Bhubaneswar: In many silent homes across the city, senior citizens spend their days waiting for a phone call from children living far away. Beyond loneliness, many struggle with a deeper emotional void, the feeling of no longer being needed. Trying to change that reality is Bhubaneswar-based geriatric social worker Kenny Mahapatra, who has been helping elderly residents rediscover companionship, confidence and a sense of purpose through art, music, dance, yoga and more.Every week, Kenny engages nearly 40 to 45 senior citizens through both online and offline sessions involving creative and wellness activities. Once a month, she also organises picnics and outings, including trips to theatres to watch Odia films together. The initiative began in 2017 after Kenny observed the emotional struggles faced by elderly people during her visits to old-age homes and interactions with senior citizens living alone in the city.“In today’s society, children often move away for work or other commitments, leaving elderly parents alone or dependent on caregivers. We tend to think they only need medicines or financial support at this stage of life. But what they truly miss is meaningful engagement and human connection,” Kenny said.Determined to address the issue, she started small community-based activities that encouraged senior citizens to participate, contribute and reconnect with society. From storytelling circles and music sessions to skill-building workshops and community gatherings, the focus was always on making the elderly active participants rather than passive attendees. What started as a small experiment nine years ago has now evolved into a full-fledged engagement programme. Along with personally conducting several activities, Kenny has also brought in volunteer teachers to train interested senior citizens in music and art.The impact, she says, has been deeply encouraging. “Seniors who once spent most of their day in silence are now more cheerful, socially active and emotionally expressive. Most importantly, they have formed their own friend circles and speak to each other regularly. I can see them reconnecting with themselves and building a peer support system,” said Kenny, who is also working now on enhancing the technological capacity of the elderly to protect them from cyber fraud. Apart from conducting regular engagement sessions, she works with senior citizen associations across Bhubaneswar to spread awareness about healthy ageing and emotional well-being among the elderly.
