Senior Citizen's

Public meeting on “ Proposed Mumbai development Plan"

2015-04-02T04:04:00.003-07:00

VARISHTHA NAGRIK SEVA SANSTHA

Marigold Hall, Tholiya Bhavan, 10th Road, Next to Regency Hotel,

Near Vakola Highway Signal, Santacruz East, Mumbai – 400 055 Tel. 9324225699 / atholiya@gmail.com http://varishthanagrik.blogspot.in/

INVITATION TO TO ATTEND 269TH MEETING

FREE ENTRY

Topic : Public meeting at above Hall on “ Proposed Mumbai development Plan and its implications on TPS3 and Vakola, santacruz east” .

Speaker: Architect and Expert on DP Shri Arun Joglekar

Venue: above hall

Tea and snacks: 4.30 pm to 5.00 PM (Sponsor: Shri Paresh Vora)

Meeting: 5.00 to 7.00 pm

Day and Date: Friday, 3rd April 2015

All are cordially Invited.

Note: This is totally non political group.And all residents of Santacruz East can take benefit irrespective of any party affiliation.

Sincerely yours

Alok Tholiya

Hariram Chowdhury

Kamlesh Bhathena

Paresh Vora

Shilpa Dharod

Bharat Vishwakarma

Anil Verma

Benefits to VNSS members:

DISCOUNTS AT CHEMIST SHOPS

We have patients bed , wheelchair, walkers, tripod etc for patients.

Senior citizens can get priority hearing in courts..A circular issued on December 3 2013

2015-03-28T02:25:00.000-07:00

MUMBAI, DEC 8:

For the convenience of senior citizens, Bombay High Court has decided to give priority in its roster to the cases where at least one of the parties is above sixty years old, if such a request is made by the concerned party.

A circular issued on December 3 2013, signed by the Registrar General of High court, says that Chief Justice and other Judges of the Bombay High Court, after have directed that precedence be given to the cases wherein senior citizens are involved.

“The Chief Justice and Judges have now directed that precedence be given by courts for hearing and final disposal of the cases wherein one of the parties has attained the age of sixty years and above,” it says.

This circular replaces a circular issued in 1999, whereby precedence was to be given to persons above 65.

“The courts may grant such an indulgence on written request,” added the circular.

The direction would be implemented at all the benches of the High Court and at the subordinate courts in the state.

Principal Judge of Bombay City Civil and Sessions court Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi has issued direction that the circular should be followed.

(This article was published on December 8, 2013)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/senior-citizens-can-get-priority-hearing-in-courts/article5436651.ece

Do You Resent Being a Caregiver?......Leslie Becker-Phelps, PhD

2015-01-27T15:23:00.003-08:00

If you’re caring for a loved one – an ill parent, a spouse, a child with special needs – you might agree that caregiving, even when it’s from the heart, can include complicated emotions. Sadness, frustration, guilt and anger are all common. And these emotions sometimes grow into resentment, which only makes the care-taking role more difficult.

If you can identify the source of your resentment, or (better yet) identify rising frustrations, you can address your feelings and take steps toward positive change. Here are a few common reasons for feeling resentful, and ways to cope with them:

Guilt over-flow: You might struggle with feeling that you can not do enough for your loved one, or you may feel guilty about your desires to do some things for yourself. The reality is that in many situations, no one can do enough to turn the tide of events or take away all of the pain and difficulties of your loved one. So, in a sense, no one can do enough.

Accepting your limits can go a long way toward freeing you of guilt and resentment as you take care of your other responsibilities, care for yourself, and allow in the necessary emotional and practical support from others.

Not getting expected help from others: You might have expected support from other family members, only to find yourself essentially alone as a caregiver. Others may even fail to come through if you ask directly for help. As a result, you might understandably feel increasing resentment.

If you have only hinted at your need for help, then consider trying the direct approach – it could yield surprising results. However, if you’ve asked family or others close to you for help and your attempts have fallen flat, then you need to come to terms with that. Work on accepting the situation, even if you are not happy about it. Then move on. This might mean going it alone or engaging the help of others, such as professional aids or other supportive services.

An impossible situation: Your position may feel incredibly painful, and there may be obstacles that prevent you from doing more. As a result, you may experience growing resentment, which could lead to feeling negatively toward your loved one. It’s important to remain aware that you resent the situation, not the person you want to care for. To help you gain or maintain this perspective, reach out to others for support.

Caring for someone who was unkind to you: One of the more difficult situations you might face is feeling responsible to care for someone who was unkind, or even abusive, to you. This often arises with those who need to care for aging parents, but it occurs in other relationships, too. If you decide that caring for this person is the right thing to do, keep in mind that you are living according to your values. Focus on the person you are and find others who can support you in your efforts.

In each of these situations, if you are having a difficult time breaking loose of your resentments, don’t be too hard on yourself. Pause and consider how you would respond to someone else going through the same struggles you’re experiencing. Then apply the same understanding and compassion to yourself. Remember, to be a good caregiver, you must be sure to care for yourself, too.

Thanks to :http://blogs.webmd.com/art-of-relationships/2015/01/do-you-resent-being-a-caregiver.html?ecd=wnl_sxr_011715&ctr=wnl-sxr-011715_nsl-promo_3&mb=37dz9PaVSpmjqdfYp%40TOnuHnVev1imbCkGiMegP%2f4k0%3d

The truth, as disclosed by a group of old folks

2014-09-16T20:29:00.001-07:00

Ourselves, ourselves, only ourselves

(The truth, as disclosed by a group of old folks)

A GENERAL BIT OF ADVICE

Have your own abode. No matter what, do not lose it, until your death!

If you have an old companion, keep each other good company.

Watch your health while it is still good.

Maintain a positive outlook and you will be happy.

Now, our health is still good, our mind still clear.

But on whom can we depend in our old age?

We will have to analyse in various stages.

1st Stage:

Just after retirement, between 60 to 70 yrs old, our health will still be comparatively good. So too our financial means.

Eat moderately while we have the means. At times, wear what we fancy.

Those who like it, have some fun.

Do not be hard on yourself

Our days are numbered, so, grasp the opportunity.

Have some savings!

Keep the house!

Make arrangements for the days ahead or retreat.

If the kids are well off, it is their business ...

If the kids are filial, they have good traits ....

We need neither decline financial help from our kids nor decline their respect.

But we should remain independent and live our own life well.

2nd Stage:

If no mishap and illness strike after we are 70, we will still be able to take care of ourselves. Not a major problem.

However, we must realise we are really getting old gradually, our body and mind will give way.

Our reflexes will slow down with time.

We will have to eat slowly, to avoid choking.

We will have to walk slowly, to avoid falls.

We can no longer put on a front, we have to look after ourselves!

Do not meddle anymore with this and that, or control the kids!

Some even interfere with the third generation!!!

We have intervened our entire life, It is time for us to be a little selfish!

Take hold of ourselves. Life must come full circle.

Help with the cleaning chores.

Try to maintain our health for as long as possible.

Give ourselves more opportunities to take control of our own life.

We lead an easier life when we do not have to solicit help from others.

3rd Stage:

Our health begins to fail. We have to request help from others. We have to be mentally prepared for it.

The majority of us cannot escape this hurdle.

We have to prepare ourselves, emotionally, to accept that in life, living and aging, sickness and death are milestones we have to encounter.

This is the final stage in life.

Nothing to fear!

Be prepared for it in advance and we will not be too depressed.

Either check into a private nursing home or an old folks home.

Depending on affordability, of course.

There must be a way out.

The idea is not to add to the kids'; burden, emotionally, increase their chores and their financial commitments.

Try our best to overcome -

What hardship has our generation not endured?

What disasters have we not experienced?

Trust us to take life';s last lap in our stride.

4th Stage:

Our mind is still clear, but we are terminally ill, when our quality of life has deteriorated drastically.

We must be courageous enough to face death!

Insist that the family not try to prolong our life: Do not incur unnecessary expenditure.

================================================

Sex after 60's................from Baidynath

2014-08-11T10:12:00.001-07:00

Sex after 60's................from Baidynath

Sat Aug 9, 2014 10:07 am (PDT) . Posted by:

"Alok Tholiya" tholiya

* Sex after 60's*

Some times blind acceptance of cultural myths can dampen desire to the
point of extinction. That is especially true of sex and the aged. "In the
geriatric field, one of the last bastions of culturally enforced ignorance
persists in the area sex & sexuality" observed a renowned sex therapist.
The widely accepted cultural dogma that sexual interaction between older
persons is not only socially unacceptable, but may be physically harmful,
results in thousands of men & women withdrawing from active sexual
expression every year. This results in impotence.

It is true you can’t do at 60 what you did at 20. As a man grows older, he
walks slow, he talks slow. One needs to remember that this is a normal
phenomenon. Some are under the impression that "one failure in making it
means an end to sex life". As a result, many men move from effective sexual
functioning to various degrees of impotence. the misconception that "sex
after 60 is not possible" needs to be changed. Men & women can continue to
remain sexually active till the last day of their lives provided they are
in sound physical and mental health. The common reasons for a reduced sex
drive in later years are:

-

Monotony and loss of interest
-

Changes in physical appearance
-

Misconception about one’s waning sexuality
-

Lack of communication
-

Depression

These hurdles can be overtaken. We assure the older people that a healthy
conjugal relation ship is a normal and acceptable form of behavior, at any
age, because sexuality is as important for the old as it is for the young.
Our herbal preparation rejuvenates the body mechanism so as you can feel
young and perform like young.
*Ayurvedic Supplements for Sex after 60's :*
* Keshri Kalp Royal Vita-ex Gold Plus Musli PakStress Guard *

10 documents to secure before you die

2014-07-20T10:05:00.001-07:00

Documents to secure

IMPORTANT FOR AL OF US...

Keep these essential papers in place and inform at least one family member so that your heirs don';t have to run from pillar to post to inherit what is rightfully theirs.

1) Primary documents
These include your birth certificate, marriage certificate, PAN card, passport, election ID card and the Aadhaar card. Will be needed when transferring assets to your heirs.

2) Insurance details
The purpose of life insurance will be defeated if your family is in the dark. Make a list of all the policies, mentioning the name of insurers, policy numbers, insured sums and the tenures.

3) Pension documents
If you have an NPS account, mention the account number and nomination details. Give the pension account number with your employer.

4) Property papers
All property-related documents should be in one place. If the property is mortgaged, keep photocopies. Mention the loan account number and the latest outstanding amount. If property is insured, mention policy coverage.

5) Bank account details
Make a list of various bank accounts, giving the name of the bank, the account number, holding pattern and the nomination details.

6) Bank locker details
Mention the name of bank, locker number, ownership pattern and whereabouts of the key. Maintain an inventory of items kept in the locker and update every time you operate it.

7) Demat account details
Give the name of depository partner, demat account number and nomination details. If possible, update the details of the securities in the demat account.

8) Other investments
Give details of the PPF account and folio numbers of other post office investments. Make a list of mutual fund investments, mentioning folio numbers, ownership pattern and nomination details.

9) Loans and Receivables
If you have taken or given private loans to relatives or friends, mention the amount and the date by when these are payable/receivable.

10) Online 10 passwords
Though these are to be kept secret, keep a list for emergency reference. Mention the website, the online ID and the password.

Keep this in mind
This information is to be kept secret and accessed only if the main breadwinner of the family has either died or is in a medical emergency.

Make sure to update the information regularly. How often you do this depends on your convenience and the changes in investments.

The information listed above is very basic. you may want to add more details of other assets along the same lines.

You may want to make an online version of this information as well, but make sure it is on a secure site.

Senior citizens can get priority hearing in courts

2014-07-19T04:58:00.003-07:00

Senior citizens can get priority hearing in courts

PTI

A circular issued on December 3, signed by the Registrar General of High court, says that Chief Justice and other Judges of the Bombay High Court, after have directed that precedence be given to the cases wherein senior citizens are involved.

This circular replaces a circular issued in 1999, whereby precedence was to be given to persons above 65.

“The courts may grant such an indulgence on written request,” added the circular.

The direction would be implemented at all the benches of the High Court and at the subordinate courts in the state.

Principal Judge of Bombay City Civil and Sessions court Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi has issued direction that the circular should be followed.

(This article was published on December 8, 2013)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/senior-citizens-can-get-priority-hearing-in-courts/article5436651.ece

singing competition between seniors and middle aged

2014-05-31T21:44:00.001-07:00

My dear Friend Sathayam and his friends have started Sarthi Society for conducting activities for Sr. Citizens. I provided my “Marigold the little hall “free for conducting singing competition between seniors and middle aged. The competition was held yesterday and there was tremendous response so it went on from 10am to 5 pm. There was a participant who came on wheel chair. If everyone does this little for our own society then we can change the world. — at Marigold Hall, Tholiya Bhavan, Santacruz East, Mumbai .
Pl. click on photo to see more videos and photos:

Post by Alok Tholiya.

Novel way of facilitating elder brother and senior citizen

2014-05-19T18:10:00.003-07:00

Alok Tholiya added 18 new photos.

May 18 at 10:49am · Edited ·

Click for Going to photos of event

81st birthday and 60th marriage anniversary. I uploaded these photos but did not get time to write synopsis. And I thought that someone from my family will fill the gap but no one did so And I am doing so now. Firstly I avoid personal things being broadcasted unless it has a message for others. This is step in that direction. My Jijaji ( sisters husband) Shri D C kala lost his father at an early age. He and other young siblings were brought up, given education, good guidance ( sanskar) and upbringing by eldest brother Shri Hukamchand ji Kala. At that time he too hardly had any money and yet he shared and cared for all of them with his mite.As times passed all these young brothers and sisters have become a very successful persons in life. My jijaji thought of making this fact known to all and thus he and his brothers decided to felicitate Babaji ( as eldest brother is popularly known as ) on his 81st B'day.Incidentally this was his 61st marriage anniversary too so respected Bhabhi Tarabai too was in full life light. This is an era when most of us forget contributions made by others in our life ( specially except parent and some are so low that they even fail to acknowledge sacrifices of parents) and in that era this grand felicitations. Day long function : Puja and archana in Jain Temple. Then Babaji and Bhabhiji ( brothers wife) were taken to hall in a ratha yatra( chariot) with band and dance, then all brothers and family did pada prakshal ( washed feet to bhaisahab / Babaji ( highest honour normally only allowed for saints), then Tula daan where Babaji was made to seat on side of weighing balance and other side was filled with items of variety and then donated to needy besides 41000/- cash was donated to various temples. It did not end here then we had modern B'day celebrations with toast to B'day baby, cake cutting , free for all dancing and singing , lavish dinner and so on. BUT I WAS MOST MOVED BY THE NOVEL WAY OF FACILITATING ELDERS OF FAMILY. MAY ALL OF US RECOGNISE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHERS AND ELDERS IN OUR LIFE WHILE THEY ARE LIVING AND DO IT OPENLY INSTEAD OF KEEPING IT AS A SECRET AS A MEAN MINDED WOULD.

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/mb4ruy0egx96iz2/AACnB-5atKZtQF3gQjeKjySBa

after you are gone

2014-05-13T22:55:00.000-07:00

Don't worry about what will happen after you are gone, because when you return to dust, you will feel nothing about praises or criticisms.

Don't worry too much about your children for children will have their own destiny and find their own way.

Don't be your children's slave

Don't expect too much from your children. Caring children, though caring, would be too busy with their jobs and commitments to render any help.

Uncaring children may fight over your assets even when you are still alive, and wish for your early demise so they can inherit your properties.

Your children take for granted that they are rightful heirs to your wealth; but you have no claims to their money.

60-year olds like you, dont trade in your health for wealth anymore………….

Because your money may not be able to buy your health………

When to stop making money, and how much is enough (hundred thousands, million, ten million)?

Out of thousand hectares of good farm land, you can only consume three quarts (of rice) daily;

out of a thousand of mansions, you only need eight square meters of space to rest at night.

So as long as you have enough food and enough money to spend, that is good enough. So you should live happily.

Every family has its own problems. Just do not compare with others for fame and social status and see whose children are doing better, etc. but challenge others for happiness, health and longevity………….

Dont worry about things that you can't change because it doesnt help and it may spoil your health.

You have to create your own well-being and find your own happiness;

As long as you are in good mood, think about happy things, do happy things daily and have fun in doing, then you will pass your time happily every day.

One day passes, you will lose one day;…One day passes with happiness, and then you gain one day.

In good spirit, sickness will cure; in happy spirit, sickness will cure fast; in good and happy spirit; sickness will never come.

With good mood, suitable amount of exercise, always in the sun, variety of foods, reasonable amount of vitamin and mineral intake, hopefully you will live another 20 or 30 years of healthy life.

Above all learn to cherish the goodness around ……and FRIENDS……..they all make you feel young and "wanted"…without them you are surely to feel lost!!

DR MANOHAR SOBHANI TV interviw Diabetes and SEXUAL PROBLEMS

2014-05-04T01:18:00.000-07:00

PLZ TYPE DR MANOHAR SOBHANI ON YOU TUBE

OR

LINK

http://youtu.be/bThzGGyIkVo

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"GIVE TO THE LIVING"

2014-04-10T04:54:00.001-07:00

"GIVE TO THE LIVING"

When I am dead,
Your tears may flow.
But I will not know,
Cry for me now instead.

When I am dead,
You will send flowers,
But I will not see,
Send them now instead.

When I am dead,
You will say words of praise,
But I will not hear,
Praise me now instead.

When I am dead,
You will forget my faults,
But I will not know,
Forget them now instead.

GIVE TO THE LIVING, What will you offer to the dead

Is an Overactive Bladder Disrupting Your Life?

2014-03-22T19:21:00.002-07:00

Article Link: http://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/oab-13/kegel-exercises?ecd=wnl_sxr_032214&ctr=wnl-sxr-032214_promo_4&mb=37dz9PaVSpmjqdfYp%40TOnuHnVev1imbCkGiMegP%2f4k0%3d

Urinary Incontinence: Kegel Exercises for Pelvic Muscles

Kegel exercises are one of the most effective ways of controlling urinary incontinence naturally.

Kegel exercises can help many women and men with urinary incontinence, regardless of cause or age. Kegel exercises aim to strengthen pelvic floor muscles that support and hold up the bladder.

When the pelvic floor muscles are weak, you are at greater risk for involuntary urine leaks. The value of improving urinary incontinence with Kegel exercises is now widely accepted.

Here's what you need to know:

Who can benefit from Kegel exercises? Anyone, at any age, who suffers urinary incontinence or leaks urine. While the exercise mainly helps those with stress urinary incontinence, it can also help those with another common type, urge incontinence from overactive bladder. With urge incontinence, you have a sudden urge to urinate and don't always make it to the bathroom. Men with urinary incontinence problems can do Kegel exercises, too. Studies on men have shown that these exercises improve urinary incontinence that can happen after prostate surgery.
How are Kegel exercises done? To exercise the pelvic floor muscle, pretend you are trying to stop the flow of urine. Pull in and squeeze those muscles. Hold the squeeze for about 10 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds. Try for three or four sets of 10 contractions every day.
How do Kegel exercises help? Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles that help control the urethra. When these muscles are weak, the result can be urinary incontinence.
When should I expect to see results from my Kegels? Just as it takes time to build your biceps and strengthen any other muscles, it takes time to strengthen muscles in the pelvic floor. Give the Kegel exercises three to six weeks. And remember, you must keep doing them, and you should do them daily.
When and where should I do Kegel exercises? The beauty of Kegels is that you can really do them just about anywhere, anytime. No one would know unless you tell them what you are doing. Try doing a few sets of Kegels when you are in your car, sitting at your desk, or watching TV. To be sure you are doing Kegels correctly, ask your doctor or the nurse to describe the proper form. They can also check that you are doing them correctly.
Do I need any equipment for Kegel exercises? Not for doing Kegels alone. For women, some doctors may suggest using weighted cones as they do Kegel exercises. The idea is to insert these vaginal cones, available in various weights, and perform the Kegel exercises with the cones in place. A woman would gradually increase the weight of the cone she inserts. Sometimes, Kegel exercises are used in combination with biofeedback, a monitoring system that helps you gain control over bodily processes such as urinary control. And sometimes Kegels are done in combination with electrical stimulation, in which very brief doses stimulate muscles in the area. But you can choose to do Kegel exercises by themselves, with no equipment.
Are there any other benefits to Kegel exercises? Yes. Kegel exercises aren't just good for improving urinary incontinence. They are often recommended in sex therapy That was an accidental "side effect" discovered by Kegel. He heard back from his patients about these sexual benefits. The pelvic floor muscles contract more strongly during orgasm once they are strengthened.

WebMD Medical Reference

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on July 11, 2013

Why do we assume that as we age, our desire for sex is going to fade?

2014-03-22T19:12:00.001-07:00

Why do we assume that as we age, our desire for sex is going to fade?

Dr. Ruth, Westheimer, PhD, Sex Therapist:

God forbid! Don't assume it. People after 50 should continue to have a wonderful sex life if they so desire, if they say they don't want it anymore, I say goodbye, but if they so desire, but they have to be sexually literate. A woman has to know that after menopause she needs a lubricant, not to engage in intercourse with a not well lubricated vagina, it's painful, she's going to say, who needs it. And men must know and even physicians don't know, that after a certain age, there is no psychogenic erection. After a certain age, a man does not have an erection when he wants one, when he thinks about sex. A man needs physical stimulation, rubbing against the partner, his hand, or her hand on his genitalia in order to obtain and to maintain the erection.Here is what happens. They are trying to have sex, he doesn't have an erection, she thinks I'm not attractive any more. I don't look, my body has changed, I don't look like I looked 10 or 20 years ago, and then there is more to that. She also doesn't want to have the feeling that she is going to make him unhappy, because if they try to have sex, and he doesn't have an erection, he gets very unhappy, so she avoids it. There is an avoidance pattern by both. Then he starts to think, I would like to have sex but I know I have problems, and if he thinks that, he can be assured that he is not going to have an erection. Male sexual apparatus is very delicate. The moment he thinks, oh my gosh, what happened to me yesterday is going to happen again, he will not have an erection.

My take on joint property: advise to all to keep clarity........

2014-03-16T20:42:00.001-07:00

My take on joint property:
One leading doctor Bhat in his 80's had come to me for an advise. He loved his son and daughter equally. So he said that I am going to make my daughter and son joint owners of flats he had as flats were of different size and different area so valuation were different.

It took long time to convince him that his sentiments does not work and in future a time may come when heirs of brother (son) and sister ( daughter ) may not gel with each other and then your wish to keep them tied togather with a joint property may turn in to a reason for quarrel.

Finally he gave one flat to daughter , one to son , one he kept in name of wife. I believe things settled without anyone going to court and relationship between son and daughters family is great even after 10 years of Dr Bhat's death.

But at times situation can be different:

One of the great person in the family purchases a property. Circumstances are such that unable to divide property and thus becomes co owned / joint.

The person purchases have a typically fatherly wish that his all sons / grandsons live together.

But as time passes all members get spread out and hence no scope of living together. Long time passes and then the closeness / intimacy / tolerance become difficult.

Some become busy and some do not hv vision and others have greed, some have need and others do not hv, some are having enough flare and time for litigation, some hv relative specially piharside of new daughter in laws who may misguide / intervene ….and so on and finally property becomes disputed. And once disputed then andha pise kutta khaye.

Police, advocates, courts make money. In Indian conditions courts take decades .

Ambani, Birla, Tata to all families have had disputes. But they hv army of lawyers and staff to assist so they do not hv to spend time. They hv more than enough so expenditure is not a burden.

But in other cases in smaller families those in service can not take leave, those abroad can not come frequently to take care of joint property, they can not attend court, many employer will not see it right if their staff is in court ( and many disputes take ugly turn and become criminal offence which no govt, and multinational will like and remove the person. The value of the property may be good so everyone expects big fees/tips/bribe which one of the person may not b able to pay or may not wish to pay or may not know to pay but those who pay may still get cheated , waste whole life, increase BP/ Diabetes/ stress/ heart ailment / depression and so on.

There are incidences where whole family / several ppl r in court. As time passes the number of legal heirs increases and there is no understanding and tolerance between them and things become difficult. If some co owners or their children r abroad then can they come to settle disputes, do transactions, ………..and so on.

Ball is in everyone‘s court. It is all co owners and their family members call. Take it or leave it.

Why I am taking initiative?

Thanks and Regards,
Alok Tholiya,

09324225699 / 02226125699/26173203

What is a nominee ?....will he / she get your money after ....

2014-01-04T04:29:00.000-08:00

JagoInvestor manish@jagoinvestor.com via aweber.com

5:10 PM (42 minutes ago)

So we heard from everyone that nominee gets the money from your Insurance policy or Mutual funds or Fixed Deposits, and we happily believed it . Can you afford to beleive that this is WRONG ! .

Did you think that your nominee is the person, who will get all the money legally from your Life Insurance Policy and Mutual funds investments? Ha! That is exactly what you'd think if you aren't aware of the legal aspects. We assume a lot of things which sounds like they're obvious, but are not true from the legal point of view. Today, well concentrate on nominations in financial products, Insurance policy, and when you are dead and gone, all the money goes to person X and he/she becomes the sole owner? You are wrong, dude ! It doesn't work that way. Lets see how it actually does!

For whom are we earning? For whom are we investing? Who, do we want to leave all our wealth to, in case something happens to us? It might be your children, your spouse, parents, siblings etc., or just a subset of these. You also might want to exclude some people from your list fo beneficiaries!. So you think you will nominate person X in your

What is a nominee ?

According to law, a nominee is a trustee not the owner of the assets. In other words, he is only a caretaker of your assets. The nominee will only hold your money/asset as a trustee and will be legally bound to transfer it to the legal heirs. For most investments, a legal heir is entitled to the deceasedâ€^(TM)s assets. For instance, Section 39 of the Insurance Act says the appointed nominee will be paid, though he may not be the legal heir. The nominee, in turn, is supposed to hold the proceeds in trust and the legal heir can claim the money. A legal heir will be the one whose is mentioned in the will. However, if a will is not made, then the legal heirs of the assets are decided according to the succession laws, where the structure is predefined on who gets how much. For example, if a man during his lifetime executes a will. In the will, he mentions his wife and children as legal heirs, then after his death, his wife and children are the legal owners of his assets. It is essential that one needs to execute a will. It is the ultimate source of truth and replaces the succession law. Nominee can also be one of the legal heirs.Important

Mention the Full Name, Address, age, relationship to yourself of the nominee.
Do not write the nomination in favour of "wife" and "children" as a class. Give their specific names and particulars existing at that moment.
If the nominee is a minor, appoint a person who is a major as an appointee giving his full name, age, address and relationship to the nominee.

Why is the concept of nominee ?

So you might be wondering, if the nominee does not become the sole owner, why does such a concept of "nominee" exist at all? Itâ€^(TM)s pretty simple. When you die, you want to make sure that the Insurance company, Mutual fund or your shares should at least get out of the companies and go to someone you trust, and who can further help, in process of passing it to your legal heirs. Otherwise, if a person dies and hasnâ€^(TM)t nominated anyone, your legal heirs will have to go through the process of producing all kind of certificates like death certificates, proof of relation etc., not to mention that the whole process is really cumbersome! (For each legal entity! The insurance company, the mutual funds, for the shares, for the real estate..) . So, to simplify, if a nominee exists, these hassles don't happen, since the company is bound to transfer all your money or assets to the nominee.The company the goes out of scene & then, itâ€^(TM)s between nominee and legal heirs.

Example of Nomination

Ajay was 58 years old who died recently in an accident. As his children were settled, he wanted to make sure that his wife is the sole owner of all the monetary assets. This includes his insurance policy and mutual funds. So during his lifetime, he nominated his wife as a nominee in his term insurance policy and mutual funds investments. However, after Ajayâ€^(TM)s death things didnâ€^(TM)t turn up the way he wanted. The reason being Ajay did not leave a will. Though his wife was the nominee in all his movable assets, as per the law, his wife, along with children, were the legal heirs and all of them had equal right to Ajayâ€^(TM)s assets. One simple step which could have saved the situation was that Ajay should have made a will which clearly stated that only his wife was entitled to get all the money and not his children.

Nomination in Life Insurance

A policyholder can appoint multiple nominees and can also specify their shares in the policy proceeds. Nomination in life insurance has one limitation, as insurance policies are bought to secure your financial dependents, your first choice of nominee has to be your family members. In case you want to nominate a non-family member like a friend or third party, you will have to show/PROVE the insurance company that there is some insurable interest for the person. This happens because of a Clause called PRINCIPAL OF INSURABLE INTEREST in insurance. Note that provision of nomination in life insurance is related to Section 39 of the Insurance Act. Note that as per LIC website

Nomination is a right conferred on the holder of a Policy of Life Assurance on his own life to appoint a person/s to receive policy moneys in the event of the policy becoming a claim by the assuredâ€^(TM)s death. The Nominee does not get any other benefit except to receive the policy moneys on the death of the Life Assured. A nomination may be changed or cancelled by the life assured whenever he likes without the consent of the Nominee.

Make sure, you have a nominee for your policy for easy settlement of the claim, if you do not have any nominee mentioned in the policy, it can turn out to be a disaster for your dependents to get a claim.

Nomination in Mutual funds

In case of mutual funds, you can nominate up to three people, who can be registered at the time of purchasing the units. While filling in the application form, there is a provision to fill in the nomination details. Even a minor can be a nominee, provided the guardian is specified in the nomination form. You can also change nomination later by filling up a form which is available on the mutual fund company website. Nomination in mutual funds is at folio level and all units in the folio will be transferred to the nominee(s). If an investor makes a further investment in the same folio, the nomination is applicable to the new units also. A non-resident Indian can be a nominee, subject to the exchange control regulations in force from time to time.

Nomination in Shares

Quiz for you :). Now you know what a nominee means and who actually gets the money. So if there is a husband H, with wife W and nephew N, and he has nominated his nephew N to be the nominee of his shares in demat account, who will have the legal right to own the shares after husbandâ€^(TM)s death? If you answer is wife, you are wrong in this case! In case of stocks, it does not work the usual way, if a will does not exist.

In the verdict, Justice Roshan Dalvi struck down a petition filed by Harsha Nitin Kokate, who was seeking permission to sell some shares held by her late husband. The Court noted that as she was not the nominee, she had no ownership rights over the shares. Ms KokaTheâ€^(TM)s lawyer had argued that as she was the heir of her husband who had died intestate (without a will), she should have ownership rights of the shares, and be able to do anything with them as she wished. In this case, Ms Kokateâ€^(TM)s husband had nominated his nephew in favour of the shares. Justice Dalvi however noted that under the provisions of the Companies Act and the Depositories Act, Acts which govern the transfer of shares, the role of a nominee was different.

â€oeA reading of Section 109(A) of the Companies Act and 9.11 of the Depositories Act makes it abundantly clear that the intent of the nomination is to vest the property in the shares which includes the ownership rights thereunder in the nominee upon nomination validly made as per the procedure prescribed, as has been done in this case.â€

Source : Moneylife

It means that if you have not written a will, anyone who has been nominated by you for your shares will be the ultimate owner of those stocks, The succession laws on inheritance will not be applicable but in case, you have made a will, that will be the source of truth.

Nomination in PPF

Let me give you some shock first. If you have Rs 10 lakh in your public provident fund (PPF) account and you have not nominated anyone for your PPF account, your legal heirs will get maximum of Rs1 lakh only! Yes, itâ€^(TM)s so important to have a nominee, now you get it :). You can nominate one or more persons as nominee in PPF. Form F can be used to change or cancel a nomination for PPF. Also note that you cannot nominate anyone if you open an account for a minor.

Nomination in Saving/Current/FD/RD Account in Banks

FD's also come with nomination facility. While opening a new account, there is a column for nomination in the same form and you should fill it. You can nominate two persons with first and second option. Note that in case you have not done any nomination till now, you should request Form No DA-1 from your Bank which is used to assign a nominee in future. (Examples of ICICI Bank , HDFC Bank , Canara Bank) . In the same way to change/cancel the nomination you need to fill up Form no DA-2. Read about Corporate Fixed Deposits As per a famous case, A Bench of Justices Aftab Alam and R M Lodha in an order said that the money lying deposited in the account of the original depositor should be distributed among the claimants in accordance with the Succession Act of the respective community and the nominee cannot claim any absolute right over it.

Section 45ZA(2)(Banking Regulation Act) merely put the nominee in the shoes of the depositor after his death and clothes him with the exclusive right to receive the money lying in the account.It gives him all the rights of the depositors so far as the depositors's account is concerned. But it by no stretch of imagination make the nominee the owner of the money lying in the account," the Bench observed.

Conclusion

Now you know! Taking Personal finance for granted can be fatal :) Just investing knowledge, isnâ€^(TM)t enough to have a great financial life. You also need to be well versed with basic legal aspects and make sure you carry out all due arrangement . Nomination is one important aspect you should seriously consider, when checking for the financial products you have bought or plan to buy in future. Mistakes in Personal Finance Its important to make sure that your loved one's do not face legal issues and only say and think lovely thoughts about you when you are not around, rather than crib & grumble :)

So this was the last Email of the 3 part series , Now you can explore the content on the blog . Read archives section to find out more articles of your interest .

Manish

www.jagoinvestor.com

Claiming Assets after Death? 4 Important documents you need.......must read

2014-01-02T15:59:00.003-08:00

Claiming Assets after Death? Here are 4 Important documents you need to know about!

by Manish Chauhan

Are you sure that when you inherit your parents assets or any other bank accounts later in life, its going to be a smooth process? Will it be hassle free and without any complexities? Are you sure you will not get dragged into life long legal battles with siblings or any other relatives who will fight for the same assets and properties ? Have your parents taken care of all the succession planning like nominating you for those assets and writing a WILL and registering it with help of a lawyer ?

On an average, almost all the families are very weak in their estate planning. They are so much engrossed into their “current” life, that they are not bothered about future much. Its their children and legal heirs who have to suffer later, due to their laziness or ignorance about these matters. In this article I want to highlight few important documents and processes which you should be aware about, so that when the time comes – you are familiar with them.

After the death of the owner of assets ?

After the death of asset holder, after few weeks/months – its time to claim their assets and properties. That time, there are lots of paperwork and procedure to be followed. You have to claim their

Can you see how long is the List ?

You will have to run around to claim all of these one by one and might also have to do few rounds because of the process and procedures to be followed. Now this verification and processes is very critical for the banks, mutual funds houses, or companies to make sure that the asset is passed to the right hand, who ever is entitled to get it legally and not just anyone making the claim.

Just saying that “I was his Brother” or “I was his wife” will not help much because its not so straight forward process, especially if things dont match on nomination or the WILL. And if the nomination is blank or not on the right person name (who is wanting to file a claim) or worst if WILL is not written at all, then its the start of that frustrating phase, which is about to come. In your world, you might be very clear, who are legal heirs and who deserves the assets, but that’s not the point here. You need proof and all the legal documents and process in place to claim the assets.

So there will be documents asked, forms to be filled and rounds to be made to court to obtain some documents – even if it means frustration and disappointment for the family member of deceased. So you can now get a sense of how important is succession planning, and if one is careful and responsible enough, they will at least do basic things in place like putting nominations in place and writing and registering a WILL in a standard manner with help from a lawyer.

Some mistakes which most of the investors make

Let me first list down few mistakes or incomplete things done by investors which create the problems in future. These mistakes happen due to sheer ignorance or because of casual attitude of investors. You or your parents might be doing these following mistakes.

Can you relate to any of these above ?

Are you doing something similar in your financial life. It answer is “YES”, your family or you yourself might face lot of issues in future as explained above. You seem to be too much busy in earning money or just making investment – without realising that one day it might not even go to someone important in your family or reach very later after a lot of work to be done.

4 Important Documents required to Claim an Asset after death

Lets finally come to the main point and now I will just explain to you some documents which generally come into picture at the time of claiming assets. Here they are -

1. Death Certificate

The first thing in the list is Death Certificate. Its one of those documents which will surely be required no matter what. Death certificate is a document which officially certifies that a person is dead . Death certificate also records the date and time of death, which can be a crucial information for things like life insurance claim.

Anyways, as per Registration of Births Deaths Act, 1969, its mandatory to register death within 21 days of its occurrence and if you are late, then again you will have to do more paperwork and pay some charges. Death Certificate is issued by Municipal Corporation (Urban areas) or Gram Panchayat (in case of rural areas) after proper verification is completed by them.

Death certificate is required by all the institutions (Banks/Fund Houses/Insurance Companies) irrespective of presence of WILL or nominations. So make sure you take death certificate immediately after the demise of the concerned person. Depending on the nature of death, the process of obtaining death certificate changes. If its death at home due to some illness or high age, there not much is required, but if its a death by accident or murder etc, a copy of FIR might also be required.

So make sure you get this document after the death, it might take some good amount of time and running around , so start the process sooner you can.

TIP – You can find state wise procedure and which department to contact on this website . Visit the website and you will see a dropdown at the end of the page.

2. Claim Application Form

Claim form is the form which needs to be filled by you at the time of making the claim. Depending on the asset type, the organisation will provide you. Each bank has its own claim application form, Post Office has its own and mutual funds companies have their own forms. You have to fill in details like – relationship with the deceased and your identity details along with proofs and more.

You also have to give your bank details or other KYC details if the assets has to be transferred to your account like in case of shares in demat account or mutual funds portfolio. Just to give you a feeling of how it looks like below is a sample claim application form for saving bank account from SBI Bank.

3. Probate of WILL

One of the most common problems in India is unregistered WILL. Lots of people write a WILLwithout consulting a lawyer, and do not feel the need to register it. Just because its not registered in the registrar’s office, its bound to raise questions on its authenticity. Lots of times in families, someone claims that there was a WILL written in their favour and then the other parties challenge it saying that its fake. Sometimes two parties come up with their own version of WILL claiming that the other one is fake!.

This all happens because the WILL was not registered. In which case, a “Probate of WILL” is required from Court.

Probate is a way to certify that the WILL is authentic. So if you have to claim an asset and the WILL you have raises questions, you might be asked to get Probate from court to prove that the WILL is authentic.In that case you will have to reach to court, catch a lawyer and apply for Probate. There will be fees to be paid and lots of time might go in this process. Probate will have court seal on it and also the WILL copy will be attached to it.

Below is one comment which I had got long back on a issue which involved fake WILL. You might be able to see the role of Probate here.

My father in law has died without WILL, he left wife, 2 sons and 1 daughter. Both son prepared ZABARDASTI WILL of my mother in law , stating that both sons will get 40 % each sister will get 20%. This flat is owned by father in law. Can widow’s (mother in laws) WILL will be considered after her death ? Now daughter wants equal share in her fathers property. Is this property is earned or ancestral for mother in law, can daughter give challenge for equal share after her mothers death, or this REGISTERED WILL prepared by mothers will be considered by cour ? plz advice in brief

You can see that the above WILL can be challenged and in that case, a Probate would be asked for to prove that the WILL is authentic or not.

4. Succession Certificate

Succession Certificate comes into picture when there is no written WILL, absense of nomination, or when your name is not on nominee list, but you want to claim the asset because you are legal heir (you know about it, but there is no legal document saying that). At that time, you will have to bring succession certificate from court, which is a proof that you are a valid legal heir. Note that just saying that you are legal heir and bringing some relationship proof will not work here, you have to actually follow the process and get succession certificate to prove that you are a legal heir as per the succession laws .

Once you get succession certificate, you will be then seen as a valid legal heir and then the assets will be transferred in your name. At times when there is no nomination in place or more than one person comes into picture claiming for assets, then also succession certificate is demanded and the assets are passed on as per that document. Note that only one succession certificate per asset is issued and if there are more than on person claiming the assets, their names will be mentioned in that succession certificate, so its better to support each other and not fight with each other, otherwise situation will get tougher for you.

To get succession certificate, you can reach to district or high court of the jurisdiction, under which the assets fall (bank or property location) . You have to take help of a lawyer and file a petition for obtaining succession certificate and give details like your relationship with the deceased, you date of birth, your other details asked.

Then court will put a notice in newspapers inviting any objections for next few weeks, and if there are no objection, then you are granted the succession certificate. This can take time, money and some rounds to court along with anxiety especially when there is someone else who claims to be the legal heir and you do not have good terms with the other party .

So this was all for now.

References – http://www.bemoneyaware.com/blog/paperwork_documents/

Conclusions

The more work you do on your succession planning part. The lower will be the headache and frustration for your family members later when you leave this world as a surprise. The minimum you can do is fix your nominations for all the assets like bank accounts, life insurance policies, mutual funds, demat account, PPF / EPF and real estate etc. Sir, it takes 1 day! of your life or some hours only. Apart from that, you should write a WILL and get it registered too with help of a good lawyer, spend on it .

Shilpa Dharod giving demo of converting wet waste into Manure

2013-12-21T00:56:00.001-08:00

Alok Tholiya

Options for this story

I run activities for Sr. Citizens for las 10 years. Today we had our 241st meeting. The speaker today was Mrs Shilpa Dharod. She explained why segregatingvthe wet waste is important and how you can convert that in to organic manure. She gave practical training to our members and 9 of them immediately confirmed they they will start the work on this immediately. She declared your kitchen waste id not waste but a resource.friends instead of throwing puja flowers in pond or river or sea and in a plastic bag if thrown in garden, road side flower beds etc without plastic then that too will decompost and become manure. Hats off to this civic activist. If you want to invite her to one of your group meetings then mail me.

17 hours ago

Sr. citizens take D3 but taking in excess is very harmful

2013-12-13T20:35:00.001-08:00

Cholecalciferol granules are used to make up for a lack of Vitamin D3 in the body. This deficiency can be down to a variety of factors, but a common one is the condition Osteoporosis. This is a bone condition that makes the bones more porous, of a lower mass, and generally weaker. The solution isVitamin D3, which triggers increased calcification to repair bones and improve their density and durability.

What is Cholecalciferol?

Cholecalciferol is also known as Calciol. It is a form of Vitamin D, specifically Vitamin D3. It helps with the absorption of Calcium, and is useful for treating Osteoporosis. It is naturally formed by the intake ofsunlight through the skin.

It is an orally administered medication; generally in liquid form because it becomes easier to administer. This is especially true with regards children, who require the Cholecalciferol to combat Rickets.

Are there any dangers?

Excessive doses are poisonous, so much so that Cholecalciferol is actually used in the poisoning of rodents, who are more susceptible than most others. The poison pellets can affect cats and dogs and other smaller animals too though, so you should be very careful when laying any rodenticide.

The condition in humans is known as Hypervitaminosis D. Symptoms include dehydration, loss of appetite, vomiting, irritability and others such as constipation, muscle weakness (including shaking), fatigue and a lack of libido. The damage by Vitamin D3 comes from increased calcification(hypocalcaemia) to the kidneys, heart and other soft tissue. It takes a while - months even - for these symptoms to show. Regulated dosage and altered diet can bring your body back to normal within a month.

If you have any health worries you should seek medical assistance as soon as possible, and if you start to take ill with unusual symptoms then immediate emergency help.

Just nomination is not enough

2013-12-08T08:39:00.001-08:00

Just nomination is not enough

A nominee is not the owner of the asset, unless a will says so

Most of us are busy slogging for better pay. We spend a lot of time planning our finances, pondering over that expensive house we plan to buy and creating wealth through stocks and gold. For many, the sole motive of such measures is leaving a legacy for their children. Therefore, it's important that the wealth falls into the right hands.

Why is nomination important? It plays a crucial role while investing in financial products. It is vital to have a nominee, as well as a will in place, as there should be someone to take charge of your money in case you die. The nominee has to distribute the wealth received by him/her on the basis of succession laws.

Financial planners say typically, the nominee should be the one who inherits the wealth. However, for most financial products, the nominee will not receive the assets unless it is mentioned in the will.

Property: In 2009, Tarabai fought a property case in the Bombay High Court against her son, Rameshchandra. Tarabai's late husband, Ramdas Shivram Sattur, had bought a plot in Nav Rajasthan Co-operative Housing Society in Pune, with Tarabai named as the nominee. After his death, when Tarabai tried to sell the property, she was sued by her four children, who claimed equal shares in the property.

According to the court's ruling, in a co-operative housing society, the nominee does not inherit the property and the asset must be distributed according to the will. In the absence of a will, the legal heirs have a right to the property.

Anshuman Jagtap, advocate, Hariani Co, says a nominee to a property in a housing society doesn't automatically inherit that asset. "For instance, on the death of the original owner, the housing society has to transfer the shares of the deceased to the nominee, who must, in turn, transfer those to the legal heirs." In other words, if the deceased doesn't leave a will, the wife and children can claim their rights on the property equally.

Insurance: Experts say many have lost cases in anticipation the maturity amount for an insurance policy would go to the nominee, who they feel is the legal owner. However, Gaurav Mashruwala, a Mumbai-based financial planner, says a nominee to any financial product is merely a trustee who receives assets on the death of the owner. "For instance, if you want the nominee to receive the maturity amount, the person who made investments should ensure he says this in the will." Else, the maturity amount will go to the nominee, who will be liable to give that money to the legal heir of the deceased - the mother, the wife or the children. If the legal heir is the nominee, one needn't worry, as irrespective of the will, the wealth will go to him/her.

Public Provident Fund (PPF) Employees' Provident Fund (EPF): In case of PPF, an outsider can also become a nominee, though usually, the spouse and children are the nominees. "The exclusive right of the nominee in a PPF is to receive and not provide that the same shall become the absolute property of the nominee," said a ruling in the Manjula Verma vs Kumari Sarla Verma case on December 3, 2007.

Under EPF, the family may include dependent parents, while under the pension fund, it is restricted to the spouse and children. Therefore, it is advisable to have the spouse as nominee, in case a nominee hasn't been named before marriage.

In case of EPF, the nominee, not the person stated in the will, inherits the amount. In fact, here, one cannot nominate any person other than a family member for an EPF account, unless he/she doesn't have a family. In such a case, once the person has a family, the nomination has to be in favour of a family member. One may also nominate multiple family members and state the proportions in which they are to inherit EPF amount.

Other investments: This relates to bank accounts, mutual funds, etc. In the Arnab Kumar Sarkar vs Reba Mukherjee others case in 2006, the Calcutta High Court ruled nomination in a bank deposit could not be elevated to the status of a testamentary disposition due to the demise of the depositor before the proceeds from the deposits were received. One might open a bank account with a family member, which allows the survivor to operate it, and invest jointly in savings certificates mutual funds.

Suresh Sadagopan, who runs Ladder 7 Financial Advisory Services, says one should remember to keep his/her spouse or other family members updated on assets and liabilities. "Most youngsters should remember to change their nomination after marriage." If you don't want to disclose it right away, keep a record at a safe place and let your family know where to look for it if need be. Remember, just appointing nominees isn't enough, especially when it comes to financial products. Source-business standard -02-12-2013

Diwali 2013 Get Together of members of our Sanstha.mp4

2013-11-19T03:46:00.001-08:00

The Science of Trips and Falls

2013-09-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

Yoga routines exercise the spine along all planes. Additionally, there are specific balance exercises such as ek padasan, tadasan, veerbhadrasan, etc. Stithaprartanasan not only improves balance but also builds concentration and will power.

On Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 12:58 PM, P. Venkatraman <venkat.kanna@gmail.com> wrote:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303983904579093560173066446.html

From Athletes to the Elderly: The Science of Trips and Falls

New research into how we maintain our balance could help athletes and prevent falls among the elderly

New research into how we maintain our balance could help athletes and prevent falls among the elderly.

Scientists are finding that maintaining stability and balance with each step we take requires complex coordination of foot placement, arm movement, trunk angle and neck and head motion. That's because every step is different from the one before it. There are slight variations in stride length and width and the angle at which the foot hits the ground, as well as small shifts of weight in the torso. People's bodies when walking must constantly make minuscule adjustments to accommodate these variations.

Enlarge Image

Kelly Lynn James
Researcher Kelly Frank demonstrates a study at the University of Texas at Austin of how people stay balanced. Reflective markers on her body help analyze movements.

Other research is exploring how the brain controls our balance, which isn't well understood. A recent study identified a pocket of motion-detector neurons deep in the brain that sends out an alert when the body moves in unexpected ways, such as after stumbling on a crack in the sidewalk. The alert triggers compensating reactions throughout the body aimed at helping us to not fall down.

"The cerebellum is computing unexpected motion within milliseconds to send information to the spinal cord to maintain balance," says Kathleen Cullen, a physiology professor who performed the study with colleagues at McGill University in Montreal.

The research on balance and stability could someday be used to help improve training techniques for athletes, such as skiers and gymnasts, for whom balance is critical, experts say. It also might be able to help doctors better predict people's risk of falling and lead to improvements in prevention and rehabilitation strategies. Falls are the number one reason for death and injury among people age 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than two million older people went to an emergency room in 2010 because of a fall, the CDC says.

The body has three main systems that help us stay balanced. The visual system takes in information from the outside world and transmits it to the brain. The proprioceptive system, which incorporates sensory systems throughout the body, tells us how the body's parts are oriented relative to each other. And the vestibular system, located in the inner ear, focuses primarily on how the head is moving. Generally, if at least two of these systems are impaired, people tend to have trouble with balance.

As people age, the vestibular system becomes less sensitive. Instead, individuals tend to rely more on their vision, which is relatively slow compared with the vestibular system. As a result, older people don't process information as quickly to correct for missteps, Dr. Cullen says.

Sjoerd Bruijn, a post-doctoral researcher on the Faculty of Human Movement Sciences at VU University Amsterdam, has been mapping in a series of studies the tiny natural variations people make from one step to another to see if these can be used to indicate whether a person is unstable. Greater than normal variability, typical in older people, could indicate a higher risk of falling, he says.

Enlarge Image

Other research, at the University of Texas at Austin, tracked healthy people as they walked and ran and found that older individuals are more at risk from small variations in steps than younger people. Jonathan Dingwell, a professor in the department of kinesiology and health education, said younger people can more quickly adjust to the changes than the elderly.

The study was conducted by attaching reflective markers onto various parts of participants' bodies. The positions of the markers, which reflected infra-red light caught on cameras, were reconstructed in a computer to generate a digital image that allowed researchers to analyze the gait of the participant.

Dr. Dingwell plans another study to track the relationship between variability in steps and risk of falling, by deliberately tripping older people walking on a split-belt treadmill. To avoid injury, participants wear a full-body harness, similar to what mountain climbers wear, that is attached by ropes to the ceiling.

Whether walking more slowly helps to maintain balance isn't clear, and study results have been mixed. In one study of 10 healthy people who were faced with a moving platform that swayed from side to side, researchers found that more important than speed were shortening steps and increasing step width, according to research published in the Journal of Biomechanics in March.

Foot placement is the primary mechanism for maintaining side-to-side balance. But sometimes foot placement is constrained, such as when people are attempting to walk a straight line. Instead, people use other parts of the body, particularly the upper body, including flinging arms, angling the trunk differently and making adjustments in the head and neck that allow the body to stabilize, says Art Kuo, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Less clear is how the brain controls balance. After implanting electrodes in the brains of monkeys, McGill's Dr. Cullen and her team have identified, for what is thought to be the first time, neurons in a small region of the cerebellum that respond to unexpected motion and alert the body to react. For instance, if a person starts to trip, the neck may flex to keep the head stable, the torso becomes more rigid so that the body remains upright and the legs and feet take a stutter step, she says. The study was published in May in the journal Current Biology. Dr. Cullen says additional research is planned to try to identify how the brain calculates when unexpected motion is happening.

After a fall, older people often say they tripped or slipped. Researchers at Simon Fraser University, in Burnaby, British Columbia, wanted to observe what really happens. The team outfitted a long-term-care facility with video cameras and recorded residents going about their daily lives. They recorded 227 falls from 130 individuals over about three years. Tripping caused just 1 out of 5 of the incidents. The biggest reason for falling—accounting for 41% of the total—was due to incorrect weight shifting, like leaning over too far, says Stephen Robinovitch, a professor in the biomedical physiology and kinesiology and engineering science departments. Other, less frequent reasons for falling included loss of support with an external object, like a walker, or bumping into something.

Dr. Robinovitch says a typical test in a doctor's office of older people's balance and risk of falling might involve watching them walk around. Assessments should be more involved, because a greater risk of losing their balance is when they are shifting their weight, such as standing up and sitting down, he says. The study was published in the journal The Lancet in January.

"The environment certainly is important but by and large intrinsic causes of imbalance dominate over extrinsic," Dr. Robinovitch says.

--
P. Venkatraman ( Kanna )
++91 98210 27556

Life After 60

2013-09-23T20:53:00.002-07:00

Life After 60

An interesting article from The Hindu.

Life can begin at 60, it is all in your hands! Many people feel unhappy, health-wise and security-wise, after 60 years of age, owing to the diminishing importance given to them and their opinions.

But, it need not be so, if only we understand the basic principles of life and follow them scrupulously. Here are ten mantras to age gracefully and make life after retirement pleasant.

1. Never say I am aged' : There are three ages, chronological, biological, and psychological. The first is calculated based on our date of birth; the second is determined by the health conditions; the third is how old we feel we are. While we don't have control over the first, we can take care of our health with good diet, exercise and a cheerful attitude. A positive attitude and optimistic thinking can reverse the third age.

2. Health is wealth: If you really love your kit and kin, taking care of your health should be your priority. Thus, you will not be a burden to them. Have an annual health check-up and take the prescribed medicines regularly. Do take health insurance coverage.

3. Money is important: Money is essential for meeting the basic necessities of life, keeping good health and earning family respect and security. Don't spend beyond your means even for your children. You have lived for them all through and it is time you enjoyed a harmonious life with your spouse. If your children are grateful and they take care of you, you are blessed. But, never take it for granted.

4. Relaxation and recreation: The most relaxing and recreating forces are a healthy religious attitude, good sleep, music and laughter. Have faith in God, learn to sleep well, love good music and see the funny side of life.

5. Time is precious: It is almost like holding a horses' reins. When they are in your hands, you can control them. Imagine that every day you are born again. Yesterday is a cancelled cheque. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is ready cash - use it profitably. Live this moment; live it fully, now, in the present time.

6. Change is the only permanent thing: We should accept change - it is inevitable. The only way to make sense out of change is to join in the dance. Change has brought about many pleasant things. We should be happy that our children are blessed.

7. Enlightened selfishness: All of us are basically selfish. Whatever we do, we expect something in return. We should definitely be grateful to those who stood by us.

But, our focus should be on the internal satisfaction and the happiness we derive by doing good for others, without expecting anything in return.

Perform a random act of kindness daily.

8. Forget and forgive: Don't be bothered too much about others' mistakes. We are not spiritual enough to show our other cheek when we are slapped in one.

But for the sake of our own health and happiness, let us forgive and forget them. Otherwise, we will be only increasing our blood pressure.

9. Everything has a purpose: Take life as it comes. Accept yourself as you are and also accept others for what they are. Everybody is unique and is right in his own way.

10. Overcome the fear of death: We all know that one day we have to leave this world. Still we are afraid of death. We think that our spouse and children will be unable to withstand our loss.

But the truth is no one is going to die for you; they may be depressed for some time. Time heals everything and they will go on.

Viewpoint expressed in "The Hindu."

Secrets of Old Age...

If you have time for one very special email today this is it.

Take the time and accept the secrets of old age.

Do Not miss to click o this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?feature=player_embedded&v=FgBF3sIPm4c

Can u believe this???????

2013-08-30T14:34:00.003-07:00

Mukesh Shah

"संतान" -
मैं तकरीबन २० साल के बाद विदेश से अपने शहर लौटा था ! बाज़ार में घुमते हुए सहसा मेरी नज़रें सब्जी का ठेला लगाये एक बूढे पर जा टिकीं, बहुत कोशिश के बावजूद भी मैं उसको पहचान नहीं पा रहा था ! लेकिन न जाने बार बार ऐसा क्यों लग रहा था की मैं उसे बड़ी अच्छी तरह से जनता हूँ ! मेरी उत्सुकता उस बूढ़ेसे भी छुपी न रही , उसके चेहरे पर आई अचानक मुस्कान से मैंसमझ गया था कि उसने मुझे पहचान लिया था ! काफी देर की जेहनी कशमकश के बाद जब मैंने उसे पहचाना तो मेरे पाँवके नीचे से मानो ज़मीन खिसक गई ! जब मैं
विदेश गया था तो इसकीएक बहुत बड़ी आटा मिल हुआ करती थी नौकर चाकर आगे पीछे घूमा करतेथे !धर्म कर्म, दान पुण्य में सब से अग्रणी इस दानवीर पुरुष को मैं ताऊजी कह कर बुलाया करता था! वही आटा मिल का मालिक और आज सब्जी का ठेला लगाने पर मजबूर? मुझ से रहा नहीं गया और मैं उसके पास जा पहुँचा और बहुत मुश्किल से रुंधे गले से पूछा : "ताऊ जी, ये सब कैसे हो गया ?" भरी ऑंखें लिए मेरे कंधे पर हाथ रख उसने उत्तर दिया:
"बच्चे बड़े हो गए हैं बेटा !"
See Translation

websites for Seniors Citizens to help them learn basic computer

2013-08-17T21:20:00.002-07:00

Under are few websites for Seniors Citizens to help them learn basic computer skills.

Skillful Senior - http://www.skillfulsenior.com/

BBC – Webwise - http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/

Microsoft Accessibility - http://www.microsoft.com/enable/aging/tips.aspx

HP Learning Center - http://h30440.www3.hp.com/learningcenter/Classes/ClassAll.aspx

Meganga - http://www.meganga.com/

GCF Learn Free - http://www.gcflearnfree.org/internet

- Yamini Nair