Smiles: The best gift for senior citizens
GESTURE Members of Golden Age Club visit old age homes and spend quality time with those who have been shunned by their kin
LUCKNOW: Many people may have no time for their old parents and grandparents. But there are a few students who spend quality time with those elderly who have been shunned by their children.
Members of the Golden Age Club, these youngsters from various colleges of Lucknow, gather at some old age home in the city once a month and spend time with the elderly living there. They bring cheer to the faces of these elderly people by playing games, giving them a patient hearing and doing everything that makes them happy.
Shashwat Subhash, who is preparing for civil services examination and an active member of the club, says: “We make it a point to visit an old age home at least once a month and spend at least 3-4 hours with them. We often involve the senior citizens in our activities and motivate them to sing, play musical instruments, dance or do whatever pleases them.”
There have been instances where the elderly have played musical instruments and sung after a gap of many years and that brought them a lot of happiness, he added. As part of the practice, the children perform cultural programmes and engage the senior citizens. They also teach the residents of the old age home about mobile phone applications, social networking etc. Pragati Srivastava, a student of IT College and a member of the club, says, “They only want people to spend time with them and listen to their problems and past experiences. And we do that. So we have made a good bonding now.”
The involvement of youngsters is not only limited to monthly visits. They are also just a call away for the elderly people.
Indu Subhash, founder of the club says, “We visit schools and motivate students. Many of them join voluntarily and connect with the elderly. Our purpose is to build a connect between the two generations.”