#WorldRockAgainstDementia Event 2018#

#WorldRockAgainstDementia Event 2018#

It just takes one call from my friend, Sailesh Mishra to get me there.  When someone like him tells you to be there, you are there…. and not because you have been told to,  but because you just know in your heart that you have to.  This is exactly what happened for me and not surprised at all that when I landed there, I was handed a event flow and told to get up on stage and host it too.

In 2017, Sailesh Mishra of Silver Innings was appointed Brand Ambassador of India for Purple Angles a global platform for Dementia founded by Norman Mc Namara.  *World Rock Against Dementia* 2018, was organised by Sailesh Mishra and his Silver Innings on March 24, 2018 to create awareness about Dementia - a global program - 85 events simultaneously in 20 countries and in 5 continents. A collaborative event of global organizations started by Purple Angel Ambassador.

Dance and song by Seniors and the band Nuts & Frets rocked the show that evening. What was more heartening for me while hosting the show was that each and every Senior wanted the world to know their AGE.  Not one every wants to tell the world how old one is and here were my peers all wanting me to share their ages on the mike with everyone in the audience each time they performed.…. and why not?  after all they were proving  that AGE IS JUST A NUMBER and that the HEART IS YOUNG FOREVER.

It was indeed a matter of pride to know that Sailesh has been invited by Commonwealth International Forum Conference in UK, to represent India and speak about his cause in April  2018.  He will also talk about India, about family culture in our country because the Western culture is keen to know how we care about our family. He adds , "Let me tell you we are not so bad. We need to protect our family institution and I will be talking about it."

I decided that I had to get him to do a small interview so I pinned him down to do a FB live with me on that event day.  Here is the conversation we had.

Ø  Hira : Sailesh tell us what this event is all about?

Sailesh:  This event is hosted all over the world in 20 countries & 5 continents to create awareness about Dementia through music and dance.  Music and dance helps brain stimulate  and help in Dementia.

Ø  Hira: Sailesh, you are like an angel, I always say that and it is a fact. Tell me something about the causes that you are supporting

Sailesh:   We support the cause of Senior Citizens.. By Senior Citizens I mean those about 60+. Also we work with young people, old people and people with Dementia which a non-curable disease.  What has happened to your family member you can't do anything about it but we can try to prevent it, we can try to stabilize it, we can help the family members and the best thing is let people in the Government know what Dementia and Alziehermers is all about so we can act on it now.

Ø  Hira: I have realised that Sailesh, that you do a lot. You have Silver Innings, A1 Snehanjali that supports the senior citizens  and you have a home in Nalasopara and Rajodi.  Can you please tell me something more about it.

Sailesh : We have one of India's first social enterprise assisted living care home A1 Snehanjali at Nalasopara and Virar where we have a 24x7 dedicated home for Dementia and Alziehmer.  It is a big support and relief for the families of those suffering from Dementia and it is a holistic home. It is not a nursing home, it is not an old age home, it is not an orphanage. It is a home like yours and mine. We only give love and care. That is all they need people.  I think this is what India needs and I don't also think we need to also make our own homes Dementia friendly.

Ø  Hira : Dementia for me was a very scary subject and then I met you, Sailesh.  I also decided to make a film called SELFLESS SOLDIER - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aETnPu2FFXk.   What else do you wish to share.

Sailesh : One more thing. We have a Silver Inning Football Club playing for a cause also for Dementia. Our team is a group topper in Mumbai District Football Association.  This is something I am proud of.  As  for everyone of us out there, I can only say that  love and support your parents because one day you will also grow old.

Ø  Silver Innings FC #SIFC Team qualifies for #MDFA Mumbai District Football Association - MDFA of 2nd Division this year 2017 -2018 and to 1st Division for next year 2018 -2019 in prestigious #MDFA #Football tournament. They are through quarter finals.

Before allowing him to leave, I had to ask him that pertinent question that had me confused for a long time before it  made me come closer to understanding this cause which was:

Ø  Hira :  There is the word Dementia and then there is another word "Alzheimer's". What is the difference between the two and when we talk to our family members or anyone,  they think Dementia and Alzheimer's is the same thing. I also used to think the same until I connected with you, read about it on the internet and started to come to events like these.  Please will you tell us what exactly it is.

Sailesh : Dementia is like an umbrella,  in simple terms if I have to explain, it is like a company that makes different products. Dementia is like that and has many different facets to it like Alzheimer's and other kinds of focused Dementia problems which I don't think one needs to know about except Dementia and Alzheimer's prevail because in our country we have diabetes and heart problems. Dementia is a chronic disorder which affects the brain leading to memory loss, understanding problems, poor cognitive functions and behavioural changes The main problem is forgetting but forgetting is not wrong.

Ø  Hira :  So then please, explain the confusion between old age and Dementia, please.

Sailesh : See, forgetting small things such forgetting to pay a friend, not recognising or remembering people names which sometimes we do intentionally to avoid things. That is normal. Then what is this illness.  It is when you forget everyday routine, such as putting toothpaste on the brush, brushing or gargling, where and when to go to the toilet.  Meal times are forgotten, whether it is morning or afternoon and sometimes if clouds cover the sky a Dementia patient will think it already night or its morning. They will not understand what time of the day it is. With these kind of problems the persons personality changes. Forgetting  little things is okay, but problem comes when you forget people completely, forget to eat, forget name of wife, son, family members-  then it is a problem.  It is then that it never gets cured.

Ø  Hira : How important is a caregiver?

Sailesh : In Dementia and Alzheimer's the caregiver is the most important person. The caregiver is the doctor and the medicine as no other medicine works. Caregiver has the most important role and so who is a caregiver. It is a family member or someone you hire to look after your family member suffering from Dementia who stays 24x7 with them.  Most importantly a caretaker must to take good care of his mental health too.

The evening of dance and music came to an end and I know why Sailesh always advocates and encourages us seniors to continue to dance and sing. Simply  because it stimulates the brain,  relaxes, connects the mind and soul leading to agility, flexibility, balance coordination and as he always says "It is a way to keep your brain and body active and connected. So continue to sing, dance and stay active, then Dementia will never come close to you."

A must read  - “Remember me - You Me and Dementia ”, Book by Sailesh Mishra https://www.amazon.in/dp/9385221051 is a valuable guide in preparing care givers to foresee a new aspect of their life. The people diagnosed with the disease in the early stages will help them understand themselves and plan ones remaining journey of life.  The book is interspersed with real life stories and poems of perseverance and enduring without which, partaking in this journey is not possible.

Connect: silverinnings@gmail.com.  sailesh2000_2000@yahoo.co.uk or Mob:09819819145.

Aging, Not Me!

Aging, Not Me!

“You don't stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.”
― George Bernard Shaw

Who wants to grow old? Someone told me "It's just a number!", and so once I crossed that threshold they call ‘senior citizen” I decided to protest. I began to hate the thought of being called old or senior.  After all for me, it had  always been “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind it doesn’t matter”. Even then, ageing is going to happen whether we like it or not. So is it not better to face it gracefully than fight it.  I decided to live life king size and do all the things I did not have time for during my working and family years, right from learning craft on-line and making gifts for friends, to acting, to voicing, to pestering my actor friends and going to watch shoots, joining a women’s forum and organising workshops. What’s more, I even pushed my  husband to join a singing group even if I regret having to hear him sing loudly at home without a care in the world!  You can too find that one thing that was pushed on the back burner during those years when you were busy raising your family.  I am going to share with you some thoughts that you would have heard a million times, but may not have really registered it into your daily life.

Where do I start? Maybe from the day our children turn adults or maybe from the day we retire or maybe when we become grandparents. That’s when the mind begins to think “hey I am over the hill” and then you begin to feel it too. It’s that time when you are no longer burdened by responsibilities and demanding careers and the children are raised  A lost feeling takes over and then you take that morning walk in the park and look at people your age and ask yourself are they looking older than you or are you looking older? That’s where we go wrong, because it’s that time when actually “time” is yours, to use the way you want. Time comes free for you to use and spend and by the way who was that who said time and tide waits for no man. It will stop for you, if you can learn to use and control it. You get the point don’t you? so why are you putting it off saying "when I get the time?" The time is now and here already.......and “time” is what you have plenty off so make that beginning.  So just get started and don’t waste precious time. Make that wish list of things you had in the back of the head since long and would like to do before you leave this world. It doesn't have to be anything drastic like jumping of a plane or climbing Mount Everest, but if you can do that, well then go for it !!!!! Try just those simple things that you wished you had done earlier. I made new friends and then more friends by the day and as the family of friends grew, so did the activities that I could participate in like workshops, outings and new hobbies.

Do the things you like and of course things that make you happy. You won't be able to do everything like you used to, neither can I, but when I started doing things I loved...... then nothing came in my way - not even my creaking bones.  The more you begin to find new things to do the more engaging your life will become. So simply just fight fatigue of that afternoon long nap which is so common for us just because we feel nothing is waiting. Play word games and recall exercises by yourself, like I do often. Say a word for example, ‘senior’ and then a next word with the last alphabet “r” and so on and you will find yourself enjoying your own company too. I love to check out car numbers and making a total of the numbers just to keep that ticker in the head active. I looked for  shapes in the clouds, observe people, look for objects during a walk and recalling them when back home. You could join a class and learn something new not because you need to make a career of it but  just for fun.  How about sharing that expertise of yours with others?  Ageing does not necessarily need to stop us from learning. After all as someone said “there is a lot of valuable gold from experience that comes with the silver in the hair!” Break the boring routines and the change will make life interesting...... because "if you really want to do something, you will find a way.  If you don't you will find an excuse"~Jim Rohn

Most important of all; you and your spouse need not have to do the same things or share the same interests. After all, no two human’s like the same things anyways. So let loose your spouse to follow his/her interests and encourage each other to do whatever interests him/her and watch the bonding and sharing multiply multi-folds.  I believe that there is still loads to learn and enjoy beyond the certainty of growing old, but it’s up to me how to use that time and manage the later years of my life with grace, dignity and fulfillment.......and because .......