By Ila Narayanan How do you deal with a father-in-law who is old, irritable, demanding and treats you like trash? Live with it? Reason it out? Wilt before his bullying? Fight it out? I have done all of these but I am none the wiser. My struggles leave me in tears at times, and in…
By Sunil Saxena If you are asked the question: Do you want to live till 100? Your answer would be an explosive No. And you will not be the only one to say no. Everyone and anyone would respond similarly. The reason is not hard to understand. Ageing inevitably brings misery and sickness, and no…
By Sunil Saxena “The day before something is truly a breakthrough, it’s a crazy idea.” — Peter H. Diamandis, Executive Chairman, XPrize Board XPRIZE Healthspan Challenge certainly is an idea that can shake the way humans age. So far, medicine and all research has focused on neutralising sickness and disease. The result is a dramatic…
By Anitha Kumar In the quaint town of Kottayam, Kerala, the echoes of past Christmases linger in the memories of John Mathew George, an octogenarian who fondly recalls the days when the holiday season was a grand affair at their house. All members of the family would gather for the festivities, which would start early…
By Rudraansh Naitik My aunt, who had shifted to an apartment near our home after she lost her husband, turned 60 a couple of months back and we had a grand celebration to mark that milestone. A few days later, she called up my father to say that she was feeling unwell. My father took…
By Bimala Gaurangi As a health attendant, I encounter several situations. But nothing is more distressing than watching grown ups argue with their elderly parents. You wonder what is happening. Don’t the children realise that their mother or father are no longer normal? Does it make sense to argue with your elders or browbeat them?…
Music is more than a soothing pastime in old age. It is a subtle stimulus that can keep you happy and arrest your mental decline. It is like your mind’s defence against age-related brain damage. Playing music or even just listening to it seems to build up cognitive reserve. You may want to know what…
“Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it don’t matter.” — Satchel Paige “Aging is just another word for living.” — Cindy Joseph “It matters not how long we live but how.” — Phillip James Bailey “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps…
By Paramjit Singh For my 76-year-old father, the process of alienation from the family was slow and painful. He had worked at a public sector undertaking reaching a mid-level position before taking premature retirement. All through his life, he had been cheerful and energetic. He was the one who would insist on socialising. He loved…