Caring for our seniors

PAWAN LUTHRA

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Ashish Chawla 0468 389 272

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT

Nitika Sondhi 02 9279 2004

DESIGN

Danielle Cairis

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Afriend recently recounted to me his shock and horror when shopping for his car insurance. Because the friend was now 50, he was offered a senior citizen’s discount by the insurance company salesperson. But much to the surprise of the salesperson, he decided not to take the discount. The friend was just not ready to have the words ‘senior citizen’ stamped all over his insurance.

While growing old is a reality that one must accept, Australia offers wonderful options for those who are ageing. Indians living in Australia are now spread across a number of age groups. And while those who have recently migrated here in the past 10-15 years may have elderly parents living in India, there is another group of Indian Australians who have been living down under for a number of years. These Australian Indians have the benefit of being able to make the most of a robust and fulfilling lifestyle. This is a group of retired individuals, who with careful planning and sound savings ethics, have slowly built their retirement nest eggs. They have the advantages of a robust social system, which if required can help them with medical and financial assistance. Over the years, they have built up a strong circle of friends, and while facing the challenges of settling into a new country, strong friendships have been forged. With more time in their later years, they can put even more time into strengthening these relationships.

These Indian Australians may also have the advantage of having had children that have grown up in Australia. And with this second generation, they may have greater contact with the next generation, as compared to what they had with their own parents.

Senior citizens are well catered for in Australia. Although there are clubs in the mainstream community, Indian Australians have established their own senior events in various parts of Sydney, which allow them to meet and interact on a regular basis. These clubs are well organised, and are a credit to the community for what they offer. With regular picnics, musical programmes and other forms of entertainment, these senior get-togethers complement other religious outlets. These give our seniors a much richer lifestyle. Outside the community, there are also RSL clubs, with bingo nights and other forms of entertainment, which keep our eniors involved.

However, there are no easy solutions to assuage feelings of guilt, which migrants in Australia have for their parents still in India. Since the 1990s, many young Indians have come to Australia, initially either on short-term visas, or as students, and due to shortages in the local economy, they have became permanent residents of Australia. While they have forged greener pastures for themselves, they often have pangs of guilt for leaving their parents behind. Yearly visits to India, or having their parents visit Australia help them to keep in contact. This is further strengthened by other communication, including phone calls, Skype, emails and social media.

But the feeling of ‘orphaning’ their parents stays on with them. Perhaps, they need to reconcile their guilt at having abandoned their parents, with the comforting knowledge that their parents have, in turn, settled into their own lifestyle. The parents are able to lead a productive and complete life for themselves, as well as having the support of family and friends. In life, the challenge is to make the most of what you have, and our senior citizens have mastered the art of that, regardless of the country they are based in.