What is old? What defines elderly?
A recent survey of adults in the 50-plus age bracket in the UK revealed that most people today do not see themselves as elderly even when they are well into their 60s. So, while earlier the mid-30s presaged onset of middle age, the time frames have undergone a radical change, brought on by a number of reasons. These not only include rapid strides in medical advancement and the importance given to health and fitness by the individual, but also the multifarious choices available to pursue new areas of interest and the great advantage of mobility of person and ideas via strong social networking systems.
Last month, when a friend retired, I congratulated her on starting a wonderful, new phase of her life. And so she has: She has left for Europe on a long holiday — an experience that has hitherto always been a rush job when one had one’s nose to the grindstone and no holiday could really be as leisurely as one would wish it to be.
Many of my friends and I may have crossed 60, but we don’t look it — not in our appearance, nor our lifestyles, not in our manner of dressing nor our attitude. My mother at 60 was old, or so I thought then. I at 60-plus am by no means a geriatric and I have my sons’ friends who think so too! I keep busy doing all the things I want to do, but doing them all without the pressure of adhering to rigid, hectic time schedules. I am doing things I hitherto had little or no time for, interests that were earlier sporadically pursued because of other more pressing demands on my time.
It was therefore not surprising that I took strong exception to a recent ruling announced by the management of an NGO — where I am a volunteer, trained to help the depressed and the suicidal — that while accepting new volunteers, applicants below the age of 25 (unlikely to stay as they are looking for jobs) and over the age of 60 (too old) were to be rejected. By doing so, I argued, the organisation would forego the ready availability of a group with a rich store of experience, persons who can commit themselves to new responsibilities now that the earlier ones to family and career have been fulfilled. In this NGO itself, I continued to argue, it stands out that the 60-plus group of volunteers adhere to timings and are never late, execute allotted administrative tasks meticulously and accurately, man the office when younger members are out on field work and follow the few laid down rules with utmost sincerity. This by no means indicates casualness on the part of the younger members. Their sudden absence can often be attributed to an emergency at work or with the young family at home. The younger generation have their careers to foster, children and spouse and home that need attention, elderly parents that need care. In our case, the careers have ended, children have flown the nest and parents have passed on. All the more reason to use our services when volunteered.
I wholly agree with those who say that old age is a state of mind as much as it is one of chronology. Men and women in their late 30s and 40s are known to hesitate at a particular activity because they are no longer as young and spry as they would wish to be. Equally, there are people of both sexes for whom every new activity is as if they are being given a new lease of life. These people still have a lot of ‘go’ going in them, now that the responsibilities of a growing family are done with and they can indulge in enjoying life to the full whenever opportunity knocks. And opportunities are there aplenty, everywhere, for the taking.
On the other hand, in a nation where respect for one’s elders is at the heart of Indian culture, it is anomalous that there are few old-age homes for the growing numbers of needy elderly, that basic facilitators such as ramps in shopping areas or readily available wheelchairs at railway stations are still pipe dreams for most and senior citizen-related activities are not thought of by the public or private sectors or the NGOs; those that exist are largely exclusive rather than inclusive, catering as they do to the well heeled. Only when respect translates into meaningful action can we call ourselves a caring society. For that, we still have a long way to go. Meanwhile, it would be unwise to lose the services of a large segment of society that still has a lot to offer.
Vimala Madon is a freelance journalist based in Secunderabad, India.
