Senior Citizens: Social Catalysts

The “Senior citizens need care, not money” has offered valid arguments making it relevant to the current scenario. The breakage of the traditional joint family system and the migration opportunities made available due to the economic growth have made this article genuinely appreciate the cause of senior citizens. We all agree that technological advancement has made the world a true global village with voices to listen at fingertips. However, the loss of warm body next to each other can never be adequately compensated. Economists will vouch that economic growth does not automatically mean an economic development too. In the same vein, a more economically stronger generation does not default translate into a happy generation in the social perspective.

A little introspection will make us think the way forward and not lament on the breakage of the joint family system or the downside of the economic growth. After all, every change has a downside too. With population control and economic growth becoming the mantra of all nations in the post world war scenario, the baby boomers of the 50’s turned more nuclear with a two child approach. In the process, we unknowingly invited a downside of restricted relationships and loss of a bigger social circle for the subsequent generations. The problem will only get   compounded with a single child approach being adopted by many today. This is not to advocate the banes of population control or economic growth, but help prepare ourselves for the bigger challenges we will have in future.

Dr Spencer Johnson’s ‘Who moved my Cheese’ is an international best seller. Though vastly circulated amongst corporate, it makes a profound impact to personal lives too if understood and practiced well. In a nutshell (with due apologies to Dr Johnson for cutting a story short), the book teaches the importance of adapting self to the changes and not live and lament in a cocoon.

Many social problems arise today due to the incompatibility of the life style changes across generations. While it is easy to blame the younger generation, it is equally important that the seniors take up a more adaptive style to the today’s demanding schedules and lifestyle changes. With more nuclear families, the seniors have to adapt and play an important role while they stay with their children. Physical demands may become more relevant in double income families, while teaching values and spending time together may become more important with grand children being around.

Not contributing economically should not be a cause of guilt for seniors and expectation from the younger generation. This can get adequately compensated by guiding the younger generation from the experiences to teaching moral values and instilling confidence in them to face the future. The youngsters should also appreciate that spending time with seniors and learning from their experiences is more productive in the long run. I firmly believe that social happiness as a barometer will improve if both can spend time together as a family than watching the immoral and ill health serials dished out on the myriad channels in the idiot box. To add here, Walt Disney has no plans for an amusement park in India for the next decade or so as they did a survey to find that Indians spend more time with the idiot box than spend time together as a family and go on outings/breaks. This is more a social loss than a commercial loss for us.

We need to look ahead to solve this complex problem. While economic growth takes priority for the younger generation, they should not forget that having seniors around you always helps morally. The same applies to the seniors too as they need to appreciate and adapt themselves to the change and live life in contributing towards the upliftment of the overall family happiness.

Alvin Toffler made a profound and prophetic statement when he says “The illiterates of the 21st century are not those who cannot read and write. Instead those who cannot learn, unlearn and change themselves’ After all, change is constant and not accepting results in having ‘Home for seniors’ and not ‘seniors in our homes’.