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Who says senior citizens are ‘old’?

This gentleman is 76, and absolutely fighting fit! His active lifestyle can inspire other elders to take up exercise too.
by Jayeeta Bose, Morning Song Foundation

It can be said with a great deal of certainty that physical fitness impacts health positively; not only at a young age but at a later stage as well. Studies related to health and ageing have thrown up the fact that lifestyle changes incorporating exercise into the daily routine, can significantly augment fitness in older people. Is there a specific age beyond which exercise is harmful? What is the right amount of exercise for an elderly person?

To address these issues, we should closely examine factors that lead to successful ageing. Being free of illness does not necessarily ensure good quality of life as one ages. Mobility, independence, cognitive function, psychological state and social relations and network are also very important. Healthy ageing is about optimising opportunities for good health, so that older people can take an active part in society and enjoy an independent and high quality of life.

How do we ensure that we lead an active and healthy life as we grow old? Let’s find out through the story of BS Nagabhooshan Rao.

Fighting fit 

Pic 2 Fit as a fiddle@76Mr Rao is 76 years old and fit as a fiddle. He is our neighbourhood ‘uncle’ and widely respected. He is leading a quiet and relaxed retired life after a successful stint in a reputed private organisation. His formula for healthy living is very simple: discipline, physical activity and social engagement. Beginning his day at 4 am, he sets about the day with vigour and resilience. Yoga is his first preference as it calms the mind and makes the body flexible. Following this, he takes a brisk walk in the neighbourhood which gears him up for the rest of the day. A strict disciplinarian, he sticks to his schedule with unwavering regularity.

He takes his meals on time and rests a while in the afternoon. His chores take up most of his day, but evenings are dedicated to his favourite sport, table tennis. This being a team sport, ensures sufficient social interaction in addition to promoting strength and agility of the muscles. A typical day ends with a family dinner and reading. A disciplined lifestyle such as this keeps him fit as a fiddle and less prone to ailments. His reflexes and alertness are far better than his peers’, which enable him to drive from Bangalore to Mysore (about 150 km) to visit relatives! No better way to celebrate longevity, is there?

How does an active lifestyle help?

Benefits of a routine such as this are enormous. There is reduced chance for diseases; BP and obesity are under check, increased strength and endurance, better lung function, greater balance and no trace of depression or anxiety.

A holistic lifestyle has its merits and a range of mental and physical health benefits can be reaped. People tend to get less active as they grow older, though moderate activity and walking increases. It is never too late to take up a new activity irrespective of the age. If the body is too frail, a moderate activity will serve the purpose. Good exercise will actually slow down the decline associated with ageing, prevent the onset of several diseases, and alleviate some of the consequences of diseases. A combination of physical and social activities is particularly advisable. A few activities suited to older people are walking, cycling, yoga, all kinds of games, family and community life to name a few.

As monsoon retreats and autumn sets in, there is great sagacity in planning a “health holiday”. It would mean making minor changes in lifestyle, but will guarantee overall wellbeing. The time is ripe for everyone to take charge of their ageing process. The secrets to everlasting happiness are twofold – a healthy body and a healthy mind. Growing old is not necessarily a burden and it does not reduce one’s ability to contribute to society. Senior persons can make valuable and important contributions making them socially inclusive and dependable resource.

Grey Space’ is a weekly column on senior citizen issues. If you have an anecdote, or legal information, or anything you feel is useful to senior citizens, caregivers and the society at large, feel free to get it published in this space. Write to editor@themetrognome.in or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Themetrognome.in and we will publish your account.

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About 35% couples took a trip this weekend

Survey reveals that about 5 lakh travelers from the metros went to nearby tourist spots over the long I-Day weekend.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The long weekend, starting from Friday, August 15 (Independence Day), and ending on Monday, August 18 (Pateti, Janmashtami) certainly allowed several people to take short trips to nearby locations. If a quick survey by ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India) is to be believed, about 35 per cent working couples of 500 couples surveyed in the metros of the country took planned an extended weekend trip during this time. 

About 5 lakh travelers made the journey to renowned weekend destinations, as per the survey based on feedback received from various working couples and tour operators in metros. “The weekend, starting this Independence Day on Friday, was extended up to Janmashtami on Monday (August 18) and about 35 per cent of working couples in metros planned to make it an extended holiday and escape to the nearby tourist destinations,” highlighted the survey.

ASSOCHAM representatives interacted with about 500 working couples to gauge their mood and plans for the Independence Day weekend in five cities of Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi-NCR, and Kolkata during the last fortnight.

While about 35 per cent respondents conceded they had planned their itinerary in advance, about 55 per cent said they would relax at home and enjoy some good quality time with their family and the remaining 10 per cent said they have not made any plans so far. “With work schedules getting hectic by the day, working couples in India impatiently await weekends and thus make the most of extended weekends,” said DS Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM.

The survey also took into account inputs from representatives of leading travel portals, travel agencies, and hoteliers who came up with various packages, as they had received a good number of bookings for traditional picturesque destinations located around the metros.
 
Certain respondents even said that their companies enabled the ‘work from home’ facility for their employees so that they could spend the weekend comfortably and complete their tasks as per their convenience.

Ashtvinayak, Goa, Khandala, Lonavla, Mahabaleshwar, and Matheran were the top destinations for about 30 per cent working couples in Mumbai, while almost 40 per cent respondents from Delhi-NCR rated Agra, Dharamshala, Haridwar, Jaipur, Jim Corbett, Khatu Shyam, Landsdowne, Mathura and Vrindavan, Manali, Mussoorrie, Nainital, Rishikesh, Shimla, Vaishno Devi and other spots among their favourite spots. 

Ambaji, Gir, Kutch, Mount Abu, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Udaipur and others were significant getaway destinations for about 45 per cent working couples planning a quick holiday this weekend in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, Chikmagalur, Coorg, Madhugiri, Mysore, Nandi Hills, Ooty, Ramanagara, Shivanasamudra Waterfalls, Wayanad and others were most sought-after weekend getaway destinations for 35 per cent working couples in Bangalore.

Bakkhali, Darjeeling, Digha, Mandarmoni, Murshidabad, Navadivpa, Raichak Santiniketan, Sunderbans, Tajpur, Tarapith and others were preferred weekend getaways for about 25 per cent respondents in Kolkata.

Also read: ‘Four-day holiday causes six-hour traffic snarl on Mumbai-Pune Expressway‘, TOI

(Picture courtesy www.planmoneytax.com)

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Summer camp industry to touch 1,000 cr in 2017-18

Survey reveals that the summer camp industry is growing by 25 per cent per year due to higher disposable incomes.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

You probably enrolled your child in a summer camp this year, or at least know of people who did. But while you thought your child or the neighbour’s child was simply kept occupied with fun activities in exchange for a bit of cash, did you give a thought to how much you’d contributed to the burgeoning summer camp industry?

As per a survey conducted by premier industry watchdog ASSOCHAM (The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry), titled the Rising Craze For Summer Camps in Metros, “The summer camps industry size is likely to touch Rs 1,000 crore y 2017-2018 from the current level of Rs 400 crore, due to working absent parents, higher disposable incomes and rising awareness.”

Why is this industry growing?

The growth in this industry is seen to take off at an annual growth rate of about 25 per cent. “The summer camps industry is closely tied to overall economic indicators such as per capita disposable income, population growth and leisure time. Over the next five years, the industry’s growth patterns will reflect substantial increase in the number of children and adolescents due to rapidly improving expenditure on recreational activities and marginal gains in sports participation,” adds the survey.

“Holidays and weekend breaks are times when parents and children are always on the lookout for activities to do at home or outside that combine fun with creativity and learning,” said DS Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM. This industry includes overnight recreational and instructional camps for adults and children. Some camps provide accommodation and other amenities such as fixed campsites, food services, recreational facilities and equipment, and organised activities.

The survey was conducted in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Dehradun, covering nearly 3,000 parents during April 2013. Broadly, it was found that parents dish out a minimum sum of Rs. 2,000 to Rs 6,000 on a child for a summer camp. Obviously, the sum spent doubles for two children. A majority of the parents interviewed revealed that they wanted their children to learn more activities like drawing, dancing, clay modeling, art and craft, culinary skills, cooking without using a flame and sports activities, in view of the growing peer effects and also to update their children to meet the challenges of current competition.

The survey also highlighted that working parents in the capital city of Delhi spent the least amount of time daily with their children at home (less than one hour) during the vacations, while those in Bangalore spend maximum amount (four hours) followed by Ahmedabad (three  hours) and Mumbai (two hours).

The survey further reveals, about one in five parents want their children to spend more of their free time in summer camps or hobby classes. One out of two parents responded that their children spend more time inside home; while only a third of parents said that their children spend equal time at home and outdoors.  Indeed, children on an average spend 5-6 hours at home for leisure activities during holidays, compared to an average 2 hours spent in outdoor activities, says the survey.

“Nearly 72 per cent of parents said that there was no provision of summer camps during their childhood. Accompanying their wards served a double purpose – not only could they give them a chance to learn something new, it also ensured they got to spend quality time with the children,” adds Rawat. “A majority of the respondents said that learning together gave them an opportunity to be cordial, respect each other’s views and understand each other better. The organisers are encasing on this trend by giving discounts if parents join their wards at camps.”

Summer camps are relatively popular with only 65 per cent parents preferring their children to spend time at a summer camp, in comparison to 92 per cent of children surveyed preferring going to a summer camp, points out the survey.

Highlights of the survey:

– Many schools have a dedicated marketing budget for summer clubs centered on print advertisements, hoardings, leaflets and mall activations. They allocate close to 20-25 per cent of their marketing budget on summer clubs. There are nearly 30,000-35,000 camps of all kinds operating in all the tier-II and tier-III cities.

– 81 per cent of children learn a new skill like musical instrument, dancing, clay modeling etc.

– 71 per cent of children want to learn art and craft outside home.

– 65 per cent of children go out to learn different styles of dancing like Jazz, contemporary, classical etc.

(Pictures courtesy www.trekindiamanali.com, www.kinkari.com, www.indiacurrents.com, kopili.wordpress.com. Images used for representational purpose only)

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What senior citizens want…

Ever wonder why a person past the age of 60 wants to marry again? We get experts to tell us.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Shantanu Banerjee* (71), a Bandra-based businessman, lost his wife to cancer four years ago. “Dealing with her illness was painful, especially the last months, when she was home and there was nothing more I could to help her,” he says. “Then she passed away, and our big house began to torture me by being so empty.”

Last year, Shantanu decided to address his loneliness. “I was living with my sister in Bangalore, and I joined a senior citizens club there. I met a woman who my own age, and like me, she loved watching movies and going for walks,” he remembers. Soon, the walks turned into day-long trips, the movie-watching turned into shopping excursions. “We realised we liked being with each other. She was a widow, had been for 10 years. But her outgoing nature made me come out of my grief. I decided to marry her.”

Shantanu and Gayathri Shetty* were married in a quiet ceremony last year. “We live in Mumbai and she has adjusted well. I love having her around the house,” he beams.

Shantanu and Gayathri are part of a growing tribe of seniors that are opting for a second shot at happiness in their twilight years. Given India’s current demographic – the UN says 32 crore of the country’s population will be over 60 years old in the year 2020, and India will soon be counted amongst the world’s ageing nations (where the geriatric population goes up every year) – we are looking at a situation where there will be several, single senior citizens. And most of them might need to find partners.

“People at that age are not necessarily looking for sex in the marriage. They are looking more for love and companionship. We’ve seen that while men want a companion, women want financial security,” says Sailesh Mishra, founder of the NGO Silver Innings, which works for senior citizens in the country.”And while there are several people whose families do not want them to marry ‘at that age’ because they fear what people will think, and also because they don’t realise that old people also need companions, we are happy to see that some children and relatives are totally supportive of them,” he adds.

A number of marriage bureaux catering to senior citizens have sprung up in recent times. Natubhai Patel (62), who started the first such bureau in Ahmedabad and who has to his credit 75 marriages and 25 live-in relationships among senior citizens across the country, says, “At that age, there is no confusion in the person’s mind about what he or she wants from the partner they seek.

For example, there was a 72-year-old who said that he wanted a wife who could also have sex with him. We found a woman, a widow, for him who was prepared to fulfil this condition. Another woman who came to me said that she got a good pension from her deceased husband’s company, and she didn’t want to give it up by marrying another man, but that she wanted a companion. Today, she lives with a man of her age at his home.”

Natubhai says he has a waiting list of 25,000 people looking for partners, and the numbers are just growing every year. “However, we want more women to come forward and ask for companions. It’s very difficult for women in our country, especially at that age, to even say that they want a man in our lives. However, more women are approaching us, which is a good sign.”

Some common expectations from senior citizens:

– A partner for marriage

– A partner for companionship; may or may not live-in with that person.

– A partner only for friendship; could be same-sex; requires the same for common shared interests.

– A partner for sex

(Picture courtesy daydreamingwordsmith.blogspot.com)

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Mumbai drinks the most energy drinks

Bangalore and Delhi rank second and third in the country; survey reveals that more boys than girls consume energy drinks.

This is party season, and while the New Year approaches, the nation is looking for ways to stay up all night and party hard. And one way to do this is by consuming energy drinks.

But a recent Associated Chamber of Commerce (ASSOCHAM) survey reveals some staggering truths about energy drink consumption in the country. Titled ‘Increasing demand of energy drinks among youngsters’, the survey reveals that energy drink consumption has grown by 45 per cent in Mumbai, the highest growth rate anywhere in the country, followed by 42 per cent in Bangalore and 40 per cent in Delhi.

“The use of energy drinks increased with age, especially in boys, with almost 55% of 12th grade consuming energy drinks to boost their game…about 71 per cent of adolescents in urban centers of India consume energy drinks which leads to seizures, diabetic, cardiac abnormalities and behavioural disorders,” the survey reveals.

ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation (ASDF) team conducted the survey in major states-cities of Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Haryana, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Lucknow, and interacted with around 2,500 adolescents (almost equal number of males and females) in the age group of 14-30 years. The respondents admitted that they consumed energy drinks for such promised factors as boost in energy, appearance, performance, improved immunity and overall health.

“Over 85 per cent of school and college students said, these drinks are easily available easily available in the market like retail stores, bars and pubs etc. The target buyers for energy drinks continue to be the young and working Indian population,” reveals the survey.

“Energy drinks are non-alcoholic beverages containing caffeine, guarana, glucuronolactone, taurine, ginseng, inositol, carnitine, B-vitamins, etc as main ingredients that act as stimulants. These drinks contain high levels of caffeine, which stimulates the nervous system,” said Dr BK Rao, Chairman, ASSOCHAM Health Committee.

“These drinks include high levels of sugar and up to 270 calories in each bottle – in addition to potentially harmful levels of caffeine, which has been linked to seizures, heart problems and behavioural disorders,” said Dr Rao.

“Among 82 per cent teenagers, admitted that they opt for energy drinks during exercise for ‘extra energy’, 61 per cent for ‘better hydration’ and 40 per cent as they ‘prefer the taste’. The consumption levels and situations in which people are consuming these energy drinks are worrisome,” added Dr Rao.

(Picture courtesy thinkpress.org. Picture used for representational purpose only)

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