One my sisters who is 90 yrs old, is residing in Chennai ,along with her daughter and grand son. She used to wake up daily by 5 a.m, after her routines wash the entrance, put kolam then prepare coffee for her self etc. She volunteers to assist her daughter in cooking. In the process she does a lot of work. When I visit her once in a week, her daughter used to complain to me.
After having an interaction with my sister, I could understand that the elders want to prove to themselves that they are still healthy and fit to take care of themselves.
Doctors also say that it is good to leave them in their own way.
Moreover, old people participating in house hold work, I believe, will help them to maintain their health of the body, mind and spirit. Only thing is that they old people should not be left to overstrain themselves.
Why should we have over apprehension that they are ill-treated?
Shall we not wish to take care of ourselves on our own at our old age or sit as a stumbling block on the shoulders of younger generation?
Is Shila Ghosh unhappy?
Did she complain to anybody of the treatment met out to her?
Why do we have this unnecessary apprehension?
It appears that she is one of the happiest self dependant lady.