Society's perception of an individual shifts as one ages: Meenakshi Menon, Founder GenS
Aging gracefully has become the mantra for several elderly people today. Once seen as a dependent population, older individuals are now choosing to be self-reliant. They are taking care of their physical health, engaging in communities and groups to keep their mental health in check and are on their toes to try age-defying tasks.
While this change is welcoming, what is evident is that the course of lifestyle that seniors used to live earlier has changed and it is for the best.
While this change is welcoming, what is evident is that the course of lifestyle that seniors used to live earlier has changed and it is for the best.
‘Starting late’ which was a common adage a few decades ago, has now changed to ‘Starting at the right time’. Seniority is no more seen as the end, instead with the effort of several individuals the narration around senior citizens has changed.
Meet Meenakshi Menon, the founder of GenS, a tech platform tailored for the actively-aging 60+ population. Meenakshi, who is currently 65, is more than just an entrepreneur. We spoke to her about her passion, her mission and objective in setting GenS and the status of senior citizens in our country from her point of view.
What inspired you to start a community for seniors?
The inspiration to establish a community for individuals over 60 stemmed from my personal experience upon retiring. While I felt no internal shift, I observed a notable change in society's perception of me. Aging has long been associated with various stereotypes and limitations, but in reality, it presents a time of immense freedom and personal growth. Our mission is to challenge traditional notions surrounding those aged 60 and above, redefining this golden era as a period where one is liberated from financial constraints and has the opportunity to revisit passions that may have been set aside earlier in life.
What has been your most memorable part of driving the community?
Talking to the cohort has been an amazing experience. What was humbling was discovering that they understand and share my views and concerns but overriding everything is a feeling of hope and anticipation. I have been speaking to people across all ages and social classes and the dissonance of what society wants us to do versus what we want to be comes through very clearly. I have been amazed at the energy and enthusiasm that people have demonstrated . There are so many seniors who are breaking down the age-old stereotypes and images of what seniors should do, how they should live their lives, and the activities that they should undertake.
Do you think there is a barrier between the young population and the older one?
In my assessment, there exists a significant gap between the younger and older generations, primarily due to misunderstanding. Young individuals, immersed in technology that permeates their work and social lives, may view the older generation through outdated stereotypes, assuming a lack of familiarity with modern technology and trends. Conversely, older adults might feel undervalued or dismissed solely based on their age. While rarely intentional, this misconception creates a considerable disconnect. The resulting ignorance gap can become a substantial barrier between generations as common grounds for communication diminish.
Have you ever felt a lack of welcome and warmth by a young person towards an older person?
The lack of warmth and welcoming attitude is rarely deliberate, but it does exist. Often it is brought on by the older person. Imagine you are meeting your son after a week. There are two ways this interaction can flow. One is where the older person is complaining about things. The other is where the older person is celebrating life. What do you think will be the son’s reaction in these two cases? In the second case the son will be happy to know that his dad is happy. But in the first case, it will be a different story: how can we blame him for being short tempered when he is listening to the same sob story again and again. This happens when seniors don’t have a life of their own and they need to vicariously live through their kids.
Sometimes younger people can unintentionally seem distant or dismissive when interacting with older individuals. This is exactly why we need to equip seniors with the ability to live their lives and be self-sustaining. Then there is much more joy and interaction between the young and the old.
What are the societal expectations and prejudices senior citizens face the most?
The most pervasive assumption is the belief that aging inevitably leads to physical and mental decline, overshadowing the reality that many older adults lead vibrant, healthy lives. This is closely followed by the perception that older individuals are less adaptable to technology. Stereotypes of frailty further reinforce the belief that seniors are dependent and vulnerable, requiring constant support and surveillance. This often leads to their exclusion from decision-making processes or meaningful activities, even when they are fully capable. Moreover, the rejection of opportunities based solely on an individual's age is fundamentally misguided.
Which places in the world have the best facilities for seniors? Does India have a robust strategy in place for senior care?
Countries such as Japan, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and New Zealand are renowned for offering superior facilities for seniors, featuring comprehensive healthcare systems, robust pension programs, and engaging community initiatives. Japan, in particular, has implemented innovative eldercare solutions, including robotic assistance and dementia-friendly urban planning.
As one of the world's fastest-growing economies, India has made strides in developing a more comprehensive strategy for senior care. While progress has been made through initiatives like the National Policy for Older Persons (NPOP) and the Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP), much of the senior care in India still relies heavily on informal, family-based systems. Metropolitan areas are witnessing a rise in senior living communities, assisted living facilities, and improved healthcare options. However, in rural areas, the process of building a cohesive ecosystem for senior care is still ongoing.
While we are seeing an explosion in assisted living facilities and senior care homes this is too little to address the needs of the population of seniors and often unaffordable. Then again there is still some stigma attached to being in an old age facility of a care home. The sector needs to come together to destroy this myth.
What can be done to improve senior care in India?
To enhance technology accessibility for older adults and foster their personal development and social inclusion, it's crucial to develop user-friendly online platforms tailored to their needs. These could include social community circles for interaction, entertainment hubs to engage their interests, and even dating apps to promote companionship and emotional well-being. Such platforms can help bridge the digital divide and ensure the silver generation stays connected, engaged, and independent. Tech can play a huge role in ensuring access to solutions. We need to use the lever of technology to deliver solutions to the underserved senior community as well as the well-to-do.
From restaurants and theaters to schools to colleges to office campuses, we need to awaken the realization that spaces must be multi-purpose and used to their maximum capacity. A room in a school after school hours can be a great meeting place for all the seniors who live in the vicinity. Once a week a gathering of seniors can be transformative. The numbers of the elderly are going to rise.
You are a sea diver! Tell us how you started and what are your fond memories of it?
I certified at the ripe old age of 52.
It was something I had been keen on doing, since the age of 25 when I made my first trip to the Maldives on work and fell in love with the waters of the Island Nation. I was ready to dive, ready for scuba, desperate to experience the wonders of the underwater world of which I could catch glimpses from the surface. It took me 2.5 decades before I could go diving. It was one of those dreams that I knew would come true one day.
That itself was a big learning for me. Wanting something and being able to wait for it became the motive that would guide my steps. The ability to work towards your dream is there in each and everyone of us. We are always encouraged to work towards an economic dream. A big house, a bigger Car, a flashier lifestyle, it is always the external extravagance that is seen and encouraged.
What about the internal desires? What about the passions that we had when we were young? Can we rekindle them? Can we find in ourself the strength to say I want this, not for anyone else but for me, for me to enjoy to savour. I love walking and so last year I went walking in Scotland on the West Midland way a beautiful rugged walk across the Scottish moors and lakes. A time to rekindle your love affair with your muscles where each evening after 20/25 kms of walking they would shout out and say pay attention to us ;) That experience made me want more. More for myself, more for my cohort, more joy, more laughter, more life.
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