Talking Parlor
Talking Parlor is a conversational group, organized by the Healthy Ageing Movement under Dr. B. Padmakumar and Chandra Das. It brings together elderly participants to share memories, poems, and stories—helping improve memory, foster social engagement, and enhance emotional well-being through storytelling and dialogue.
In detail
Talking Parlor is a social initiative launched in Alappuzha as part of the Healthy Ageing Movement under the leadership of Dr. B. Padmakumar and K.Chandra Das. Designed as a conversational platform for elderly citizens, the program aims to keep participants mentally active and socially connected. During the sessions, senior citizens gather to share memories, poems, personal stories, and experiences from different stages of life. This process not only helps preserve their collective memory but also provides an avenue for emotional expression and support.
The initiative addresses growing concerns about isolation, loneliness, and memory loss among the elderly. By fostering group discussions, Talking Parlor encourages active participation, enhances self-confidence, and promotes mental agility. Organizers highlight that continuous engagement of this kind has the potential to delay age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Beyond its health benefits, the project nurtures a sense of belonging and interconnection, enabling older adults to remain active contributors to the community. Talking Parlor has been recognized as a model for innovative, community-based approaches to healthy ageing in Kerala.