Curated with care: Tips to help sr citizens plan a second innings
Times of India | 23 January 2025
12 Kolkata: Amid growing concerns for elderly citizens living alone in the city, ‘Senior Care' ushered in fresh perspectives to discover better ways to live fulfilling lives.
The event, organised by Manipal Hospitals, Salt Lake and The Times of India at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata recently, witnessed more than 150 senior citizens planning their second innings. The event featured four panel discussions featuring senior members of the medical fraternity, including critical care consultant Rajarshi Roy, orthopaedic consultant Tanmoy Karmakar and cardiology consultant Anindya Sarkar of Manipal Hospitals Broadway; neurology consultants Ansu Sen and Paromita Kanjilal of Vertigo & Balance Clinic, Manipal Hospitals, Saltlake.
Addressing the concerns of an aging population – healthcare, companionship, safety and cyber threat — representatives of the Manipal Hospitals, West Bengal Cyber Crime Wing, Kolkata Police, Travel Live, IDFC First Bank, C3 Home Health Care, CC Saha Ltd and IFB Appliances presented specific solutions. "Our aim should be (is) to provide a comprehensive health assessment and preventive care tailored that address the unique health needs and concerns associated with aging," said Debjyoti Ghosh, hospital director, Manipal Hospitals Salt Lake.
With actor Chandan Sen as the chief guest, the event was graced by Anjali Singh, IPS, DIG(HQ), West Bengal Cyber Crime Wing, Sourav Das, regional marketing head, IDFC First Bank, Mahua Sengupta, director Travel Live, Vikram Saha, director CC Saha Ltd, Arijit Banerjee, director, C3 Home Care, Aakash Majumdar, IFB Appliances and other dignitaries and more than 150 senior citizens from different corners of the city.
Anjali Singh elaborated on cyberbullying and cyber threats with a special focus on money theft. The panel of doctors from the Manipal Hospitals elaborated on different health concerns — from cardiac and orthopaedic care, mobility and dementia.
Sen said: "Some of the rare symptoms are forgetfulness, involuntary urination and schizophrenic behaviour. The first concern is stairs. Whenever I see stairs at any place, I wonder how the aged guests would manage to climb up? They can be financially sound but if anything unfortunate happens; money doesn't serve all needs."
Sarkar explained: "You must maintain a regular lifestyle, do regular stretches and eat at proper time. If you start incorporating these habits from your 40s then you can have healthy 60s." Roy cautioned: "We are catering to people who are above 60 years. They could have diabetes, hypertension, a little bit of renal dysfunction and liver disorder. You have to take individual care. Do basic testing twice a year."
Kanjilal reminded that senior citizens were out of their active working lives and were now into a retried or more of a sedentary life. "There are two important areas — one is self-consciousness or self-awareness and the other is support from near and dear ones."