DR REKHA BHATKHANDE, 75: “MY WELLNESS IS HOLISTIC”

Dr Rekha Bhatkhande, interacting with Anita Natu, reveals how she copes with her demanding job and continues to be healthy and active at age 75. She is a Gastroenterologist and Dean of Shushrusha Citizens Cooperative hospital, Mumbai and was recently awarded the ‘Jyeshtha Sewa Bhushan’ for her work for the welfare of Senior Citizens. In her words…

AT THIS AGE, WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING?

“I am a doctor and empathy, compassion for people and hard work are inherent professional qualities. And there is no age limit to doing social work, and that is what I have been doing for the last 25 years”.

DO YOU FOLLOW ANY DIET AND EXERCISE REGIME?

“I have never followed any regime in either my diet or exercise. Eating regularly and timely, being active in the hospital and at home is all the exercise I need. I do however believe that cooking, keeping and eating safe food and drinking safe water is the key to gut health which in turn keeps the gut-brain axis functioning optimally, thus avoiding many chronic diseases”.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR GOOD HEALTH?

“In 1948, WHO had defined Health as a “State of Complete Physical, Mental and Social Well-being not just an absence of Illness and Infirmity.” I genuinely believe that to remain healthy is to find a balance in many aspects of Life. We need to use health as a resource for improving the Quality of Life in daily living.  And not make it (and often obsessively so) the objective of life.”

“So now my being physically fit, mentally alert, psychologically mature, emotionally stable and spiritually calm makes sure of my overall well-being and that my wellness is holistic.”

WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?

“The ability to listen to others, to think critically and logically, and to take responsibility for my responses and actions.”

WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED?

“The love of Humanity”.

DO YOU THINK YOUR AGE IS AN ADVANTAGE?

“The ability to use Knowledge appropriately through experience and analysis are the biggest assets of age”.

IS THERE ANY MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER THAT YOU FOUND INSPIRING?

“Saving a life is always a highlight in any doctor’s career. I remember 3 unique experiences in doing just that and that too whilst on journeys I undertook a long time ago.”

·        “Once in a train from Solapur to Mumbai I was able to help an asthmatic passenger in respiratory distress without any handy medication but by plying him with strong coffee instead.”

·        “On a plane, I stopped a cold and clammy semi-conscious elderly passenger from slipping into a hypoglycaemic coma by rubbing powdered sugar into her gums as intravenous glucose was not available in the plane’s first aid box.”

·        “On the highway from Bengaluru to Mysore I resuscitated a young child who had sustained a head injury after being run over by a State Transport bus on the road that ran through his village. The villagers response to hearing the apparently 'dead' child’s first cry after the CPR was a single, simultaneous primordial sound of gratitude that I will never forget.”

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE?

“To have full faith in myself, in my knowledge and in my ability to do what I am trained to do and to always extend a helping hand.”

WHAT ADVICE WILL YOU GIVE OTHER SENIORS

·        “Remember independence and a good quality of life are worth striving for.” 

·        “Live with self-respect with self-care, this will make you independent and happy.”

YOUR JOB IS EXTREMELY DEMANDING, HOW DO YOU DE-STRESS?

“I interact with my 8-year-old grandson on the phone and read fiction”.

WHAT IS YOUR “BROWN BAG’ CONCEPT?

“My ‘Brown Bag’ concept is that all Senior Citizens should always carry their ongoing meds in a paper bag to show their treating doctor so that there is no duplication or incompatibility of meds prescribed by him.”

YOU WERE AWARDED THE ‘JYESHTHA SEWA BHUSHAN’?

“The Award was for work done for the welfare of Senior Citizens through the various organizations that I head. In addition to being the Dean of Shushrusha Citizens Cooperative hospital in Mumbai, I am the President of ‘Family Welfare Agency’ located in Lower Parel and in Dharavi Mumbai, the President and Co-founder of the ‘Dilasa Group of Senior Citizens’ of Dadar, Mumbai, the Vice President of ‘FESCOM’ (Federation of Senior Citizens of Maharashtra) Mumbai region. The National Vice President of ‘MSSI’, (the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India) and the Trustee of ‘Centre for Study of Social Change’ in Bandra, Mumbai.”

-        Dr Rekha Bhatkhande interacting with Anita Natu