Reconnecting our older generation to nature

 Nature has an impact on every segment of the society, from the younger generation to the old generation. While it rejuvenates the younger generation from their busy work life, it stimulates and evokes the past sensory experiences of the older generation, enriches their everyday life and maintains their inner selves.

With this realization I along with my group members decided to visit an old age home to connect the people there with nature. With the rapid globalization, the older generation does not get to go out and experience the beauty of nature. I along with my group friends wanted to bring our senior citizens close to nature by gifting them a few items that would remind them of nature and would be able to appreciate the beauty around them. I gifted the elderly men and women small plants that would reminisce them of nature around them. I was shocked to see the immediate smiles on their faces when they saw the plants. A few of the old people were extremely happy to receive the plants, in fact they took it to their rooms and placed it on their window panes. Later we got to know that they were really fond of plants and flowers around them. Secondly, we made posters and banners that had messages like ?May peace prevail on Earth? and ?We Care for the elderly?. This made the people of our group aware of the purpose of this event.

Lastly, I gave a painting to an elderly man. The painting consisted of various elements of nature like, a lake, trees, plants, mountains, etc. He looked immensely happy and had a child-like expression while receiving it. The painting reminded the man of his past experiences with nature and he started to recall his childhood when he was much more connected with nature. He shared his personal stories with us from his town in Palestine where his house was nestled by natural beauty.

Put yourself in the shoes of an elderly person. When you know you are becoming fragile and your body is failing you, it?s difficult to cope with the uncertainty of the future—mentally and physically. Our elders may have many things on their mind but they may not be able to express them. Our responsibility comes in to give them some happy moments and smile they need to help them live the rest of their lives peacefully. Even though we spent some hours with them but our small gestures of giving them plants, fruits and juices and most of all painting related to natural beauty will always make them feel connected to nature. It is the little things that make a big difference in care.