Why you are wrong about elderly care | Prajakta Wadhavkar | TEDxVITPune
Brajaka Vhavkar, a social entrepreneur, argues that elder care homes are an essential, modern necessity because rising populations and migration have increased demand, requiring a shift in perception away from taboo to holistic, dignified care. He illustrates this by describing how a high-achieving, independent elderly lady was engaged through origami, demonstrating that meaningful purpose and structured activity greatly enhance mental health and vitality. He concludes by advocating that elder care must be treated as a social responsibility integrating modern technology, cultural respect, and three generations. ## Speakers & Context - **Brajaka Vhavkar** — social entrepreneur who established elder care community homes across Pune and Maharashtra. - The context is the changing social landscape, characterized by increased life expectancy, migration of Indian families abroad, and the resulting isolation of the elderly. - The core challenge identified is the societal perception surrounding old age homes, often marked by fear and guilt. ## Theses & Positions - Elder care homes are necessary due to the alarmingly high, growing ratio of elderly population and increasing life expectancy. - Socialization is a basic human need, which Vhavkar aims to fulfill in community settings. - The primary societal barrier is the taboo surrounding the term *"old age home"* or *rudashram*, which must be changed. - A quality life exists beyond retirement, achievable through careful planning and purpose. - Elder care must be approached holistically, covering physical, mental, emotional, and social needs. - Elder care homes are as essential as schools, universities, and hospitals in modern society. ## Concepts & Definitions - **Vanaprastasham:** Ancient Indian cultural concept concerning the fulfillment of responsibilities by middle age and the subsequent path of self-exploration. - **Valhashram:** Ancient concept of an old age home, which Vhavkar sought to modernize. - **Holistic approach to elder care:** Must address physical monitoring, medical care, emotional needs, and social engagement simultaneously. - **Palliative care:** Specialized end-of-life care for terminally ill individuals, focusing on quality of life, pain management, and symptomatic relief rather than aggressive treatment. - **Screen addiction:** A rising issue among the elderly due to loneliness and other factors, requiring rehabilitation programs. ## Mechanisms & Processes - **Ecosystem creation:** Integrating three generations—colleges, schools, and corporates—to educate each other and run skill development programs with the elderly. - **Therapy development:** Developing specialized therapies for memory enhancement and skill development, which involves brain stimulation. - **Skill transfer:** Providing aging, fit people with a meaningful purpose by enhancing their skills or continuing their previous lines of work. - **Team stress management:** Finding small joys in daily work, such as an ailing person completing a full meal or showing a momentary recognition of a family member. ## Timeline & Sequence - The practice started from "one resident" and has grown to caring for over 900 elderly residents. - Modern development of specialized care homes came after the realization that routine care was insufficient for certain needs. - Professional input was sought from neurologists and psychiatrists after identifying resident changes suggestive of cognitive impairment. ## Named Entities - **Pune and Maharashtra** — Geographical areas where Vhavkar has established elder care community homes. - **Indian ancient culture** — Source for drawing inspiration for modern care models (referencing *Vanaprastasham*). ## Numbers & Data - Number of residents currently cared for: **over 900**. - Number of Indians migrating to different countries: **30 lakh** (3 million). ## Examples & Cases - **The initial case:** A high-achieving, chief scientist who voluntarily approached Vhavkar after losing her husband; she chose to live at the facility rather than with daughters abroad. - **The origami intervention:** Giving the scientist a challenging activity (origami)—which requires calculation, hand-eye coordination, and a creative mind—led to her better physical and mental health, and now teaches the new generation. - **The cognitive impairment challenge:** The need for a segregated, focused care home when residents exhibited changes like memory issues or loss of balance. - **The emotional/family hurdle:** The initial difficulty lies in gaining the family's acceptance that a parent is suffering from a psychological or neurological disorder. ## Tools, Tech & Products - **Community care home model:** The core physical structure providing secured environment, medical care, and food. - **Memory enhancement/Skill development therapies:** The specialized interventions used for cognitive decline. - **Research:** Contribution to global research surrounding dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. ## References Cited - **Vanaprastasham:** Ancient concept of responsible transition in life. - **Valhashram:** Ancient concept of an old age home. ## Trade-offs & Alternatives - **Individual Needs vs. Community Need:** Moving beyond basic provision (secure environment, good food) to addressing the individual's need for purpose and meaningful activity. - **Aggressive Treatment vs. Palliative Care:** The choice for terminally ill patients to forego aggressive treatment for peaceful quality of life. - **Professional vs. Passion:** Vhavkar states that "The line between passion and profession actually never existed for me." ## Counterarguments & Caveats - **Societal Taboo:** The persistent cultural barrier and guilt associated with institutionalizing elderly parents remain a major hurdle. - **High Stress Levels:** The stress involved in caregiving, especially with progressive neurological/psychological disorders, is higher than in other professions. ## Conclusions & Recommendations - Elder care is a social responsibility that must be afforded with respect and dignity. - Young generations are encouraged to contribute to the elder care sector. - Decision-making for elders must be based on a rational understanding of their individual needs rather than societal pressure. ## Implications & Consequences - The failure to recognize and provide specialized care for neurological/psychological disorders leads to declining health and inability to function safely at home. - Successful elder care models (like the one described) can reverse decline by integrating purpose and community interaction, benefitting multiple generations. ## Verbatim Moments - *"I could feel the need of elder care homes and organized sector for it because of the growing ratio of elderly population is alarmingly high."* - *"The challenge is just as high... Fear of abandonment or a sense of uh being looked down upon when your family doesn't care for you is how oldage homes are looked upon."* - *"From fulfillment of responsibilities by middle age and then on the path of self exploration in ancient culture the uh concept of old age home as in Valhashram actually existed."* - *"For healthy fit people even after the age of 65 they can be as well as as much productive for the society."* - *"I introduced her to origami."* - *"I could actually categorize elder care into three main categories that I'm working in."* - *"The line between passion and profession actually never existed for me."* - *"Elder care homes are as essential as schools, universities and hospitals in our society."* - *"Journey of aging is based on emotions, compassion and trust."*