March 2025
Wellness Column
"Stay Connected with the Community, Stay Healthy" By Dipal Patel, Executive Clinical Director, Sunrise After Care LLC
Staying connected with the community plays a vital role in maintaining both mental and physical health in seniors’ lives. Social engagement helps prevent loneliness, reduces stress, and keeps the mind sharp. Seniors can stay connected through social gatherings, volunteer work, or group activities with family or programs like Adult Day Health. Engaging in community activities helps prevent isolation, keeps their minds and bodies active, and gives them a sense of purpose. Community can help foster friendships, offer opportunities for lifelong learning, and advocate for their needs. A supportive community greatly enhances seniors’ quality of life, ensuring they remain happy and healthy.
- Engaging in community activities provides seniors with opportunities to build meaningful relationships, share experiences, and receive emotional support. It can significantly improve mental and physical well-being, giving them a sense of purpose and belonging. Whether through social clubs, volunteering, or local events, staying connected makes a significant difference in their overall quality of life.
- A supportive community creates a sense of belonging where seniors can openly express their thoughts, joys, and concerns without fear of judgment. Being surrounded by people who truly understand their experiences fosters emotional resilience and reduces feelings of loneliness. Whether through friendships, support groups, or shared activities, a strong community helps seniors navigate life’s ups and downs with confidence and companionship.
- When seniors engage with their community, they feel valued and appreciated, which boosts their self-esteem and overall happiness. Volunteering allows them to give back, share their wisdom, and make a difference, while participating in events keeps them socially active. Whether mentoring younger generations, joining day programs or simply sharing life experiences, staying involved helps seniors maintain a strong sense of identity and purpose.
- Studies have shown that staying socially active can improve overall well-being by reducing stress, enhancing mood, and even lowering the risk of age-related health conditions like dementia. Regular interaction with others stimulates cognitive function, keeps the mind sharp, and provides emotional support, which can help prevent feelings of loneliness and depression. Engaging in community activities also encourages physical movement, whether through group exercises, walking clubs, or simply social outings, all of which contribute to a healthier and happier life for seniors.
- Lifelong learning is essential for keeping the mind sharp and fostering a sense of curiosity and growth. Many communities offer classes, workshops, and group activities on topics like technology, art, music, and fitness, allowing seniors to explore new interests or deepen existing ones. Engaging in continuous learning not only enhances cognitive function but also provides social opportunities, helping seniors stay connected and engaged with others who share their passions.
- A strong and united community can be a powerful voice for seniors, advocating for policies and services that support their well-being. Community help enforce access to better healthcare, accessible transportation, and/or affordable housing. Community’s collective action ensures that seniors’ needs are recognized and addressed. By coming together, communities can create positive changes, ensuring that older adults have the resources and support they need to thrive.
Community Conversations
IAGB asked its 13 Women of Shakti, “What does Mission Shakti – Call for Equity and Justice mean to you?”
Read on what they had to say:
Carolyn Passey
Shakti is the empowerment of feminine strength. Throughout the generations much progress has been made to allow women to finally achieve equality in most facets of life. Gone is the occupation of a woman ONLY being a wife and mother. Now, almost every door is open to her. A woman can become a doctor, a CEO, a mechanic, an owner of a company, a General/Admiral in the military and even the President of the United States!
But don’t be fooled! Behind closed doors there are still men who don’t want to take direction from a woman or the husband who uses his feelings of superiority to abuse his wife. Until we can educate all young men and young women, yes women, too, as to what true equality is and how to enforce it, there will never be complete equality and justice!
Dr. Manju Sheth
To me, Shakti is about unlocking the power within each of us to drive meaningful change. As a physician, mother, and community leader, I have witnessed that true shakti lies in empowering others. Through storytelling—whether with Chai with Manju, NECA, Woman of the Year, or Women Who Win—I strive to create platforms where voices are heard, communities are built, and purpose is shared. Together, we can advocate equality and justice. I am proud to contribute to IAGB’s Mission Shakti and its vision for a more equitable future for our Boston Indian community.
Gouri Datta
To me, it means unleashing the inherent Power in a Woman, not only to stand upright and dignified in a world awash both by storms and blue skies, but also to INSPIRE others to be fighters, justice-givers, peace- makers, power beacon lights, protectors, comforters – as needed!!
Jasmine Shah
To me, it is ensuring fairness and equal opportunities for everyone. It’s about empowering those who face barriers in life, it’s about creating a society where everyone is treated with dignity.
Jaya Pandey
Mission Shakti – Call for Equity & Justice’ to me, is empowering moms, daughters, sisters, and friends to stand tall, to access education, and to have a fair chance at every opportunity. Standing by their side in creating a world free from violence and discrimination, without barriers and challenges. Women supporting one another, looking at the bigger picture and a better future. Empowering women and nurturing an inclusive society where everyone has access to opportunities, resources, education, work, and rights.
Jean Ambika Bushnell
Regardless of age, class, gender, race, or disability we all have an equal place in society to shine and we should have an equal opportunity to advance and live our best lives.
Lilian Mageski
I feel that equity and justice are essential for women’s empowerment, ensuring that women have equal rights, opportunities, and access to resources. This enables women to make their own choices and live free from violence and discrimination.
Mei Hung
Shakti is the empowerment of feminine strength. It empowers and sustains women’s independence, equity and justice, and the freedom to express one’s potential.
Poppy Charnalia
Shakti means balance for me. The peaceful power that comes with balance. The balance that appears in Nature. This balance mandates equal opportunity for everyone regardless of gender. This balance creates harmony and success. This balance has been lost and needs to be restored. A musical harmony where all genders are doing their part and no one sound is dominating the other.
Sahana Purohit
Mission Shakti – Call for Equity & Justice’ is a powerful reminder of the deep need for fairness and equality in our society. To me, it represents the essential belief that every woman, and every person, deserves to live with dignity, free from bias, violence, or discrimination. It’s about ensuring equal representation and providing the same opportunities and resources for all.
As the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi once said, “You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.” This speaks to the power of unity, understanding, and the need for open hearts and minds in the fight for justice and equality. I hope that together, we can continue to advocate for a world where justice, understanding, and respect are not just ideals, but everyday realities for everyone. We can continue to build a world where dignity and respect are at the heart of every decision and action.
Sonal Khakhar
To me, “Mission Shakti” is all about celebrating the incredible strength and resilience of women – the true driving force behind progress and change in our communities. It’s about breaking barriers and building a world where everyone, regardless of gender, has the dignity, opportunity, and fairness they deserve to thrive.
“Here’s to strong women: may we know them, may we be them, and may we never underestimate their ability to multitask!
Tara Rachel Jones
Mission Shakti- A Call for Justice and Equity reminds me of how sacred, divine feminine animates beauty, grace and all of life. Empowering women to anchor a steady balance and loving connection on our earth with one-another.
As Women- we represent the archetype of the divine mother who is the protector of innocence, the loving presence in acceptance of her children, ensuring that they follow their dreams and their inner self in all names and forms.
Usha Vakil
I was brought up with the ancient myths of great Indian Goddesses, their Shakti, energy, power, and capability to do. To me Shakti means potent energy, knowledge, and ability to care and act and I have tried to apply this to empower women in all levels of society through my work with Saheli and rural women in India so they can participate with equal footing in any society and economies.