Senior Matters Information Help

                                                                                Picture generated by dream.ai The term ‘Senior Citizen’ is widely used today both in India and internationally. Senior Citizen is often used interchangeably with Senior. However less than 25 years ago when the Government of India came out with a policy for older citizens in 1999, it was termed quite simply as the National Policy for Older Persons. National Policy for Older Persons 1999 – A national policy for older persons was first formulated in the year 1999. The term ‘Senior Citizens’ was not specifically mentioned for defining people over 60 years. Rather in the Section in the Policy on ‘Demographic Trends’ in para 4, it has been stated that the age group 60-69 years are “often referred to as ‘not so old’ or ‘young old’ and those in the age 80 years are in ‘very old’ or ‘older old’ category. It is said in the National Policy (1999)Statement that the “goal of the National Policy is the well-being of o

                                       Photo by Anna Tarazevich   As you approach your fifties you ought to make yourself your Number One Priority. You could stretch it to perhaps 60. But after 60 for sure you need to be your topmost priority .   You may well ask "Priority over what?"   Priority over everybody else … your spouse, your children, your family, extended family, relatives, and friend.   It’s time for your well-being, physical, mental, and financial to be of utmost importance to you.   Time to look out for yourself and after yourself! To become self-focused   Why it is paramount to prioritize yourself?   Primarily because if you are healthy, fit, and independent, you are less trouble to others.   And most importantly it is a positive healthy feeling for you to be independent.   What does prioritizing yourself entail?   Your Health should be your foremost concern– Annual Medical Check-ups, any other routine testing, and medications all need to be taken care of.   I

As Senior Citizens we become increasingly aware of the need for financial security as we age.   For employed seniors, retirement is a watershed moment in its truest sense.   It is the moment from which you are Not going to be receiving a salary at the beginning of every month anymore!!   You are preoccupied with questions:   -         If you are one of the fortunate ones who is going to receive a pension then the query top most on your mind would be - “Will the amount of pension be sufficient for me to live a comfortable life?” -         If you have unmarried children – “Will I be able to perform the marriages on my children well?” -         If a child is keen on studying further – “Can I continue to finance his/her education even during retirement?” -        If you have not bought your own home Or are repaying a Home Loan then the query would be “How can I take care of my home loan and run my home with my pension or savings? Should I pay off the loan with the retirement benefits I w

  Young & Free to Eat Anything at will – When I was young one I ate only for taste. Nothing else mattered. Restraints like Diabetes, Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Obesity and worse were yet unknown. Chocolates, Indian Sweets, Cheese, and Deep fried Puris and Indian snacks like Samosas, Vada, Pakoda were relished and eaten with abandon. A cup of tea with 2 heaped teaspoons of sugar was the norm.   Butter was applied liberally on bread. Ghee the Indian staple was always at arm’s length on the dining table to be poured on hot rice, and applied on rotis, idlis , and dosas. My mother made us omelets with ghee so that we got the goodness of both eggs and ghee!!   Youth..Ahhh a time when Appearance was Top Priority- As I matured into teenage, my diet and eating habits were repurposed! I ate to try and look a little less oily-faced, a little less of a sack and with a little less of a protruding tummy.   I spoke to sisters, cousins, friends, and read up on how I can