, a 71-year-old widow (source).
Well, the lack of a stable income is not the only problem that our seniors face, it’s also the lack of a stable life. A short memory, unknown ailments, difficulty in daily things are the issues that most of us are aware of. However, there’s much more to it, and we have been ignoring that for long now.
“I was alone every day and feeling very lonely. My husband gave me a lot of money, and people always told me how lucky I was, but money wasn’t what I wanted. It didn’t make me happy at all. The first time I shoplifted was about 13 years ago. I wandered into a bookstore in town and stole a paperback novel. I was caught, taken to a police station, and questioned by the sweetest police officer. He was so kind. He listened to everything I wanted to say. I felt I was being heard for the first time in my life. I enjoy my life in prison more. There are always people around, and I don’t feel lonely here. When I got out the second time, I promised that I wouldn’t go back. But when I was out, I couldn’t help feeling nostalgic,” shares an 80-year-old prisoner in Japan. (source)
The chances of a senior living alone, without the spouse in the late years are as likely as the sunset every evening. Even when they are lucky enough to have a ‘house’ where their children live with them, it’s heart wrenching that our seniors don’t feel at ‘home’.
Why so?
The children are busy with their lives, making the most out of their young selves. The social interaction that they have with their parents and grandparents is next to nothing. It’s more of what we call ‘small talk’ today.
The seniors often don’t have the freedom to take their own decisions or live life as they planned. Very frequently they feel obliged to live a life that the kids are providing them with. Would you want such years at a time when love and care are what you need the most?
We do have old age homes and centres across the globe, but they often lack what our seniors require. While they do pay attention to the physical ailments and health issues, the age care centres somehow are unable to provide an environment for a sound mental health.
Mental Health Commission of New South Wales shares how pressing the problem of depression in old age is.
More than 52% of all permanent aged care residents had symptoms of depression.
“I am always hoping that my wife will come through the door which she never will. If you go out and you come back, you come back to an empty house, and it’s loneliness again. And you are always waiting for somebody to call,” says Roy Croucher, a senior widow. (source)
What we need the most right now is a community where our seniors can live and grow old together. A space that they can call their own and do whatever they feel like without feeling dependent or obliged.
Taking into account all of these aging issues, GladAge is building an ecosystem where the elderly can live in harmony with other people of their age and engage in an active lifestyle that comprises of Physical Fitness and Mental Peace.
Even if they choose to live with their kids and families, there should be someone to talk to, someone to take care of them, someone to just be there for them and with them.
There is always an option to have a caregiver at home who can also be a companion, but it’s tiresome to find one. Additionally, there’s no transparency in the process of caregiving. This results in people hiring ‘anyone who is available.’
We need a platform where families have an access to caregivers and can choose based on their reviews. This will help as caretakers will be their best versions when around the seniors. GladAge is also working on such a platform that will ensure an easy access to caregivers and a scoring system to help improve their services.
After everything they do to raise us and give us the life we are living today, all they ask for is love, care and companionship. And, we do realise that the challenges of life today sometimes make it impossible for the younger ones to do so. With the dependency ratio of the population continually rising, it’s just going to get tougher.
What humanity demands right now is to have more senior homes and caregivers who truly care.
At GladAge, healthcare will be taken care of by professional expert caretakers and emergency care will be available at the tap of a button (ERS). A world where senior care houses will be designed to ensure safety and utmost comfort for elders, from chamfered edged walls to anti-skid tiles.
Visit gladage.com to learn more about GladAge.
Click here to download our Whitepaper.
