Seniors Find Purpose and Community in Gerontology Classes

A unique one-year diploma in Gerontology at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is empowering elderly Indians to navigate the challenges of aging. Launched in 2008, the part-time program, which meets on Friday evenings and Saturdays, enrolls around 30 students annually and costs approximately Rs 63,000. It offers a comprehensive approach, covering biological, psychological, social, and economic aspects of aging, with a focus on survival, companionship, and purpose.

As India's elderly population grows, projected to be nearly 20 percent by 2050, concerns such as loneliness, caregiving stress, and social isolation are paramount. The TISS program provides a structured environment for individuals like 67-year-old Prakash Apte and 76-year-old Arun Rahulkar to understand these issues and redefine their post-retirement lives. Graduates are actively engaged in conducting awareness sessions and launching social enterprises.

Field-based learning is integral, with students visiting old age homes, NGOs, and low-income settlements. These experiences expose them to the realities of abandonment and isolation faced by many seniors. Through activities like dance movement therapy, art, and street theatre, students reconnect emotionally and gain confidence, transforming from passive recipients to active participants in their communities.