“According to the survey reports, around 71% of senior citizens living in India become victims of harassment due to the relentless thoughts ruling the minds of families, children, and even relatives in some cases.”
The country’s population has been growing quickly in recent years, which has led to an increase in the number of old people living there. However, the number of nuclear families has also grown at a rapid pace. The culture, social structure, and even physiology of today’s society are changing. The challenges of leading a tranquil life in a changing world have made providing home help for the elderly an increasingly challenging duty and a burden for individuals. As a result, numerous NGOs have been founded with the primary goal of providing assistance to the elderly in order to meet all of their basic needs.
With the aim of providing a home away from home to elders, many NGOs work for the elderly and become responsible for their comprehensive care, leading to a society where the elderly feel respected and their dignity is intact. Here, we will uncover the many aspects and role of an NGO in taking a holistic step towards securing the well-being of the elderly, who are ignored and isolated.
Initiatives by NGOs For the Well-Being of the Elderly
The elderly who are isolated deserve a better place to continue to lead a life with respect and smiles. NGOs play a very crucial role here:
Sadly, a large number of elderly people are made to leave away from their families or are forced to leave their own homes preserved with love and care due to corrupted minds and thoughts that fail to understand the love old people hold within themselves for a family. As a result, they are forced to find a home that feels homely and caring. NGOs like Aashritha have an immensely major role to play.
We have dedicated old age homes in India taking care of these isolated amazing souls in need of care, love, and respect. It’s like a home away from home.
Nutritional Support
Nutritional food during the later age of one’s life can’t be compromised. NGOs not only provide access to calorically dense meals but also provide nutritional education and counseling so that older people can learn to make informed choices about their diet to help in their health and wellness. That way, they can better take care of themselves.
Psychological Support
Many times, society fails to address the mental health aspects of the elderly. During the later years of their lives, they are more prone to psychological issues, and unfortunately, they don’t get the right emotional support to cope with them.
NGOs do offer psychological and emotional support, whereby they counsel older people, have support groups, and even provide peer-to-peer counseling to them. They give moral support and share coping mechanisms; when need be, they refer them to mental health professionals.
Health Services
Health services provided to the elderly are one of the primary missions of NGOs working for the welfare of old people. Health services usually are fully set by NGOs through setting up their clinics or partnerships with health providers to avail complete health services customized to the needs of the senior citizens. It comprises routine checkups to screening for diseases that come with old age, means of managing the diseases, and the cost of the medicine.
Social Programs
These may come in various forms, from recreational opportunities such as classes in arts and crafts, exercise groups, and field trips to better defined through senior centers, intergenerational clubs, and events that support friendship and interaction. With such activities, they get to connect better and feel included and cared for.
Palliative Care
NGOs provide hospices, which offer palliative care, including pain relief or treatment and improvement of life quality for the elderly and seriously ill. Similar organizations also give emotional and spiritual support to the concerned individual and the other family members involved in their final days of life. This translates to a better society for old age people who need the most during the age when they are left alone by near and dear ones.
Skill Development
There are many old page people still filled with so much zeal and optimism about life that they have that confidence in themselves to do something of their own. They just need a helping hand, and NGOs become that guiding force. Elderly individuals who are given the chance to acquire new skills from NGOs and to participate in such lifelong pursuits as computer studies, language classes, vocational training, and voluntary service. These skills when meeting the right entity give a new ray of hope to elders who are confident and so full of life.
Advocacy
NGOs support, locally, nationally, and internationally, the rights and interests of senior citizens and advocate for the development and application of laws that provide senior citizens greater access to social security and healthcare. It also strives to combat age-based prejudice and stop elder abuse. This includes raising awareness, offering assistance, and advocating for societal and legislative changes that will enhance the lives of the elderly and safeguard their rights and dignity.
Legal Aid
“National Crime Records Bureau’s Report indicates that 32, 496 elderly have been slain & 5836 cases of kidnapping, torture, and harassment got recorded in India between the time range of 2001-2010.
For cases of elder abuse, fraud, conflicts over housing, and even in the drafting of wills and advance directives, legal aid may also be provided by the NGOs. They may also advocate for policy change to protect older people from their rightful legal rights.
Elder Abuse Prevention
Even the elderly people are not shielded from abuse. For the victims, the NGOs implement supportive services and proceed with awareness campaigns by running educational and professional training programs to reach the broader community and detect abuse.
Disaster Relief
Many NGOs also take responsibility for disaster relief for old age groups. They arrange emergency rescue, evacuation, temporary shelter, and medical treatment for older people in the face of natural disasters, humanitarian emergencies, or public health crises to guarantee their safety.
With major and minor contributions NGOs make for the betterment of old age people, the very essence is to provide them a home away from home. As people grow older and retire, they often face challenges like loneliness or needing care. In situations where family members, like daughters-in-law, are busy with work, moving to an old age home can be a comforting option. It’s important to understand that there’s no shame in considering this choice. Old age homes can offer companionship and support, making life easier during this phase.
At Aashritha Old Age Home, we go beyond mere accommodation by providing an environment that promotes comprehensive well-being for our old-age residents. Through a diverse range of engaging activities, we make sure they stay mentally fit and socially connected. Our nutritious meals are thoughtfully prepared to meet their dietary needs, supporting their physical health. Moreover, we cultivate a warm and inclusive community where mutual support and companionship flourish. It empowers our residents to lead fulfilling lives and thrive in their golden years. We also endeavor to provide emotional support and create a family like environment, so that no one is felt alone or isolated by their families. We provide 24×7 holistic care by the well trained staff.
Together, let’s pave the way for a dignified and fulfilling journey for our beloved seniors at Aashritha Old Age Home. Let’s join hands with Aashritha Old Age Home to make a meaningful difference in the lives of elderly individuals and create a brighter future for them.
Contribute to our cause and avail of the tax benefits on donations under Section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act.
Click here to make your generous and valuable donation to support Aashritha Charitable Trust. Start availing of tax exemption benefits from now on.
