Priya cannot remember a time when her mother was not busy. Apart from her work, there were always social engagements to attend, friends to visit or new books to read. But something changed after retirement.
“She seemed to lose some of her sparkle. She became a little inward and moody at times, as though an inertia had taken over. Her outings became less frequent. She no longer went shopping, as everything could be home-delivered. The fact that my father preferred to stay at home further reduced her opportunities to socialise. This transition from a busy, active person to a listless and diffident individual was quite shocking and sad,” she says.
When she opened up to her friends about this, Priya discovered that they had similar stories to share. Parents who had once led full, active lives were now confined to the quiet routines of home. They had not lost their zest for life, but age had caught up with them, sapping their energy and enthusiasm to get out and about.
“Then it struck us that, in a few years, this could be our lives too. Why should we allow the years to steal all the colours from our lives?” says Dimple Mohan, who runs a consultancy service in the city.
Five women
And so, Young at Heart (YaH) was born — a dream that took wings when five women entrepreneurs and working professionals in Thiruvananthapuram came together to explore how they could help their parents rediscover the joy of living and embrace ageing with enthusiasm.
Envisioned as a platform for senior citizens and those in their 50s, YaH hopes to bring people together to rediscover life’s little pleasures — new friendships, new learning experiences, evenings out, and a little fun and frolic. Growing older, the founders believe, should never mean compromising on emotional happiness and mental well-being.
“We all have successful careers, active social lives and wide networks of friends. But living with our parents, we have seen how their personalities and attitudes towards life change as they grow older, even when they are financially secure and have no major worries,” says Ms. Mohan, who is one of YaH’s founder.
“It made us think that, regardless of age, we should be able to embrace life with gusto and live it to the fullest in the company of good friends. YaH is an initiative to help senior citizens and people in their 50s connect, forge friendships, share interests and build a community that helps everyone lead more fulfilling lives. Many have the money and time, but are hesitant to venture out on their own,” she adds
On October 16
A formal launch event of YaH, featuring music and entertainment, is planned in the capital on October 16. The event will also offer participants an opportunity to meet and get to know one another.
YaH plans to organise regular entertainment and recreational activities, while creating opportunities for like-minded people to discover, share and nurture their talents. Events will be tailored to the interests, hobbies and leisure preferences of those who have registered with the initiative.
The group has also identified areas such as diet and nutrition, physical fitness, digital literacy and financial planning as important components of healthy, active ageing.
“We had several women register with us and we asked them what has been on their bucket list. One wants to learn to speak English fluently so she can converse with her grandchildren abroad. Another has always wanted to design dresses, while someone else simply wants to travel — something she could never manage while working. We hope to facilitate the fulfilment of some of these dreams,” says actor Manju Pillai, who is spearheading the initiative along with Devi Mohan, Sankari Unnithan and Maya Menon.
Younger volunteers
In time, YaH hopes to involve younger volunteers, building bridges between generations. They could take senior citizens to the beach or the movies, or simply spend an afternoon playing chess.
As age-related frailties set in, many older people find themselves increasingly disconnected from the world around them. The resulting isolation can take a toll on their emotional health and leave them vulnerable to depression.
Young at Heart hopes to address this often-overlooked need for socialisation and companionship first and help them embrace life, wholeheartedly.