Elderhood, a new initiative dedicated to enhancing the lives of seniors in New Zealand, was officially launched on 14 June, 2024 by Sriom Adisakthiyendra Swamigal (Devima), the Founder of Sri Om Incorporated New Zealand. The ceremony in Auckland underscored the organisation's commitment to ensuring that every older adult in Aotearoa can age with dignity and enjoy a fulfilling, enriched life, focusing on culturally and language-specific care.
Operating under the motto "Humanity Leads Divinity, Divinity Leads Unity," Devima highlighted the crucial role of compassion and unity in elder care. This sentiment resonated with the diverse attendees, which included representatives from various community organisations and dignitaries.
Distinguished guests included representatives from Auckland City Council Libraries, Shanti Niwas, Auckland Tamil Association, Hindu Elders, Independent Living patrons, Bayside Psychology, HSS, Tamil NZ School of Dance, and members of the existing Elderhood day centres.
Photo: Supplied
The ceremony began with Devima lighting the ceremonial lamp, symbolising the light of hope and care for seniors. Mr. Pradeep Rangarajan, Vice President of Sri Om Inc, welcomed the attendees warmly. Following this, Mr. Jayraman Guruswamy, Order of Australia Medal recipient and Vice President of Sri Om Care, presented the activities and services offered by Sri Om Care in Australia, along with an overview of their recent foundation tile unveiling for an Assisted Living facility.
Photo: Supplied
Ashna Chakravarthy, Secretary of Sri Om Inc, and Executive Committee member Mr. Aravindh Rajagopalan unveiled Elderhood’s strategic plan. This plan addresses the key challenges faced by seniors today, emphasizing the need for culturally and linguistically tailored care. It includes a variety of programs such as Centres, Emergency Assistance Programs, Regular Care Programs, and pathways to Assisted Living, all designed to provide comprehensive support to seniors. Additionally, the plan outlines strategic priorities like partnerships and inclusiveness.
Elderhood represents a significant step towards ensuring that seniors receive the respect, dignity, and specialized care they deserve in their golden years. For more information on Elderhood, please visit elderhood.org.nz.
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