I am happy to share with you that this month Samvedna Senior Care, has completed four years!!! Thank you all for your wishes.I started Samvedna with the idea of creating a go-to place for senior citizens to spend quality time and engage themselves constructively during the day.
The idea was seeded into my mind probably in 2009, when I was looking for some meaningful community projects as a part of a self-development program I was doing. However, it remained an idea for some more time as I remained busy working my way up the corporate life. In 2011 on a sabbatical from work, I began to research more and more about senior citizen services and facilities and what the elderly needs were.
All these years I also saw many of my friends living overseas making frequent trips back to India to check on their parents. Most of them lived with mild anxiety and some amount of guilt, having to leave their parents back in India. More often than not their parents were seeking emotional support and companionship to ward off loneliness. I feel loneliness gets aggravated by the aches and pains and age related illnesses, or many a times I wonder if it is the other way around? Sometimes one forgets about his/her illnesses if they are happy and there is someone around to give one a patient and empathetic listening.
A personal experience of utmost apathy, stereo type behaviors and insensitivity towards my father while recuperating after a hip surgery probably sealed my destiny to work with elderly and do something about their feelings and requirements.
In my mind I was clear that I had to work for people like my parents, living in urban areas, well-educated and informed. Not wanting to lose their independence, friends and neighbors, they often put up a brave front and are too hesitant to seek professional support.
At the core of Samvedna Senior Care’s philosophy, we believe that we should let senior citizens live wherever they want to, by providing them a support system which would enable them to live engaged, fulfilling and happy lives in their homes.
Samvedna means empathy, and for me it is the core value we strive to live by while working with seniors. Yes it requires a lot of patience! Even though we run it as a service business and help the elderly, the real value is in the emotional support provided by our counselors to the extended family. Often the children are keen to send their parents to our senior centre or signup for home visits, but the elderly is not comfortable. It takes time for the elderly to accept they could do with some help. We never push the family to sign up for the service unless they are mentally ready to accept professional help.
The past four years have been extremely rewarding for me both professionally and personally. We are proud of bringing professionalism in the elder care sector by providing support for companionship, emotional well-being and more serious geriatric ailments like Dementia and other age relate disorders. All our staff are post graduates in psychology or social work, excited and eager to work with elderly.
Personally it gives me a high when I see home makers, professionals, teachers, bankers all under one roof making the effort to learn something new whether it is technology, bridge, art, music, dance or a new language. Their commitment inspires me to live life to the fullest. Many of them are now close friends and some are role models! Their countless blessings and love is deeply cherished and keeps me motivated all the time.
Our vision for Samvedna Senior Care is to reach out to as many senior citizens as possible in India through our senior centers and home services.
Written by Ms Archana Sharma, Founder Samvedna Senior Care.
We at Samvedna Senior Care aim to help seniors live happy, active and independent lives, in the comfort of their home and community through interactive caregiving.
Samvedna Senior Care was established in October 2013 with two complementary goals – firstly to provide quality home care services to seniors with limited mobility or dementia and hence social interaction, and secondly to facilitate stimulating community interaction and participation.
Our Dementia Care services are:
At-home services –
Dementia intervention activities by trained Care Specialists (already mentioned above). These services are available in Delhi NCR
More – http://www.samvednacare.com/
Please call us for more info – Delhi NCR – 98184 21446, 124 4229659
Dementia Support Group –
Our Dementia Support group in Delhi NCR and Guwahati is a platform for caregivers to share feelings and support each other.
More – http://www.samvednacare.org/our-work/dementia-care
Please call us for more info – Delhi NCR – 98184 21446, 124 4229659 | Guwahati – 9864015872
Cognitive Wellness Programme, Sector 57 Gurgaon –
Samvedna’s Cognitive Wellness Programme is designed for seniors with mild cognitive impairment, early dementia or Parkinson’s, and elderly lacking in enthusiasm and motivation. The aim is to stimulate the mind of the elderly to slow the progression of the disease or impairment. The sessions are 3 days a week, 11AM-1PM.
More – http://www.samvednacare.org/our-work/cognitive-wellness-programme
General Wellbeing:
With our General Well Being Services we aim to raise the quality of life of seniors, specially those who may have limited mobility and social interaction due to various constraints. Our interactive programme keeps them active and engaged through physical, mental and social activities, all in the comfort of their home.
More – http://samvednacare.com/general-wellbeing
Great Times Club:
Great Times Club, which is a part of the Samvedna Senior Care Foundation, is our social and recreational club in Sector 57, Gurgaon, for members 55 years and above.Its a place where members come to get fit, meet like minded people and share their life experiences and give back to the community.
Activities at the club include fitness exercises, group meditation, mind stimulation, tambola, dancing, book reviews, movies, community outreach, and talks on health management. The club has a library, computer room, visits by physiotherapists and doctors, access to board games and cards, a fully functional pantry with healthy and affordable snacks and tea and coffee on the house.
There are special discounts for group memberships. The club is open Monday-Friday, 11am to 2pm.There are special classes for yoga, smart phones, computers, spoken english, dance, music and painting. Call Great Times Club at 9818421446, 0124-4229659.
Know more here – Great Times Club