Don't let that hand go

To be old and frail,

To be taken in as a dead weight,

To be abandoned by the same people they raised. Such is the reality that most elders nowadays face. They are roaming about instead of living out their days surrounded by their kids and grandchildren they are left in old age homes, far away from the life they once knew.

While a few might laugh after reading this, but just think about it, haven't the number of old age homes increased in the recent years? Where once looking after one’s parents was known as filial piety and was done so in love of their parents, most prefer to send them out of their own homes to an old age home far away where maybe they’ll go visit once in a year. What people don't realize or tend to forget is, that they are people too. They too were once people with dreams, hopes and ambition. But, they put in their all to raise their kids only to be left in an another corner of the world to live out the rest of their days.

In the numerous visits to old age homes I have come to realize a very crucial piece of information. Almost all the people I met there had living children who doing quite well off, but for some reason they were never doing well enough to come see their parents more. These old people just want to see their family, but they are locked away, away from society under the guise of a care home in the hands of strangers to take care off.

Most of the people I met there had just one single wish, ‘To go home’. Where is home? Is it the place they were sent away from? Or is it the place they now live in? No. For them, home is forever the place their loved ones live. They don't want to be a burden, but they don't want to be alone either. As a child when we did all sorts of mischiefs, got into all sorts of trouble or made things inconvenient for our parents, they never complained. They never sent us somewhere so desolate that we are never able to meet them again. They taught us with love, cared with patience and guided us like a beam. Yet, we so easily forget all that and are able to abandon the same people who brought us up so easily?

The reasons to send them away might vary, some might say that they don't want to live in a joint family, some might say that taking care of them is a pain, some might even have other such ridiculous reasons. But what if our own child turns against us? The same child we took as the apple of our eye left us. Abandoned us in a fair or dropped off at some far off place.

Nowadays the cases of people leaving their old parents in large fairs in unknown cities is a growing occurrence. The same children that once clung to their fingers, is now purposely letting their hand go.

I urge you all, please do not abandon our elders like so. Let them enjoy the comforts of life. Let them live. Let them be at peace. The hand that once led you so confidently, unwavering and strong, don't let that hand go.

I would like to end with a quote by Aparna Verma- "Love and respect old people. Cuz, you are aging too"

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