Be active, happy is the new health mantra

CHENNAI: Being happy and active are the two mantras for healthy aging was the strong message that emerged at the World Elders Day event organised by the Senior Citizens Bureau and the Social Work Department of Stella Maris College on Thursday.Speaking on the occasion, Prof P V Ramamurthi, Director, Centre for Research on Ageing, Sri Venkateswara University spelled out the importance of staying happy and active to promote healthy aging. He said, “When you feel  sad, remember some good things that made you happy. This will immediately take your mind away from painful thoughts and help you to relax and slowly get back to a peaceful, happy state of mind.”Walter Davadram, former DGP also stressed on the importance of staying physically and mentally active.In a bid to create awareness among youngsters about the need to take care of the  elderly, Novartis India Limited, in association with ARDSI (Alzheimer & Related Disorder Society of India) will organise a public awareness walk from Light House to Gandhi statue on Saturday. Free diabetes checkups and free dementia screening are among the programmes planned. As part of this awareness programme, the walk has been scheduled on World Elder’s Day. In association with ARDSI, Lions Club of South Madras, SYMA-Triplicane & Probus Club, free dementia screening, eye operations for the needy and donations to Mercy home have been planned on the premises for the day.