Health

Healthy Lifestyle Habits To Inculcate In Your Child

As lifetime habits develop during the formative years of a child, it is important to guide them towards a healthy lifestyle at this age. Hence, here are a few tips to strengthen the foundation of your child’s health.

Restrict Junk Food And Eating From Outside To Once A Week
When consumed frequently, junk food and outside food may cause obesity, hypertension and type Il diabetes from an early age.

Main Meals Are A Must (Especially Breakfast)
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it gives your child energy, improves concentration, keeps them happy and reduces junk food cravings. Also, having a balanced diet for the main meals helps in your child’s growth and development.

Include Two-Four Servings Of Fruits
Stock up less of junk food and keep a bowl of fruit handy daily, at the table to make your child go for the better option. Fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Kiwis and citrus fruits are good sources of vitamin C which aids iron absorption and boosts immunity. Also, having a banana before playing will keep them energetic. Papaya cleanses the stomach. Fruit salads and sundaes are interesting ways to add more fruits to your child’s diet.

Encourage Healthy Snacking And Adequate Consumption Of Water
Water keeps the body hydrated and reduces junk food cravings. Consuming six-eight glasses of water daily can hydrate the body and keep diseases away. Healthy snacking keeps your child energetic, improves concentration and is a good way to include all food groups into your child’s diet. A handful of nuts, fruits, milkshakes, yogurts, sprout chaat, whole wheat rolls are some examples of healthy snacking.

Discourage Fussy Eating
Involve your children with food. Give them a chance to select fruits and vegetables. Encourage them to help you with easy tasks in the kitchen like making salads, milkshakes, etc. Asking your child what they feel like eating and praising them when they eat healthy food, is a brilliant way to tackle fussy eaters.

Ensure Daily Physical Activity
Playing is a child’s learning ground. It inculcates discipline and helps your child socialize. It also strengthens the heart, improves blood circulation, concentration, boosts growth and strengthens the muscles and bones. So, an hour of physical activity is a must!

Health Tip

Explaining the benefits of these healthy habits and also following it, is the best way to Inculcate these habits in your children.

Dental Tips For Children With Braces

According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), braces help in fixing crooked teeth, teeth that are spaced too close, or too f ar apart. Hence, braces become a part of life for many growing kids. However, it is important that the kids take care of their braces, because the better it is taken care of, the more effective the results will be and the sooner it can be removed.

In the first few days of using dental braces, the child may experience soreness/sensitivity/pressure in the teeth, which may be expressed as dull ache/ pain / discomfort and irritating. Hence, a usual dose of a mild pain reliever may be given as directed, after meals to relieve these symptoms. Also, warm salt water gargles several times a day. is suggested to relieve the ache.

Diet After The Procedure

During this period, a soft diet is recommended. Foods such as porridge, milk, soup, rice, da!, ¡dli, cooked vegetables, curds, soft fruits like bananas, fruit juice, milk shakes, jelly, custard etc. can be consumed. And in about a week’s time, the child should gradually be able to start having a normal diet.

However, throughout orthodontic treatment it is mandatory to avoid hard or sticky foods at all times (chewing gums, chikki, toast, mentos, ice etc.) as eating hard or sticky foods could break/dislodge the braces, causing great discomfort, reversing some treatment results and prolonging the time required to finish the treatment.

Changing The Way Of Eating Foods

• Never bite into whole fruits, like apples or pears. Always cut them into small pieces/ slices and chew them with the molars.
• Vegetables like carrots can be grated. O The meat on bones should be soft and cut into smaller bits and the bones should not be chewed.
• Bread/biscuits/pizza may be cut into pieces and chewed with the molars, Biting into any of these foods with the front teeth should be avoided.
• Nuts can also be chopped and chewed with the molars, or teeth located at the back.
• Mints can be sucked on, but never chewed.
• Frizzy/carbonated beverages should be avoided, as these could damage the enamel of the teeth. So choose healthier options such as fruit juices.

In case the child’s tongue or the inside of the lips or cheeks become inflamed, it is advised to first dry the area with a cotton bud and then apply the prescribed get. And don’t worry because, the child may soon get used to the braces and after some time, he/she may not even realize that the braces are on.

Caring For The Teeth And Gums

Regular Brushing

The child must brush his/her teeth and gums at least three times a day, preferably after meals. If this is not always practiced, then at least the mouth must be rinsed thoroughly with water after lunch/dinner or a snack.

It is best for the child to use a soft bristle toothbrush with a small head, to easily access all areas of the mouth. Get fluoridated toothpaste and make sure the child spends at least three minutes for thorough brushing, during each session,

Attend to both sides of each jaw separately and in sequence, so that every surtace of each tooth, is taken care of.

Here’s the correct technique for your child to brush – the bristles of the brush must be angled towards the gum, with the tips of the bristles at the gum line on the outer surfaces of the teeth, between the orthodontic wires and gum line (the head of the brush will cover two or three teeth at a time). Now the handle of the toothbrush must be jiggled, to massage the gums with a light circular motion and then swept over the teeth, away from the gums in one direction only. This will very effectively dislodge all the food particles stuck, However, make sure the child avoids the use of an up and down movement.

Let the child repeat this action a couple of times before moving on to the next segment of teeth and instruct to repeat the same on the inner surfaces of the teeth, again starting at the gum line.

The chewing surfaces of the teeth must be brushed with a scrubbing motion.

Interdental Brushing
It is advisable to use interdental brush tips to remove any food particles or plaque that collects around orthodontic brackets, wires and near the gum margins. And this does not require toothpaste.

Turn To Homeopathy To Lift Your Spirits!

Unfortunately in today’s world, it’s very common for a person to suffer from underlying anxiety and depression for long periods of time, as even the calmest person can experience stress and unease. However, nothing can be achieved or done right when you are anxious and you have to be composed to execute certain tasks, as anxiety can affect the quality of your life. It also causes unconsciousness of your mind and body which results in deprivation from everything, leaving you ‘lost’ in your own thoughts!

Homeopathic medicine is an incredibly interesting field and it has had a major impact on the lives of millions of those who have tried these medications.

There is a belief that homeopathy can rectify illnesses using components in high doses which creates the disease. These elements are weakened to the extent that they cannot cause those illnesses and the body is believed to take in the components in such a way, that it helps fight oft the diseases.

Homeopathy Medicines That Combat Anxiety And Depression

• Aconitum napellus relieves panic attacks
• Argentum nitricum relieves dizziness
• Arsenicum album provides relief for tear of losing oneself and death
• Gelsemium relieves chills and hot flushes
• Natrum muriaticum provides relief from chest pains
• Natrum muriaticum is good for those who are shy or avoid social situations

The Role of Counselling

A counselor can help to identify the disease and derive a solution for this problem. A counsellor can study the way in which a patient thinks as he/ she interacts daily with the patients and approaches them with positivity and curiosity. The counselor can then assist with adequate medicines and proper guidance for healing.

Family members and peers should report about the persons performance, how they behave and speak to others, as it will be more useful for the doctor when considering treatment. It will also depend on how fast the patient recovers from the condition. Also, choose to lead a healthy lifestyle and turn to homeopathy to tree yourself from this ailment and to get cured.

Menstrual Abnormalities In Adolescent Girls

Abnormal bleeding due to hormones and sexually transmitted diseases are quite common in this age group

Adolescent girls achieve puberty and they start having menstruation as a part of their pubertal development. But almost 75 per cent of adolescent girls have painful periods or dysmenorrhea. Other abnormalities of menstruation are classified as Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB).

On an average 80m1 of menstrual blood is lost and bleeding usually lasts for five-seven days. If bleeding is more than 80 ml or associated with the passage of clots or duration of bleeding is more than seven days, it ¡s an indication of abnormal menstrual flow.

Dysmenorrhea or painful periods are of two types, primary or secondary. In primary dysmenorrhea, there is no gynaeco$ogical cause for painful periods and it’s idiopathic. It also subsides with simple analgesics. But in secondary dysmenorrhea, there is a cause for painful periods and it has to be treated. The most common cause for secondary dysmenorrhea in teens is endometriosis and among the other causes are adenomyosis, fiborids and ovarian cysts.

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) Can Present As:

• Absence of periods or amenorrhea
• Excessive bleeding or menorrhagia
• Bleeding in between periods
• Irregular bleeding

Amenorrhea or absence of periods can be primary or secondary. Primary amenorrhea is defined as absence of periods till 15 years of age in a girl who has developed secondary sexual characters or non-development of secondary sexual characters till the age of 13 years. Secondary amenorrhea is defined as absence of menstruation for six months once the girl has started menstwating.

Menstrual abnormalities such as abnormal bleeding due to bleeding disorders such as coagulation disorders like protein C, protein S deficiency, Von Willebrand disease, hemophilia, sickle cell disease are more common in adolescent age group as these disorders start manifesting when they start menstruation. Abnormal bleeding due to hormones and sexually transmitted diseases are also more common in this age group.

Discerning What Is Abnormal

It is also very important to distinguish menstrual abnormality from normal physiological changes. When girls start menstruating, their periods may be irregular for first two years as the hypothalamo-pituitary axis maturation may take two years for the cycles to be regular. In the initial years, ovulation is irregular, so it’s pretty common for young girls to have irregular cycles.

Thus these aspects must be kept in mind, when a young girl presents with irregular periods and before diagnosing her as suffering from hormonal imbalance, such as polycystic ovarian disease (PCQD), ovarian tumours or some other abnormality.

Causes Of Menstrual Disorders In Adolescents

Primary Amenorrhea

• Anatomic defects such as MRKH (Mayer- Rokítansky-Kuster-Hauser) syndrome, Impertorate hymen, transverse vaginal septum
• Hypogonadism such as gonadal dysgenesis (Turner syndrome, Swyer Syndrome) and gonadal agenesis
• Hypothalamic causes such as diet, stress and psychological eating disorders
• Pituitary causes such as prolactinomas and other hormone-producing tumours
• Endocrine disorders
• Other causes such as constitutional delay, PCOS

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB)

• Immaturity of HPO (Hypothalamic Pituitary-Ovarian Axis)
• Pregnancy , PCOS
• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperprolactinemia
• Functional hypothalamic dysfunction

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding – Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (HMB)

• Structural abnormalities such as fibroids, adenomyosis
• Systemic bleeding disorders such as Von Willebrand disease, platelet deficiency, factor deficiencies, amongst the most common causes. intermenstrual Bleeding
• Pregnancy
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Hormonal causes such as use of oral contraceptives

Diagnosis

These problems in teens can be identified by a thorough history and physical examination. Painful periods or primary dysmenorrhea is identified when teens complain of painful periods and on physical examination, there is no significant abnormality detected.

Thus, an ultrasound should be conducted to rule out secondary causes of dysmenorrheal such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids, and other pelvic pathologies. Also, to rule out abnormal uterine bleeding, some additional tests may have to be undergone, apart from a routine physical examination and ultrasound, such as thyroid function test, hormonal evaluation such as FSH and LH, prolactin, androgens, STI laboratory testing, pregnancy test, CBC (Complete Blood Count) and specific coagulation factors, if systemic coagulation defect is suspected.

Treatment

After excluding medical disorders, painful periods are treated with analgesics. Abnormal uterine bleeding or heavy menstrual bleeding can be treated with oral contraceptive pills or progesterone. For irregular bleeding such as in cases of PCOS too, oral contraceptives can be used. But for specific causes such as f ibroids, endometriosis and STI’s, specific treatment is required.

Leave Fear Behind!

If we let it engulf us, fear will rule us and ¡n almost all cases, ills something that we choose over all our other impulses. We start recognizing the feeling of fear right from childhood itself, due to the convincing and judicious advice we get from of our primary family members who strive to guide and protect us.

The Fear In Us

Right through our growing years, we’ve all heard suggestions like ‘be careful, you might get hurt,’ ‘be careful, you don’t know what could happen’ etc. These suggestions create a thought process in us to be very cautious of what we do and stop us from getting to be more adventurous. In a way, we begin to doubt ourselves, without allowing our freedom to explore different options.

So primarily, fear is instilled in us, as a motive to avoid physical harm during our childhood. However, instead of limiting its influence to just physical harm, we utilize this impulse and use it like an emotional crutch on which we get dependent.

Also, the fearful feeling that we experience in our life results from our dependence to be in our emotional comfort zone. This is because, we are scared of failure, rejection, and criticism. So in our bid to avoid these assumed negativities, we restrict our behaviour, propelled by self-protection. We also limit our capabilities and in the bargain don’t get to be open and strong.

When we are fearful, we are not interested in anything. We become vulnerable and lonely and try different options to escape from this feeling, rather than think dearly ¡n order to find a way to face the fear and conquer it. Besides, fear sometimes engulfs some in such a manner, that it propels them towards suicidal thoughts.

The Shell We Live In

• Fearful people tend to be shaped and molded as timid and weak, due to their personal interactions, either by their critical parents, bullying peers or dominating bosses.
• We get caged in life, as we try to please our loved ones who worry about us with the tendency to protect
• These loved ones are our parents, friends, peers, lovers, neighbours and leaders who worry about us being more protective of our own well-being.
• These worriers that surround us often enflame our fear and steal our motivation to fulfill our dreams.
• Hence, fear is like a kind of emotional blackmail that works as a mental barrier for our progress.

Unseal The Envelope

• To enjoy lite to its fullest, we have to conquer fear by being obsessed about personal freedom; don’t let it get governed by predictable thought patterns.
• If everything in life happens in a predicted way, It cannot be called life. Besides, nobody can predict about life, irrespective of their position or wealth.
• The first step towards a new path definitely sends a chill down the spine, but with courage and practice anybody can overcome this feeling.
• While taking that first step, don’t get discouraged with the expectation of a negative outcome. Just move forward with a positive outlook – saying to yourself, that you are going to consider the outcome as an experience, whether it is positive or neg all ve.
• Once you start taking decision after decision and realize your potential, it will become easier to take bigger decisions without hesitation. It is like becoming an orator with practice.
• Standing in front of a big crowd for the first time to give a public speech, is definitely daunting, but with time and practice you become comfortable, But don’t ever give up the task. Quitting is not a solution!
• Take a bold step in attempting the task that looks difficult. Don’t let fear reign over your capabilities.
• To conquer fear, you have to build mental fortitude. Courage, continuous practice and perseverance play a vital role in building your mental strength.
• Once you make a decision to accomplish your dream or goal, you have to make a choice not to let fear overcome your ambition towards that goal.
• Be true to yourself and stick to the path that you have selected, no matter what kind of hardships you come across.
• Be selective in choosing the advice of right people and be shrewd in curtailing the people who nurture your fear.
• When freedom and fear have the same power in making or breaking your lite, is ¡t wiser to select freedom that will fortify your mind and will instil in you, a broader outlook towards life.

If everything in life happens in a predicted way, it cannot be called life. Besides, nobody can predict about life, irrespective of their position or wealth

Homeopathy Can Ease Pregnancy Related Ailments

Lile is a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. And the best way to deal with these ups and downs is to face them with good planning, because hf e has many delicate stages. So, to prevent a downfall from at any one of these stages, one requires preparation. One of these ‘delicate stages’ in the life of a woman is when she conceives, as pregnancy is a phase of life where a new life has to be born from an existing one.

For a woman, it a very tough task to deal with all the changes that occur during this time of her life as these changes are not only physical, but emotional as well. Hence, it’s the most sensitive phase of her life, both mentally and physically. So, it’s obvious that such a sensitive time requires prior organization with respect to each and everything happening around. And the most important part of this period is the health of the mother and baby.

Protection For The Baby And Mother

During pregnancy some physiological changes take place (especially in the genital organs) along with other metabolic and systemic changes. During this weak state, when the internal environment of the mother is developing in a new way, along with the development of the baby, any minute stress or infection can severely harm the mother which can also have a harmful effect on the baby.

Thus, during pregnancy, medicines like antibiotics or painkillers which have side effects should never be ingested, as the harsh treatment can lead to abnormalities and illnesses. So the only way to protect both the mother and the baby is with homeopathic medicines. These medicines are very gentle and help in the early planning phase, before and also during the pregnancy. It also lends support after the delivery of the baby.

Homeopathy medicines should be taken as preventive and supporting medicines during early pregnancy, as it strengthens the patient mentally and physically

Treatment With Homeopathy

It is a mode of treatment which has proved to be sate, especially at such sensitive times. Homeopathy medicines should be taken as preventive and supporting medicines during early pregnancy, as it strengthens the patient mentally and physically. The constitutional medicine should be given as early as possible, so that it can prevent the mother and baby from severe illnesses and it can assure the birth of a healthy baby. It also tights congenital abnormalities (in the developing baby) and can turnaround an abnormality to a normal state.

During pregnancy, homoeopathy can treat any condition; for instance, morning sickness. This is the most common condition which can be easily cured with homoeopathy. Similarly, other major conditions like hypertension, diabetes, severe vomiting, haemorrhage in early pregnancy, antepartum haemorrhage and other complications can all be very well managed with homoeopathy.

How to Treat Varicose Veins

Veins are blood vessels that restore blood from all the organs in the body towards the heart. The veins closer to the skin surface are called superficial veins. They handle less than ten per cent of the returned blood flow. But the veins that are deeper and closer to the centre of the body are called deep veins. Perforating veins connect the superficial veins to the deep veins.

When a few of these superficial veins become enlarged, dilated and raised over the skin’s surface, they are termed as varicose veins. They can develop anywhere in the body, but are more commonly observed in the legs.

About 25-30 per cent of the Indian population suffer with varicose veins, with the problem persisting more in females than in males. They can be painful and cosmologically a concern, but they are usually harmless. Another type of varicose veins are spider veins, which are non-palpable, small starburst clusters or spider web-like veins over the skin’s surface, These are often asymptomatic.

Symptoms of Varicose Veins

• Appearance of dark purple or blue coloured blood vessels on the thigh and the calf region.
• Heaviness, tenderness or soreness in the legs, accompanied with swelling in the feet or ankles precipitated by standing for a prolonged period of time.

In advanced stages of varicose veins, skin changes such as edema, inflammation, pigmentation (darkening of skin) and skin ulcers may be observed. These ulcers would heal initially, but when it reaches the final stage they convert into non-healing venous ulcers.

Diagnosis

Those suffering from the above signs and symptoms can undergo a simple ultrasound venous Doppler test, to confirm the disease. And like in the case of any other disease, the earlier the treatment of varicose veins, the better the results. A varicose vein is an irreversible and progressive disease. So, at any stage of disease, a patient can visit an interventional radiologist for treatment. However, the treatment will vary according to the stage of the disease.

Treatment

Traditional treatment consisted of open surgery ligation and the vein stripping procedure, resulting in sutures, scars and delayed healing. Due to the fear of surgery and a lack of awareness, patients avoid or delay the treatment for varicose veins.

Modern treatment option is endogenous laser/radio frequency ablation combined with foam sclerotherapy. With a single small IV line-like puncture, the laser is passed into the main superficial veins. And under the ultrasound guidance, the faulty veins are ablated.

Endovenous laser/radio ablation is a simple no cut, no suture, no scar, day care technique. Compared to the other procedures, it involves less pain and a person can return to routine normal life at a faster pace with similar cosmetic outcomes. It is performed with an aim to reduce the symptoms and the risk of complications, arising from various venous diseases including blood clots.

Foam sclerotherapy is another technique to treat varicose veins. But spider veins can be treated only with microsclerotherapy. However, the success of the treatment is dependent on the laser ablation of Incompetent perforators. This is done under proper image guidance. Also, these procedures are best carried out by interventional radiologists who are well versed with image guided procedures.

Like in the case of any other disease, the earlier the treatment, the better the results, as varicose veins are an irreversible and progressive disease

Complications Of The Procedure

Like every other procedure, this treatment too has some complications. However, when done by an expert, the complication rate is very minimal and self-limiting.

• Infection
• Pain over the vein
• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Nerve damage
• Redness or swelling (inflammation) of the vein
• Blood clots
• Changes in skin colour over the treated vein
• Burns

Factors Determining Which Procedure To Choose

You will have to keep several things in mind before making a decision as to which procedure is apt for you. Amongst them include the following:

• Age and overall health
• The degree and severity of your varicose veins
• Symptoms
• How certain procedures may affect your prognosis
• Your opinion about your physical appearance
• Doctor’s expectation about your condition in the future

Precautions

Though these simple steps to combat varicose veins, help delay the progression of the disease, it cannot arrest it completely.

• Wear class Il stockings all throughout the day
• Exercise daily (involving your legs). For example, walking cycling etc.
• Do not sit or stand for more than 30 minutes continuously: keep moving
• Elevate legs while sleeping (at a little higher level than your heart)
• Maintain a healthy weight

Here’s How Hypnosis is Boosting IVF Success Rates

Infertility is a complex and stressful experience and opting for IVF often causes more stress for women, because of the fear of not being able conceive. Widely popular and acceptable now, as more and more couples are considering it – in vitro fertilization or IVF is a technique used to treat infertility.

Along with recent advancements in various procedures to help combat fertility and reproductive challenges, ‘hypnosis for fertility’ has also gained immense acceptance due to its effectiveness. The transfer of an embryo to a woman’s womb is considered a critical event in the in vitro fertilization IVF) procedure. It is likely that the success rate of the IVF might diminish, if a woman is continually stressed about the outcome and is apprehensive whether the transfer will be a painful aspect or not.

However, it is believed that ‘hypnosis’ can be considered instrumental in alleviating such stress, thereby helping a woman’s uterus to remain relaxed and facilitate the implantation of the embryo more easily. Experts are of the opinion that it is also possible that hypnosis brings about changes in the functioning of uterine hormones or the immune system and hence improves the interaction between the endometrium and the blastocyst, or the uterine lining.

Hypnosis can be considered instrumental in alleviating stress, thereby helping a woman’s uterus to remain relaxed and facilitate the implantation of the embryo more easily

Hypnosis: Making A Difference

Hypnosis or hypnotism is utilized when a person goes into a trance. Hypnosis is effective in establishing the sync between the mind and the body and can enhance natural conception and complement IVF. The reason why hypnosis makes such a dramatic difference is not completely known, but as the body is a more relaxed state, all the hormone systems work more effectively.

Why The Elderly Are Not Safe

The World Health Organization in 2002 officially recognized elder abuse as a social problem. In 2016, the International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse have also declared World ElderAbuse Awareness Day’ to spread awareness about the ill-treatment towards elderlies.

A 2015 report lists India at 14 per cent, the lowest among Asian countries as compared to China reporting 36 per cent elder abuse. More than 50 per cent of India’s elderly suffer some form of abuse in silence and 77 per cent of them live with their families.

Welfare organizations for the elderly these days are of the opinion that the joint family system has been ruined by the rapid urbanization leading to the emergence of nuclear families, wherein, the warmth and the bond among family members has been eroded.

Different Kinds Of Elderly Abuse

With age, hearing and sight begin to fail, thus elders become easy targets for fraud and abuse. Mistreatment of elders at the hands of those whom they rely on, or trust, is termed as elder abuse. It could happen at home or in an institutional setting, by family, friends, neighbours, a care giver or a paid service provider. Also, elder abuse comes in a variety of ways and forms. It could be mental, emotional, physical, sexual or financial abuse, leading to neglect, abandonment, and exploitation.

Physical Abuse
This takes place when intentional force is used on the elderly, causing injury, pain, and impairment. Some elders suffer from lapses in memory, or some form of dementia, wherein they need to be supervised very closely, to avoid harm to themselves and others.

Emotional Or Psychological Abuse
This comprises of intimidation, yelling, threats, humiliation, and ridicule. Intentionally ignoring the presence of elders around you, also amounts to emotional abuse.

Social Isolation And Neglect
It could be intentional or unintentional, based on factors such as ignorance or denial, that an elderly needs the time, attention and care.

Sexual Abuse
This ¡s prevalent where elders are helpless and at the mercy of caregivers for their activities of daily living and can be described as inappropriate contact with an elderly person without the elder’s consent.

Financial Exploitation
Using elderly person’s property or funds by family members, caregivers, outsiders or scam operators, without their permission falls in this category. Unless meticulous accounts are maintained, misuse of elder’s finances, forging of signatures and identity theft is very common.

Healthcare Fraud
Exorbitant charges levied by unethical healthcare professionals, double billing or overcharging at pharmacies and hospitals and kickbacks for referrals, for various tests and diagnostic services constitutes healthcare fraud.

The National Network for the Prevention of Elderly Abuse (2008) has classified abuse into three broad categories:

1. Depriving choices, respect, finances, status, and decision.
2. Neglecting abandonment, social exclusion, and isolation.
3. Violating medical, legal and human rights.

Legal Obligation Of The Children
Using abusive language and talking rudely to an elder constitutes 72.4 per cent of the elderly abuse, followed by 43.1 per cent by way of giving an elder the ‘silent treatment.’ The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007, helps in preventing the abuse of elderly, by creating legal obligation of the children to provide assistance and help to their elderly parents, like provision for residence, food, medical attendance, clothing, and treatment.

Also, a childless couple can demand income from their relatives for maintenance. However, Indian senior citizens remain unaware of this act and many bear it silently, rather than complain due to social stigma and fear of abandonment.

Action cannot be taken unless the aggrieved gives a written complaint and most elders fail to do so. However, maintenance tribuna’s have been set up to assist elders in filing their complaint and also issue notices to the children, conduct hearings, take evidence and order maintenance.

Helping To Empower The Elderly

Helplines across India are run by Foundations, Trusts, and NGOs in association with the city police. Highlighting the importance of sensitization, elder care foundations suggest that the children and the younger lot of our society are taught that love and respect for elders is something which is non-negotiable. For a country to progress, community ties need to be strengthened to prevent abuse and elders need to be empowered to fight back against violation of their basic human rights. Also, from a tender age, children should be taught to treat their elders as invaluable assets to their household, community, and society.