The Adhata Trust, a Mumbai-based non-governmental organisation focused on the psychosocial welfare of senior citizens, opened its 10th community centre at Bandra on Tuesday.
Located at Arya Vidya Mandir School, the community centre aims to reach out to senior citizens in the area with a vision to improve the quality of their lives via interactive, community-driven initiatives. Adhata’s other community centres in Mumbai are at Sion, Andheri, Matunga, Saki Naka, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) at Deonar, Nerul, Thane and Ghatkopar. There are also plans to open a residential complex in Panvel, a geriatric hospital and a daycare centre.
Arun Nanda, managing trustee, Adhata Trust, said it was started in 2012 to bring senior citizens to form a community of their own. “The biggest problem the elderly face is not knowing what to do with their time. When you are not active, you age faster. Most health issues they face are due to lack of activity. We wanted them to come out of their homes, be with like-minded people and work on their mental and physical health,” he said.
Mr. Nanda said there were therapies that TISS had designed for active ageing. “We have also installed computers in the homes of the less privileged and taught them how to use them. They can now do their own banking transactions or talk to their kids abroad,” he said. About the Bandra centre, Mr. Nanda said, “We intentionally opened our centres in schools and colleges so that we could encourage intergenerational bonds and bridge the gap between the elderly and the youth. The children bring a lot of positivity.”
The inaugural event at Bandra witnessed dance and theatre performances by Adhata members from its Sion and TISS centres, with the audience comprising senior citizens from multiple Adhata centres.
“We are a family and a support system in its own way. The members have created deep bonds and encourage and uplift each other,” Clara D’souza, CEO of Adhata, said.
At Adhata, senior citizens participate in art-based therapy, awareness sessions on issues such as gender equality and healthy ageing, excursions, Friendship Day celebrations at their centres with children to create intergenerational bonding, and fitness sessions.
