Being the youngest in the family, I have witnessed my parents, relatives and family friends grow older and require support. Accompanying my parents to banks, hospitals, markets or other public places, I have realized that our country has the potential to be more considerate towards senior citizens. There is a pressing need for senior citizen-friendly counters at various places. A recent hospital where I met my father’s friend, a retired services man, still haunts me. They sent him from lab tests to signatures to the pharmacy; each stop farther than the last. By the end he could barely walk.
Public service setups should prioritise senior adults, ensuring they receive timely assistance. No one older than 70 should be made to wait or struggle with errands while others watch. Buildings should incorporate senior-friendly spaces, such as ramps and railings, to empower them. Toilets should have elevated fittings and support rails to assist older individuals. Most importantly, we should educate the general public to give up their seat or spot in the queue to the most senior person waiting. Their work should be promptly processed and nobody should make them wait.
Basma F Malik
Rawalpindi
