The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A place to unwind for senior citizens

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 05, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A place to unwind for senior citizens

Staff reporter

They meet every month, share stories of their experiences and have fun

CHENNAI: They maybe in the twilight of their lives, but their smiles were as bright as the mid-day sun.

Senior citizens meet every month on the Dignity Foundation premises, share stories of their experiences or mundane day-to-day happenings, play games, reflect on the speeches of a knowledgeable stranger and then go back to their routine life.

Social worker of Dignity Foundation, Mary Rose Thomas, who runs around trying to get the room just right for the guests, said that the most important part of the meeting was to let the senior citizens know that they are not alone and to make them feel comfortable to have a good time. “We have an average of 30 people at every meeting.” On Thursday, the senior citizens listened to a talk on meditation, following which the group chatted over coffee and snacks.

It was then time for a game of Lotto. With quiet excitement they waited for the numbers to be called out and congratulated the winners as they stood up with warms rounds of applause.

An 81-year-old lady, was the only one who came from a senior citizens’ home. “I come here every month. I’m a life member of the Dignity Foundation. People make friends with me fast when they find out I live in an old age home. It is nice to get to know new people and meet friends. We share each other’s stories and have a good time playing games and chatting,” she said.

Seventy-six-year-old John Ponniah is new to the group. He comes here to be with others of his age.

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