NRI cell along with Department of student welfare conducted Old age home visit and health
camp on 31-01-2024 at Ramana Maharshi old age home at KGF. Mr.Chandan, Member NRI
cell of Final Year MBBS student organized this event. The aim of the visit was to understand
the functioning of Old age home and difficulties faced by old age people in their twilight
phase of life. Old age home is an wonderful opportunity to make a meaningful difference in
the lives of the elderly and create a more compassionate and inclusive society.

Around 30 students participated in this event. The event started with the small prayer by Ms.
Varsha attender at old age home. This was followed by health talk by Dr.Vivek Jayan, Senior
Resident, Department of Community Medicine, SDUMC, SDUAHER, Kolar. He explained
on how to combat social isolation at this age. Making new friends and being kind to everyone
will add new spirits to their life. He also said to be emotionally calm during various stressful
phases and also to share each other experience so that it can act as a powerful group therapy
session .He concluded his talk saying all together can beat this myth of old age is sin and
change it into old age is happy age.

This was followed by next talk by Dr.Hana Saiba, Post graduate in Community Medicine and
student council member, department of Student welfare. She spoke on how to beat depression
in this age by being active. She said that engaging in conversations, playing games, or
participating in group activities. She said mental stimulation is crucial for cognitive health
which usually declines in this age. By maintaining good mental health she said elderly overall
well-being can be improved. She explained to students that by providing opportunities for
mental engagement, the doctors should contribute to elderly mental and emotional vitality
and not just merely treat the non-communicable disease like Hypertension and Diabetes. She
said that old age should be home for joy and happiness and not sadness.

This was followed by student engagement with old age home residents. Student engaged in
conversations with the elderly men and women. It was a learning experience of different
phases of life. Each elderly person had a unique story to share, filled with tales of love, loss,
triumphs, and hardships which was evident from their talk. Their narratives about life
transported students into a different era, where life seemed simpler without internet, social
media yet filled with challenges of its own. They said that today they see students committing
suicide even for trivial things in life. Students understood that these elderly people memories
were living testimonials to the resilience of the human spirit, reminding students of the
strength that lies within them making this a visit to an old age home life changing experience.

In summary, a visit to an old age home holds made students realize numerous advantages
they could encounter. Students understood during old age combating social isolation is bigger
problem just like Non communicable diseases. Additional efforts must be put for providing
emotional support, promoting mental stimulation by extensive Psychiatric counsellor. The
visit ended with provided fruits and biscuits to the old age home residents.