A unique venture to put smiles on the face of senior citizens of the city has been opened at 68, Royapettah High Road near Swagath Hotel. The Ground Floor lounge boasts of air conditioned comfort, colourful ambience, respectful assistants and connectivity to the four corners of the metropolis. Once inside, the seniors can relax and rejoice with board games, TV, music, magazines and books. There are six tables to play cards, carom, chess etc. Wow, there is even an enclave to slouch or sleep. The promoters plan to have physio, weekly lectures and planned outings to places of religious/tourist interest. Most of all the facility enables self cooking which will be cost effective, cater to individual taste or promote cooperative cooking!!
On being queried as to what sparked the setting up facility, Mr. Narasimhan mentioned, even in the most comfortable homes the elders feel lonely and long for friendly company with human touch, real voice and plenty of laughter. How long can the serial on the TV hold interest? For how long can they be caged birds? Narasimhan mentioned the President of the Humour Club is with SHEL. Dr Balambal who has traveled the world with Indian Board Games is with the lounge. Eminent personalities of the city such as Nalli, Dr.Hande, Justice Jagdeesan are actively associated. The location abounds with eateries, medical shops, nursing homes hospital, police station, ambulance etc; for any eventuality. To top it all it is on the ground floor and no stairs to climb..
NRI children can enroll their parents and feel the satisfied smile of their parents time zones away. Even the local sons / daughters could leave their parents in the morning and collect them in the evening. The boys at SHEL would escort the elderly for doctor / labs, if need be and the ward can feel reassured. Narasimhan said “Such Lounges will absorb many a shock of the modern nucleus family” If sons and daughters enroll their parents they are helping themselves. Their parents will return home in the evening, motivated and cheerful.
On the International Senior Citizen Day 01 Oct Governor of Tamil Nadu dedicated this facility to the senior citizens of the city. He was happy to note that this facility is Not For Profit facility and there is No Entrance Fee as in many other city clubs. There is flexible membership fee structure ( Rs 200 a day, Rs 1200 a week and Rs 2500 a month) to suit every pocket and circumstance. He noted the second childhood of seniors would be better served lessening family frictions, disappointments and anger.
