Photographing Seniors: Making Silver Shine in the Golden Years

Photographing them gives us a chance to capture the history they have witnessed and experienced.

✍️ प्रारम्भ खबर 📅 ८ आश्विन २०७८, शुक्रबार १८:०९ 1,197

According to the Help Age Global Network, Nepal has over 2 million people over the age of 60, accounting for over 9% of the country’s total population. Furthermore, the proportion of older people is expected to double to 18.6% in 2050 with 36 million people aged over 60. It shows that Nepal is already in the process of ageing.

It is commendable that our society’s senior citizens are among our greatest assets. They have witnessed the roar of change, the cruelty or war, the upset of recession, and the power in our humanity at work.

Photographing them gives us a chance to capture the history they have witnessed and experienced. Older folks, unlike children and teenagers, did not grow up with hand-held technology and digital cameras in their pockets to capture every moment and share it with friends on Facebook and Insta.

As, senior portraits have come a long way in recent years. Some of them recall visiting a local photograph studio to get professional-looking headshots taken. Perhaps they wore a nice sweater or something with a collar for one of the photos.

That is why the photographs play an important role in everyone’s life: they connect us of people, places, sentiments, and stories from our past. They can help us to know who we are.

And I thought of giving the flex of photos I took during my last research with the motto of “pouring them delight with small initiation and making the silver-haired members of our clan shine. Thanks to my friend, Mr. Ramesh Mali who sponsored it and made it happen. Through this article, I pay tribute to the positive spirit of senior citizens who have shown me kindness during the moment.

“You always deserve to be celebrated and see that you are handsome, strong, and unique; but this milestone deserve its own form of celebration which is capture in pictures,” said Jaganath Upreti-92-year older. “Every experience you had through these years has led you to this moment and photos are an opportunity to celebrate how far you have come and you know it’s a reward,” he added.

“Take myself as an example; I was born after my grandma had passed away. I always used to hear great things about her. However, her respective old photographs are what I remember more than any story. That’s why, for elderly women like me collection of photos are treasures,” says Jamuna Dasi-88-years-old staying at Kalpabas of Devghatdham Chitwan.

“Dhaan ko bala aaluma choto cha, ma maraynee dhokama photo cha”, says Samipa Khanal 85 years older. “Taking a glimpse at the images that have been hung on the walls. Looking at images that we’ve preserved in a photo album for years reminds me that there’s a feeling inside me still alive, fresh and young,” she added.

However, due to advance in technology (which have rendered seniors digitally homeless), increasing urbanization and international migration, family disintegration, health and financial crises, and other factors, the elderly population is increasingly isolated and lonely, with inadequate health care. It also affecting them as an epidemic, leading to despair and a slew of other negative consequences that have a detrimental impact on their quality of life. In such situations, offering their photographs encourages seniors to remain socially active and stimulate happiness. Images hanging on the wall have been an emotional support for the elderly whose children are stationed, allowing them to recollect fondness and memories. This has far-reaching ramifications for Nepalese older citizens, who suffer comparable challenges because of the graying society and their isolations.

In terms of general health, photo is also connected with promoting healthy aging in the brain. Either our brains work in use-it-or-lose-it mode. To keep our minds sharp as we become older, we need to keep them stimulated. It could be simply by the connection between photograph and memory, and how looking at old images can assist active memory in elderly folks. And its value as a long-term brain strengthener.

“Thank you, Chori, for returning my photo in printed form. Photos brought delight in a sorrowful life of elderly. Photos, in my opinion, generate memories that endure a lifetime. We are more likely to take a photograph when we are around family or friends doing something that makes us happy, laugh or love,” said-Harikala Regimi, an 83-year-older women who live alone in Kalpabas of Chitwan. “When I look at those images, that moment freezes me, especially if my relationship with the people in the shot have changed,” she added.

Many researches has shown that photography has been seen as effective at promoting strong mental health, as well as helping others in overcoming mental health issues. For many years, photos have been utilized as a kind of therapy for a variety of anxiety or mental health disorders. These memories can help Alzheimer’s and dementia patients improve their mood and reduce agitation.

Similarly, many social workers, gerontologists, psychologists, and counselors are aware of the therapeutic benefits of photography and use it as a tool in both individual and group settings. Practitioners use these methods on older adults to improve social skills, coping mechanisms, self-esteem, and identify formation.

“The seasons of smiling and snapping will never end. No matter how aged you are. Family friends assemble with cameras for birth rituals, wedding ceremonies, Dashain, Tihar, and including any other important occasions,” said Lal Bahadur Shamsher Rana-92-years old.

“When I recall happy moments, I typically get brighter and grin more when I look at my own photos”. According to Gauri Banjara, an 80-year-old resident of Rotary Karunalay Sadabart Bridaashram, “seeing old photos and sharing about the memories provide relief, especially for seniors who are less digitalized or living in a care home”. “It can also help us get out of our current depressive or lonely state and relive more busy days,” she added further.

Senior who reminisce has shown improved outlooks on quality of life. It’s positive aspect is that when seniors are busy sharing their accomplishments, it distracts them from worrying about their medical conditions and other stuffs. It also boosts their self-esteem.

It is often upsetting to know that today’s families keep less concern for their seniors next to them. Busy generations tend to forget that the seniors in their family used to live young, cheerful and full lives. Seniors who recount past experiences can pass valuable memories through snapshot for future generations. So, let us celebrate the gracefully ageing propounding their values, experiences and contribution to our society.

Kalpana Pun

Master’s in Social Work (Specializing in the Gerontology)

Tribhuvan University

Photo credit: Self