In search of their happy place

The late SP ‘Speedy’ Dutt with his Meccano collection

Starting a chain of peace... find your happy place in these anxious times when feeling overwhelmed…my dad's was with Meccano.'

Bahar Dutt, environment journalist and author had tweeted this barely a week after she lost her father SP ‘Speedy' Dutt to Covid-19 last month. At so many levels that plea made complete sense, especially when it comes to the elderly around us. I had the good fortune to be privy to this passion of his - making Meccano sets - after she had posted about it almost a year ago. My curiosity reached a point where I felt it ought to be written about, purely from an inspirational viewpoint.

Of course, she had warned me that he was shy about being interviewed for a publication. But lo and behold, as soon as we got talking about these sets, Mr Dutt became a different person. Not only did he patiently answer all my queries, he also double checked via email if I was satisfied with his replies, and added additional reading links if I needed backgrounders for some of the technical terms and associations that he had mentioned in our chat. Such was his childlike enthusiasm for a hobby that kept him busy during those days of isolation. He thrived on this hobby throughout 2020, as I learnt; adding more miniature models to his already massive collection. "It keeps him in good spirits," Bahar would say, each time I would enquire about him. It was awe-inspiring to see this octogenarian find his zone, revel in it and also share his joy with his family, against the backdrop of a world that was going crazy thanks to a wretched, unforgiving virus that would tragically snatch him, eventually. Sigh.

Around Christmastime, as I was trying to figure an engaging gift for my father who's been living with Parkinsonism for over six years, and is now in an elder care centre, I stumbled upon an activity kit by Echoing Healthy Living (EHA), a Santacruz=based social enterprise that offers cognitive stimulation programmes designed for the mental, emotional, and social well-being of older adults. A phone call later, I learnt that the nearly decade-old organisation has been doing some stellar work for the 58-plus age group, especially those who need engagement and social interaction in their autumn years. While in-person group and individual sessions kept them in good spirits in the pre-pandemic years, the lockdown brought things to a halt. The activity kit that EHA designed drawing research from experts in the field was created after many families of these seniors had reached out to them from a place of concern; they noticed steady deterioration in their cognitive behaviour ever since the physical sessions were discontinued. The kit ensured that the family bonded with their older members as they attempted these activities, be it worksheets, puzzles or art work. The kit has brought many hours of happiness to my father, who enjoys the art section; a pleasant discovery for me and his attendants at the home.

Seniors became a vulnerable, isolated lot in our urban milieus during the lockdown, as children and adults went about their daily routines of e-classroom sessions and office schedules. Limited or no access to their friends in a physical setup didn't help and so watching the television or burying themselves in newspapers and WhatsApp chat groups is what would have unfurled in many city homes. But here is where we have collectively missed the bus. Rekindling a long-forgotten hobby or passion might be the much-needed balm for suck folk to keep their spirits in a good place.

With doom scrolling on an all-time high and depressing news a daily talking point, the last thing this population needs is more exposure to it. A pastime or a pursuit can go a long way in transporting them into a happy space, where they feel inspired, excited, and connected, whether it means cracking the crossword, listening to a golden oldie playlist of their favourite artistes or a round of Scrabble or chess with a family member.

It's never too late. Chat them up about a cherished hobby or once-loved pastime; figure if there's something that you can do to help nurture it, and be invested enough to see it through its fruition because you might just be able to watch the transformation in front of your eyes in this extended WFH scenario. And yes, be patient. It's the least we can do for our loved ones as they, like the rest of us, come to terms with the mental fallout of an inexplicable virus.

mid-day's Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city's sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her. She tweets @bombayana
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