________________
JAINA CONVENTION 2011
"Live and Help Live
The Longevity Revolution - A Blessing or a Curse
Harikrishna Majmundar
Harikrishna Majmundar, (92) who has worked tirelessly for his senior fellow Indian Americans for nearly 25 years.. The author of two books, including "Mapping the Maze: A Guide to Welfare for Elderly Immigrants," and numerous newspaper columns, and a frequent voice on South Asian radio and television in the United States, Majmundar has made the focus of his life to help elderly immigrants. 450 Melville Av, Palo Alto, CA 94301 haripremi@hotmail.com 650-325-2760
Old age is not for the faint hearted. Aging demands courage. The elders have to look helplessly to the disintegration of their own body, the gradual loss of sight, the hearing faculty, strength and speed, as well as loss of short term memory. This requires great patience and forbearance. They have also to watch ruefully the loss of all these in their dear and near ones. It requires devotion and care besides patience and tolerance.
unhappy marriages of the past. Kept intact for one or the other reasons, they come to the surface when they reach a retirement age. This results into great grief to themselves and their children. The elders can not easily adjust to these changes.
Many elders were once the center of their work and home. The realization that they are now only an insignificant part in Society and at home is difficult to bear. Earlier the abuse by them of their power was tolerated. Now they are snubbed if they misbehave. As other sources of strength diminish, self focused elders find it difficult to reach to others. They are therefore alienated and self preservation becomes more important than any other aspect of life.
Unfortunately the image of older people is often determined by just one characteristic, whether mental or physical. One trait may define or determine the entire ability of a person. Forgetfulness or an occasional imbalance may lead the young man to think of the elderly as frail demented lonely or needy. Due to hard financial times the young people who have no elders to worry about may feel that the cost, the society and the state pay for the elderly is a waste and some may even consider the elderly responsible for their ills.
The longevity revolution coupled with medical revolution indicate that people may live upto 120 years. It may happen as Dr Bortz says "we live too short and die too long". The elderly has to take care that this may not happen.
Power once attained through work or at home, threatens self image. When lost, it is quite common for them to express rage to those around them. Besides, there is ample idle time to brood over past mistakes which may be unavoidable at that time, but look unnecessary now. There is a great danger of reactions to
We may have to take into consideration all the essentials of a long life lived happily and purposefully. The first one is a positive attitude in life. The life has a meaning and only if we find it we can live purposefully. Dr Ruth Garrett in her book
121
