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Down Memory Lane

Dol Utsab at Shantiniketan

Shantiniketan has been very close to our member Ms. S. Sen’s heart to as her mother was brought up there under the preaching of Guru Rabindranath Tagore. She shares her memories of Dol utsab celebrated there.
I was brought up in Kolkata, but since my Ma had strings attached to Shantiniketan and had known Rabindranath Thakur, I too was attached to that place. There was a time when I even looked forward to studying there. But ultimately that didn’t happen, yet my attachment to the place remained throughout my life.
Long after my marriage I was keen on visiting Shantiniketan along with my husband. My husband and I reached Howrah station. Our intention was to witness the dol utsab at Shantiniketan. Just before our train reached Bolpur, a group of ????? arrived and with their songs transformed the atmosphere. It immediately made me feel the serenity and the difference that Shantiniketan creates. It made me feel that I had already reached Bolpur.
I stayed at my student’s house. My student and her husband were very good hosts. By the time we reached the station, they were already there to receive us and take us to Bolpur.
At Shantiniketan people used only abir, pure abir and that too pink and red colours only. All colours there were made out of herbal products. Holi was celebrated in a way that everyone enjoyed, as colours were smeared in a very decent manner. People took permission to put a tika on the forehead. People were never worried that they would be immersed in colour and make to look weird.
I have been always apprehensive about going out in the sun. I chose to stay indoors while telling my hosts to go ahead and enjoy outdoors. Thankfully the Holi utsav was telecast on the local channel. At Shantiniketan In the evening of Dol Purnima a ?????? natya is hosted by the students of Biswa Bharati. The performance was amazing. I had never seen such wonderful dance movements. The synchronization of each performers movements was worth watching. Each dancer was swift footed and they seemed to be floating in air as they performed. I always feel that people who receive their training in performing arts from here learn the art to perfection.
Categories
Elder Care

5 Importance of Elderly Care Services

Society today has been experiencing a shift in demographics with an increase in the aging population. The importance of elderly care services has become quite significant over the years. These services have been designed to enhance the well-being of their aging years.
1) It helps promote the physical well-being.
Elderly care services can play a pivotal role in maintaining good physical health. An aging person may face several issues in terms of health. They may suffer from mobility issues and other health issues. Trained professional caregivers can help the elderly in overcoming these issues rather effectively. Elderly care services provide regular health monitoring, medication management, and assistance with daily activities.
2) These services promote mental well-being
Elderly care services can also promote the emotional well-being of the elderly. This can include providing them with emotional support, companionship, and mental stimulation. Loneliness, often experienced in old age, can have a severe impact on mental well-being. Caregivers can engage the elders in meaningful activities, encourage social interactions, and provide a listening ear, fostering a positive and emotionally nurturing environment. An excellent emotional and mental health can go a long way in promoting the best physical health.
3) It retains independence
Elderly care ensures that the elders are able to retain their dignity and self-worth by staying independent in their daily activities. The caregivers need to balance between providing assistance only where needed and preserving autonomy where needed. This will ensure that the elder citizens are able to participate in their daily activities as independently as possible. This contributes to self- esteem.
4) It helps prevent being left out
Elder citizens are likely to feel left out. The feeling can cause issues like loneliness and depression. Caregivers can offer different means to address this issue. They can plan outings, and make them engage in conversations. Elders can also be made to indulge in community activities. This will help elders towards better mental stimulation. The trick lies in making the elderly feel that they are still loved.
5) It can help relieve the family burden.
Many a times even if families love their Elderly loved ones, they may not be able to balance the caregiving responsibilities due to their personal commitments and own work. Caregivers offer the much-needed respite for the family members in this context. The family can be assured that their loved ones are receiving the optimum care that they deserve. This can let the family members maintain a healthy balance between their responsibilities and personal work.
The importance of elderly care services cannot be overlooked in today’s society. These services go beyond just providing assistance in daily activities. They become part of a holistic approach in terms of senior care. The elderly care services focus on addressing physical, emotional, and mental well- being. As we move ahead in a collective approach towards a better life for senior citizens, choosing the elderly care services is much essential. But when choosing the right service provider, make sure that you are choosing a service provider who has the best track record in offering the right sort of elder care services.