It’s here! The single most widely celebrated festival in India is just around the corner and we are sure you are as excited about it as we are. What are your earliest memories of Diwali?
The shopping that precedes the festival? The cleaning of your house and setting up of lights, lanterns and flowers? Your grandparents applying oils on your body early in the morning before bathing you? Visiting your extended family and circle of friends? Wearing new clothes on each day of the festival? Exchanging gifts with your cousins? A festival that is synonymous with lights, prosperity and happiness, Diwali or Deepavali also marks a week full of bursting firecrackers, binge-eating sweets and sharing truckloads of laughter with your near and dear ones. As glorious and beautiful as all of the above may sound, the festival of Diwali can be a nightmare of sorts for the elderly. Why, you ask? Read on!
Seniority has put together three key reasons why you need to ensure your parents and grandparents are shielded from the potential risks that come with the celebration of this festival in India, along with precautions to take and handy health tips for seniors during Diwali.
1. Love Smoke is in the air
The magnitude of air pollution caused due to the bursting of crackers in India is second to none. Pollution levels are at an all-time high during Diwali, especially in tier-I and tier-II cities, causing infants to develop respiratory problems, while also aggravating any existing respiratory conditions that senior citizens may be suffering from. Apart from the firecrackers, even inconspicuous activities like cleaning the house may lead to dust allergies and other long-term issues. Air pollution can lead to unfathomable periods of fatigue, long-lasting headaches, loss of appetite, impaired vision, sleeplessness and breathing troubles for seniors.
Seniority tip: It is best to ensure that the elderly people in your home (especially those with Asthma or Bronchitis) are kept away from the house-cleaning routines during Diwali. It will also help to make sure that they are not exposed to the firsthand smoke exuded by crackers.
2. Who’s got the louder bomb?
It is a fact that people find inexplicable joy in burning crackers that make the most amount of noise and in spite of all the trouble it causes to humans and animals, the trend of bursting loud crackers is not going to die out anytime soon. Cracker sounds can be quite dangerous for the faint-hearted and older generation, possibly leading to a cardiac arrest or hearing problems.
Seniority tip: Make certain that the seniors in your family avoid walking on the streets early in the morning or late in the evening (prime time for crackers on the roads). You could also close the doors and curtains to their room during Diwali, ensuring that the noise doesn’t disturb them.
3. Don’t Watch what you are eating
Diwali is a time for all things sweet and it is no surprise that most of us end up putting on a few kilos here and there during the festive season. For senior citizens, it is vital that they watch their diet instead of consuming anything and everything that is made at home (or gifted by family and friends). Sweets can, within no time, worsen your condition if you suffer from diabetes. Other problems include overeating, which could lead to digestion and metabolism-related complications. While the body is strong and dynamic enough to take what you give it at a younger age, it is not necessarily the same at an older age.
Seniority tip: Stick to giving the elderly persons in your house the sweets of their choice (instead of binging on everything that is available) and make certain they do not overeat during the festival.
So, do your bit to ensure that the seniors around you take certain precautions during this Diwali and help them celebrate the festival of lights in a fun way! Light up someone’s life by donating clothes, books or money… Take a vacation during Diwali so you and your family can enjoy a week of peace and harmony! Sit together and play games, sing songs, look at old pictures and videos. Do things that you otherwise cannot due to your busy schedules. And most important of all, make sure your parents and grandparents have a smile on their faces – it will light up your day like nothing else can!
Here’s wishing you and your family a brilliant, gorgeous and laughter-filled Diwali 2018!
