HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Home is where our heart is stuck no matter how badly the wanderlust strikes. Few are privileged to grow up in their own house, while some have travelled around since childhood. They change a lot of homes, and thus only parents can give the required homely feeling by being with them. Parents give birth to us, and like any other living being, they try to protect us until we can take care of ourselves. They are our first teachers, friends and critics. Their love towards us is unconditional and unadulterated.

They stay with us until we grow up, but what do we do? Do we always give them the same amount of care and acclamation? Children tend to make mistakes, and most parents are so blinded by love that they often don't point out those mistakes. They usually accept and do not expect much from their child. Is that where we lose connections with them? In this 21st century, most of us hail from nuclear families; we hardly know how it feels to live with many people.

In the West, children are much more independent since childhood than in India. They bring up their child in such a way that makes them confident enough to live independently as soon as they hit adolescence. But in most Indian cities, parents are perplexed by the idea of their child staying alone even after living in the same city. But as a child grows up and leaves their city for higher education or a job, the parents are often left alone, which might cause them stress and depression. As they grow old, they feel the need for companionship. Here comes the idea of Old Age Homes.

So, what is an old age home? An old age or retirement home is a place for aged people to stay safe under supervision and companionship. These homes provide all the essential facilities for a happy living. In this age of competition, everybody wants to get better; we are never satisfied with what we have and constantly need better. We often tend to compromise our relationships in this race. We are so wrapped up in ourselves that we intentionally or unintentionally leave our parents behind - alone and depressed. Living alone at an old age is quite threatening. No one knows when one might get sick, and that is why old age homes are helpful. In the West, old aged people staying in an old age home is not a rare sight, but here in India, the idea is relatively new. Some choose to stay at an old age home alone, and some senior citizens are often thrown out of their houses. Such cases are increasing every day.

There are a few advantages of living in an old age home. First is the ability to perform everyday chores. As old age approaches, it gets tough to do everything independently. Thus, in an old age home, the professional doctors, nurses and the people of such association help to perform everyday activities. Keeping in mind that these homes are for senior citizens, the ambulances and the doctors are always present. These homes are safe, secure and reliable. The aged ones get to meet a lot of people who are going through similar situations. They share their thoughts, fears and experiences with them.

"The human heart, at whatever age, opens to the heart that opens in return…". To cope with the new generation, the old age homes are implementing new ideas for the betterment of the senior citizens. They arrange fun events throughout the year where the old aged people participate and enjoy. It encourages them to revive their passion and hobbies. Sports, music, dance, and other curricular activities help them get over their boredom and encourage them to relive their earlier days of youth.

People of this generation are fascinated with leaving their own state for work or educational reasons. Each person has different views on sending parents to old age homes. While some may find the idea of old age homes excellent and valuable, others find it resentful. It is hard for them to accept the idea of sending parents to old homes. The same parents who have brought us up, taken care and often compromised their wishes for us should not be sent to some retirement home. They have every right to stay in their own house with the family. Every household must have adult supervision for it to flow smoothly. The older generations might be knowledgeable and more experienced. Still, they often need to catch up in this new era of technology. All they ask is our love, attention and time, which we seldom provide them.

For a working couple sending their parents to the old age home might be a way out, but it shouldn't be done against their will. Often children, out of selfishness and greed, throw their parents out of the house and take away all their property. This is a punishable offence now. The parents can take legal action against them. But if they willingly decide to go to old age homes, then nobody can or should obstruct that. It is a great way to spend the rest of their lives in companionship with similar kinds of people.

 

Old age homes also have their own disadvantages. Sending parents to old homes where proper care is taken might cost a lot. Better the services, the more the expenses. Even if parents decide to go to the retirement home with their own expenses, the children, later on, stop contacting them. This also affects them mentally and physically; even though they are among many people, they cannot stay happy. Staying away from your family and house has a pain of its own. Another dimension one cannot get in an old age home is privacy. Privacy becomes an undeniable issue as many people share the same rooms, food, and other daily needs. One cannot complain about it and have to go by the terms of the old age homes. The atmosphere of such a home is quite impersonal, and one cannot get personal dimensions living here. One doesn't have the freedom to eat or go wherever one wants. They spend the last stage of their lives away from their own house and family, just among strangers.

Coming to conclusion, old age homes cannot be ignored. It is a reality now, and the need for old age homes is growing here. We should take care of the needs of our parents. Still, if we cannot meet their expectations, we should give them liberty and help them choose a better life. No one likes to stay away from their own house and family, but if they are unhappy, we must take care of that. Parents always try to be with us and never leave our hands when we need them. We should not leave them when they need us the most. Even if they are sent to some old age home, we should make it a point to visit them during holidays and festivals. We should not forget that life only improves when you have a family with you.

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