Silver lining in a box

Significant research was done in elder care homes in the UK where it was revealed that residents spent most of their time in isolation and had a total of only two minutes of engagement in a week with others That study also shared that if this is increased to 10 minutes per day adding up to an hour a week it would help in their wellbeingrdquo shares Amrita Patil founder of Echoing Healthy Ageing EHAGroup engagement sessions in prepandemic time with senior citizensTactile is keySince 2013 Patil and her team at this social enterprise have been working closely with Mumbairsquos senior citizens organising cognitive stimulation programmes that specially focus on their mental emotional and social wellbeing These curated therapeutic sessions almost 150 per month for older adults 58 years and above were offered for individuals living with Alzheimerrsquos Parkinsonism dementia mild cognitive impairment and other neurological impairments that are prevalent in old age ldquoBefore the lockdown we held sessions in partnership with Jeeva Centre near Breach Candy at Holy Family Hospital in Bandra and did home visits But the lockdown changed everything Family members began to reach out that their seniors were missing these sessions that the impairment had increased and if there was a way out of the scenariordquoResearch reveals that engaging in a higher number of mentally stimulating activities particularly in late life is associated with a decreased risk of mild cognitive impairmentThe Brain Bridge kit Rs 1200 launched during Diwali contains material curated by a trained psychologist for older adults 58plus and focuses on memory attention language reasoning and planning The box includes cognitive worksheets and games as well as art activities that are handpicked by an art therapist Patil suggests mixing things up for maximum benefit ldquoFor example set Mondays for worksheets Wednesdays for puzzles and end the week with art Set 30 to 60 minutes every alternate day to do the activitiesrdquoAmrita PatilEHA encourages other family members to participate in these activities too If not the senior members should try to team up with a friend over video chat or the phone Their feedback revealed a deep sense of attachment and of being active while working with the kit ldquoWe will launch a monthly subscription series and introduce it in regional languages starting with Marathi Wersquove already received requests from Gurugram Baroda Nashik and Palghar apart from within Mumbai We plan to reach out to corporate houses to support elder care centres with these kits as part of their CSR initiativesrdquo shares PatilEHA has also been training individuals in Palghar Dahanu and Kelwa to use these kits and become caregivers for seniors itrsquos a winwin since it will empower them with jobs and also cater to the increasing need for trained staff in the caregiving sectorAcknowledge addressldquoThe lockdown has been harsh on seniors their vulnerability due to the confinement has led to deterioration in a few monthsrdquo Patil rues While she and her team continued with online sessions for individuals and support groups during the pandemic she reveals that some families have now opened their homes to them because of this sharp nosedive in their mental health needs ldquoBrain exercises have to be as regular as physical exercisesrdquo she addsArvind Madhao ChaudharildquoOften we get calls where families have lost hope after theyrsquove learnt that a senior member is in an advanced stage of dementia or another neurological condition We convince them through videos that it is possible for them to favourably respond to sensory activities For any improvement the family must be part of this journey Such conditions are a normal part of ageing but if guidance is not proper or absent signs are ignored I feel society is not fully open to disclose such diagnosis to their extended families Worse caregivers end up feeling isolatedrdquo she elaboratesBut now things are improving she assures Even doctors suggest solutions and support especially to caregivers who she calls lsquothe championsrsquo in this fight ldquoCare is a triangle that involves senior citizens healthcare professionals and family members When the three work together allround cognitive development of the elderly is possiblerdquo she signs offTest driveWe shared the Brain Bridge activity box medium with Thane resident Arvind Madhao Chaudhari an 82yearold who is a yoga practitioner and likes reading autobiographies and books on spiritualityElements of the kit include puzzles and dollpaintingHerersquos his report cardEase of instructions The language and instructions were easy to follow Because of that I could do it in normal timeKnowledge Nothing in the box was new I play puzzles on my phone I paint but yes painting of dolls was the favourite part of the kit I found the process innovative and entertainingPositives During the lockdown I felt isolated and my mind was filled with worries of the past plus anxiety of the future This kit inspired me brought me excitement It will help others of my age as wellSuggestions The painting objects should be slightly bigger or made with a square or flat surface that is easy to hold The photos for the puzzles should be a bit simpler If photos in the jigsaw puzzle are complicated it will help if the blocks are bigger Question and answerstype puzzles should be avoided at our age we donrsquot want to stress the brain too much A crossword will be a nice additionLog on to echoinghealthyageingcomTo buy the activity box easy medium hard pagesrazorpaycombrainbridge Echoing Healthy Ageing on Instagram Facebook or YouTubeCall 9867832665