When Medicine Fails, Love Heals!

Old age isn’t a disease - it’s a truth to be embraced.

By Rakesh Kushwaha

Sometimes, a single question can shake the very foundation of our modern life.

A wise reader recently shared that his mother, in her final days, asked a doctor,

“Do you have any medicine for old age or death?”

The doctor remained silent — because there was none.

That silence spoke volumes. Old age is not an illness to be cured; it is a truth to be embraced. In today’s world, admitting elderly people to hospitals often feels like an act of care, but at times, it becomes a silent torture. The walls of the hospital may treat the body, but they often fail to heal the heart. Many elders recover faster — and live longer — when surrounded by the warmth of their loved ones.

Life and Work — The Everyday Medicine

Our working life itself is a kind of medical treatment.

The routine, the responsibility, and the sense of purpose keep us mentally and physically alive. Yet, when people retire, some of them unknowingly feel as if they have retired from life itself. A busy life is indeed a healthy life, but it must be age-appropriate.

After retirement, many continue hard and stressful work, which is not always good. The best remedy in the later stage of life is not another medicine — it is spirituality, acceptance, and doing work that suits one’s health and personality.

A True Story — My Father’s Journey

My father retired in 2011 at the age of 62. He had always been an active lecturer, a very disciplined and punctual person during his service. Throughout his job career, he hardly ever took a sick leave , even his casual leaves used to lapse.

But just a year after retirement, in 2012, while taking his regular evening walk with my mother, he suddenly fell down — struck by a severe paralytic attack that affected the right side of his body. It was a painful and shocking phase for all of us.

He was hospitalized, kept in ICU, and underwent extensive allopathic treatment and physiotherapy. Slowly he recovered, but along with that came two companions — blood pressure and diabetes — both unknown to him earlier. Since then, he has been on insulin and careful medication.

Yet, here lies the miracle.

Though physically limited, he is mentally, emotionally, and spiritually strong.

He rarely visits hospitals now — he fears them. He believes that once you are admitted, you often come back with more complications than you had before.

Under home care, love, and familiar surroundings, he regained the courage to live with dignity. His days are filled with simple exercises, balanced diet, social interactions, and self-discipline. He still meets friends and relatives whenever possible — a therapy no medicine can replace.

His willpower is his real treatment. He believes more in humanity than spirituality, yet his way of living has both blended perfectly.

The Lesson

There may not be any medicine for old age or death — but there is healing in love, care, and understanding. The best hospital for the elderly, at times, is their own home.

And perhaps, the strongest medicine in life is purpose, peace, and people who care.

From the Author’s Desk

Every story I write finds its soul in the experiences and reflections shared by my readers. Your thoughtful comments and emotional connections give me strength to write on subjects that touch the heart and awaken sensitivity.

I am deeply thankful to all who continue to read, share, and inspire me to explore meaningful, real-life stories.

If you liked this blog, please share it with your contacts for a social cause.

Have you come across a similar experience? I would love to hear from you.

With warm regards,

Rakesh Kushwaha

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this article are based on personal experiences and reflections. Hospitals and medical institutions are vital pillars of our society, and this writing does not intend to question their importance or target anyone. It simply emphasizes that emotional care and homely surroundings also play a powerful role in healing — especially during old age.