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25.7.10

No retirement for these doctors

 Age does not limit their enthusiasm and love for life. They may have officially retired from their jobs, but they are still young at heart and mind. They do not see themselves and their grandchildren as generations apart and consider themselves productive and useful to the society, and also expect the society to take advantage of their experience. On their part, they are willing to learn from the younger generations.

Meet the young brigade of the Centenarians Club from the city who has joined hands to give a dimension to their lives and the lives of everyone around them. These are a group of doctors, all above 65 years of age, who would be formally launching their club on Sunday at a city hotel. Their aim is to bring doctors and senior citizens on a platform to create a new space for themselves.

Doctors from the recently formed Geriatric Society of India (GSI) along with Association of Physicians of India (Vidarbha chapter) are bringing this concept of Centenarians Club to the city. They have aptly chosen 82-year-young Dr Pramil Asolkar, a noted gynaecologist, medical activist and social worker as the first chairperson of the club.

Asolkar derives her inspiration from Kamlatai Hospeth who started institutes like the Matru Sewa Sangh (MSS) in 1921 to render health care to poor and deprived. A medical activist and social worker who has a long association of 42 years with MSS, Asolkar is always on her toes to grab every opportunity to make life lively and useful.

This octogenarian commands respect. Looking no older than 65, this charming and full-of-life lady passionately talks about the need for such a club. Stating that `mental occupation' is the best way to live life, Asolkar is all geared up to take the new challenge of building a healthier bond between people of her age and older, and medical stalwarts like Vikram Marwah, BS Choubey, BJ Subedar and the younger generations.

"Mental occupation keeps you going and gives you an agenda. One should always be physically active and mentally stimulated and be independent. An empty mind brings destruction," she says with a smile that charges everyone around her. Ask Dr Asolkar what she expects from the younger generation, she says her motto in life has always been, "Do what you want to do, but take responsibility and never blame others."

A centenarian is a person who has lived beyond 100 years. But this Centenarians Club is home for anyone above 65. "Our main aim behind the creation of this club is to help individuals beyond 65 years who are retired and are considered unproductive to society. We want them to live fruitful lives and remove the `liability' tag which has been associated with them," says the chairman of the GSI, Dr SM Patil, the brain behind the club.

Life does not stop at any age, and you can always participate and contribute as a productive member to society. He goes on to say that unlike the developed world, in India geriatrics (branch of science dedicated to the health problems of elderly people) is still in its primitive stages. Dr Patil feels that many of us are still ignorant about the health issues which are specific to these populations and like other specialities in health care, it too requires a different approach in care and management.

Although the club is specially created for elderly, younger members are also welcome. This will help create a bond and lessen the gap among the family members, and also educate them on the handling of elderly. With nuclear families on the rise and a drift in interpersonal relationships between different generations, activities in such clubs might help understand each other better.

Dr Sanjay Bajaj, the secretary of the GSI who is dedicated to geriatric health care, looks at the Centenarians Club as a social arm of GSI. He believes that the society requires these senior citizens as much as they require the society.

"People like Asolkar act as stimulators, guides and motivators. We may claim to know the latest in medicine in our fields but there can be no comparison with this senior lot. We can continue to learn from them all our lives. But let us also give something back to them, an opportunity to express and share and create an opportunity for ourselves to get love and affection from them," says Bajaj.
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