Startup India & what it means for Porosh

In several of Porosh’s blogs it has been highlighted, though in a subtle manner, how it keeps on innovating and brings about incremental changes for rendering better services to its members i.e. the senior citizens. Such a mindset prompts the team to remain sensitive to the socio-economic changes and their implications for Porosh. No wonder Covid19 induced pandemic failed to mar raw energy that it stands for. The section on ‘Voice of Customer – VoC’ in the website bears ample testimony to that.

During the period of crisis induced by corona virus we realized how important it is for us to get a platform enabling cross-fertilization of ideas. It is then that the idea to get Porosh registered with the vibrant ‘Startup India’ community under the aegis of Government of India struck a chord with us. Had Porosh not run its enterprise by fulfilling the basic criteria in line with the laws of the land such recognition would have never comes its way so early.

Porosh has now received an opportunity to get mentored by some of the best minds from its domain, or even outside. We sincerely believe it will go a long way to put us in firm stead. We can assure our members that Porosh is passionate about what it does. Resting on past laurels is anathema to its raison detre. Porosh strives consistently to improve its service quality for its members who happen to be the elderly citizens.

Tips for senior citizens to remain healthy in winter

The winter months can bring in a few challenges and health related-risks, especially for the senior citizens who are vulnerable to injuries and illnesses in cold weather due to a weaker immune system. They are susceptible to hypothermia, which is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Besides Hypothermia, during winters the bone and joint pains increase. The cause for this could be a change in the barometric pressure which leads to expansion of the tissue, causing swelling and pain.

But, elder people can follow simple lifestyle changes to ensure that they do not fall prey to the harsh winter conditions. Here’s a list of tips and best practices suggested by Dr Sushila Kataria, Director, Internal Medicine at Medanta - The Medicity, Gurgaon, that can help seniors stay safe during winters.

Winter safety tips for the elderly

1. Exercise: Indulge in low-impact exercises that pump up blood and provide warmth to the heart. It gets difficult to move out of bed during this weather, but engage in routine exercises like walking and yoga. You could do it at noon when the winter sun is upon you. This aids coordination and balance. Exercise also involves mind games for mental stimulation such as Sudoku, Chess, Ludo to keep oneself occupied.

2. Track your meals and medicines: Stock up on all essential medicines and consume small meals throughout the day to keep yourself healthy and fueled with energy. Eat food rich in vitamins such as green vegetables and citrus fruits which make the skin more resilient and less prone to dryness. Keep yourself hydrated with 8-10 glasses of water even if you do not feel thirsty

3. Keep yourself insulated: Seniors who have cardiovascular conditions may experience increased side effects in the cold. Ensure your house, if not centrally heated, has heaters and hot-water bottles always. Wear your woollens especially mittens and caps. The skin tends to become thinner during winters, hence, it is imperative to wear lightweight layers. Humidifiers in the house is a great way to keep the air moisturised and consume clean air. This also helps keep cracking and redness of the skin at bay

4. Don't miss your vaccines: Winter brings with it a higher chance of catching a cold or flu, thereby making it important to get all the flu shots on time. There are many vaccines available for adults. All elderly above the age of 65 years should routinely be vaccinated for flu and pneumonia. Flu vaccine should be given every year in November or December. Pneumonia vaccine is given once after the age of 65 years. People younger than 65 years of age with comorbid medical conditions should also be vaccinated like people with lung problems, kidney problems, liver problems, smokers, diabetics or patients with weakened immunity like HIV. Do ask about the vaccine when you visit your doctor.

5. Skincare: Often we ignore the importance of sunscreens. Prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to skin irritation and skin discolouration. Hence, wear a sufficient amount of sunblock before stepping out. While the above-mentioned precautions are crucial to take care of yourself during winters, there are few Ayurvedic remedies that can aid as well.

• Choose a diet of steamed and boiled vegetables, vegetable soups, and stews and keep oily and spicy food at bay. Try baking or roasting and consume white protein like fish, eggs and chicken.

• Keep a jar of roasted flax seeds and cumin seeds. Regardless of whether you have a cold or not, eat a spoonful of these seeds every morning. Their antiseptic properties go a long way in curing fever and throat infections.

• The key to well-being is being happy. Winter blues make it quite easy to develop depression and a feeling of loneliness during this time of the year. Be in touch with your family and keep yourself occupied. It is natural to feel lazy and lonely. However, one should consider stepping out and make time to get together with friends. Involve yourself with a game of cards or a brunch outing in the winter sun and pursue long-lost hobbies when indoors like knitting, playing an instrument or cooking.

(Source: www.timesnownews.com by Salome Phelamei on Jan 3, 2020)

How to put your money matters in order if dementia strikes

Early this week (November 24, 2020)an article by the same name was published in “The Economic Times” by a team of three advocates - Shaishavi Kadakia, Debkanya Naskar and Sanjana M. The article is so relevant and detailed that we could not help but share it with you. We at Porosh are sure you will find it extremely helpful if you have senior citizens staying alone at home and seem to be showing early signs of dementia.

A dementia diagnosis can be overwhelming. Apart from medical and emotional distress, it can cause financial and legal complications. Planning in advance, however, can help obviate some of the complications and enable a life of dignity.

Dementia is caused by neurodegenerative disorders affecting the elderly such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. It causes a progressive loss of memory and cognitive function which, over time, diminishes ‘legal capacity’ to undertake any financial and legal actions. If there is an early diagnosis, it is vital to plan one’s financial and legal affairs during the crucial period from onset to the possible cognitive impairment stage.

Create a financial plan

As the first step, create a robust financial plan for future medical, caretaker and living expenses. If assets are required to be liquidated, do so. Selling assets can be difficult once legal capacity is lost. A joint bank account should be opened with a trusted person, bearing instructions that it may be operated by either or survivor. The RBI allows procedural relaxation for banking operations for the elderly and disabled.

Set up a trust

Explore the option of creating a trust with your legal advisers. A trust is a legal device in which one person (trustee) manages assets for the benefit of another (beneficiary). If you are the beneficiary, your expenses will be met through the income and assets of the trust, without the need for your participation. This is useful to cover your income needs when you are unable to manage the assets yourself. Plan in advance as creating a trust requires time and thought. Choose trustees wisely. Trusteeship service are offered by banks/financial institutions as well for a fee. Review medical insurance

Review the terms of your health insurance policy to confirm the adequacy of the coverage. Legally, insurance for treatment of mental illness must be made available on the same basis as physical illness. Unfortunately, if your existing policy does not cover the treatment, it may be difficult to obtain a new policy since pre-existing conditions are typically excluded from the ambit of coverage of new policies. The essential checklist

1) Open an ‘either or survivor’ joint bank account with a trusted person

2) Calculate future cost of living and medical expenses

3) Ensure liquidity in the bank account to meet future expenses

4) Consult legal advisers on creating a trust

5) Review health insurance policy to confirm that your illness is covered

6) Prepare a Will and register it

7) Discuss your preferred treatment wishes with your family

8) Do not rely on powers of attorney for financial and legal matters; make adequate alternative arrangements

9) Discuss with your family who should be appointed your legal guardian

10) Empower your family legally and emotionally to take decisions on your behalf

Draw up a will

Legally, only a person of ‘sound mind’ can make a Will. Therefore, it is advisable to draw up a Will before cognitive functions are diminished. To prove ‘sound mind’, buttress the Will with supporting evidence such as:

1) Certificate of ‘sound mind’ from an attending doctor post a psychological examination;

2) Video-recording of the entire process of Will execution; and

3) Registration of the Will.

Give advance directives

If you have preferred treatment wishes, then discuss them with immediate family/caregivers upfront or hand over a statement of wishes. The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 recognises issuance of an Advance Directive (AD) for recording such but the procedure for making ADs under the MHA is not yet operational. Till then, the best options remain discussions with family members/caregivers or a statement of wishes.

The above actions will not be possible once dementia progresses to a more advanced stage resulting in legal incapacity. At this stage, the individual will have to be supported by a guardian and by maintenance from family members. Appoint a legal guardian

A relative/caregiver cannot unilaterally deal with the property/bank accounts of an incapacitated person. A power of attorney (PoA) will also not be helpful because a PoA holder cannot act for the donor when the donor can no longer act for himself. In order to deal with such assets, therefore, the relative/caregiver will first need to be appointed a legal guardian. There are various legal options for appointment of a guardian, and it is advisable to examine which will be suitable, depending on the facts of each individual’s case.

Seeking maintenance

Elderly patients who are unable to maintain themselves can seek maintenance under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 from their adult children or, if they are childless, any legal heir who is in possession of or would inherit their property after their death. Maintenance may also be sought from adult children under the order of a judicial magistrate.

Lastly, if you have been diagnosed with dementia, discuss your financial and legal affairs with your family and caregivers. Ensure that they know what your assets are and where they are situated. Empower them legally and emotionally to take decisions on your behalf, so that irrespective of the situation, your wellbeing and dignity remain paramount.

For Dementia Counselling, Call us at : +91 7439852047