The scorching summer is back with its gust of hot spell all around. It’s a sweltering summer for the Katakis with scarcity of water, regular power cuts and of course illness is sure to be accompanied with it. 

The customary scenario one may find to see in Cuttack during summer are people gathered in parks or public places enjoying the cool breeze of evening while the young generation speeding up for long drives, chatting with their friends or attending summer courses and well the kids struggling with their homework. 

However the most arresting picture is the never-ending row of old people sitting upon the boundary wall of the riverbank Mahanadi and Kathajodi Rivers, till late night when they retire home for dinner. 

Katak’s beautiful old people have found an interesting way to beat the heat away. Usually summer is thought of as a time to relax at home or travel, while here these old people love to gather near the river side and breathe the cool breeze. 

For many of them most important is meeting with their age-group friends and sharing their emotions. They feel nostalgic about the overwhelming days they had spent. 

Such kind of recreation help the older people create a social circle of their own including friends, colleagues, relatives or neighbours. They sit out and socialize with them. It eases the flow of ideas and share their fears amongst the people of their own age. Communicating with others eases any kind of situation. In this way they feel happy, mentally satisfied living a healthier life. 

During summer older people are at risk of health problems or heart conditions. Older people need to stay in cool and comfortable conditions in the hot weather. And best if the cool breeze near a riverbank act as a natural AC for them. It improves their health and fitness. . 

You may find lot of activities carried out near a riverside. The areas of interests include evening stroll, chatting, fishing, swimming, water sports and many others according to one’s choice. 

Cuttack, once upon a time preserved lush green parks and gardens. People used to visit these parks or open areas for a morning walk, exercises, entertainment or an evening stroll. 

Starting from a toddler to older people all visited such places for entertainment, relaxation, stroll or exercises. But the deadly creatures of Development and Industrialisation are killing these green areas, further adding pollution in the environment. At the same time, the river water is also getting polluted slowly. So, where will one find space for relaxation? 

The challenges of old age are stress, isolation, diseases and depression. Yet few of them implement different innovative art of living style, which makes it possible for them to confidently chalk out a plan for everyday life. Thanks to the blue waters of Mahanadi and Kathajodi which is finding way as a place of entertainment during summer.

Memories Squared is a modified word-bingo game developed by the nonprofit Myers Research Institute in Beachwood, Ohio. The game combines fill-in-the-blank challenges with cues for engaging people in conversation and reminiscence. "If you never finish the game but you've had a good time talking and connecting with the person, that's the whole point," said Cameron Camp, institute director and senior research scientist. 

Camp also developed Reading Roundtable Stories for groups or families to read aloud together. Bourgeois recommends a series of "two-lap" books by Lydia Burdick, such as "The Sunshine on My Face." The books, also meant to be shared and read aloud, feature images of older adults engaged in familiar activities, such as watching television and dancing to music on the radio. 
Marlene Sandhu, founder of Being With Being, consults with long-term-care facilities in the Washington area about how to best connect to residents with dementia. 

"Pictures are great," she said, "but at some point two-dimensional images are not engaging enough. Rather than take a family wedding photo, take your wedding dress for them to hold." Sandhu is developing a new product that uses props to help people connect. 

Back at Westminster at Lake Ridge, a group of residents gathered around a big screen for another popular activity -- the Wii video game simulating various sports. Lillian Warren, 95, who has mild memory loss and limited use of her left side following a stroke, was willing to have a go at bowling, an activity she used to enjoy. Even though she was a lifelong lefty, she moved the remote with her right hand to send a ball down the lane. A whoop went up around her. She rolled a strike. 

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