Does old age have to mean a life of light food, loneliness and physiotherapy? Instead of being our ‘twilight’ years, can it not be just another phase of life (albeit one with less hair and wobbly knees)? A dementia village in Netherlands, The Hogeweyk, found that when seniors are encouraged to have an active lifestyle—going to shops, watching movies, cooking and dancing with friends—their health improved significantly. As caregivers, the idea of letting our parents or grandparents go about town can be frightening (what if they fall?). So how do we support active ageing while ensuring safety?

In this episode, Rajit Mehta, MD and CEO of Antara Senior Care, shares his own personal experiences with caring for elderly parents and how he and his family have ensured their wellbeing. The former CEO of Max Healthcare and a founding member of Max Life Insurance, he has experienced the unique physical and emotional needs of seniors in a variety of different situations. This is a discussion that is heartwarming and informative, leaving you with the wisdom needed to be an empathetic caregiver to anyone post-60. For someone who has already reached post-work life (and is wondering what to do when Google says 'no appointments scheduled'), this episode can offer a fresh perspective on finding companionship in new places with new people (are those happy smiley people in wheelchairs playing tambola at a senior care home real?).

Tune in to hear if India is ready to be elder-friendly, stories of seniors who still enjoy a bucket of cold mangoes every summer and discover if someone who has given multiple talks on ageing is keen on growing old himself.

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Mixed by Kapil Dev Singh