When Anuradha was 79 years old, she was diagnosed with depression, she no longer could move around the way she once could and began to feel like a burden on her daughters before she was referred to AACI.  

Anuradha had been struggling for a couple of years, after losing her entire support system in one fell swoop with the passing of her husband, and then immediately moving to America from India. She lived a full life in India before moving to the US. She had a loving husband and for many years was a stay-at-home mom caring for her two daughters. Initially, Anuradha seemed to transition to American life well, living with her pregnant daughter and taking care of her grandchildren. However, she began to experience balance issues and falls, leading to her being bedridden for several months in 2019. With this catalyst, the death of her husband, and nothing to distract her from her negative feelings, Anuradha fell into a depression ultimately resulting in her placement in a nursing facility.   

She was referred to AACI Behavioral Health services for counseling that could meet her cultural and language needs. Despite meeting with several therapists who spoke different Indian languages, due to language barriers, Anuradha was not able to make the most out of therapy—that is until she met with Smitha. In her past therapy sessions with people who did not speak her mother tongue, she was not able to engage with them in the same way she is with Smitha. For her, it was hard to fully express herself in her second language.  

Smitha, who speaks her native language of Kannada, and fully understands her cultural background has brought Anuradha out of her shell. Through creating bonds by playing familiar board game from their shared home country called Chouka-Bhara, and fostering a comfortable environment for her, Anuradha has opened up and been able to process her grief, the loss of familiar environments and people, and her diminishing physical abilities. Smitha and Anuradha talk about anything and everything from the clinical things such as her symptoms and feelings, to the fun things, like if Anuradha is winning at bingo, or what they are reading. Anuradha eagerly awaits her weekly sessions with Smitha, engaging in conversation and finding joy in activities she once enjoyed, such as reading and knitting. She says, “I don’t feel as depressed as I used to feel a couple of years ago. I feel better now.”   

Not only does Anuradha feel the benefits of culturally specific therapy, her caseworker and daughters, Deepali and Neela, have noticed a positive change in her mood, increased social activities, and decreased depressive symptoms. In speaking with them and their mother they all agreed that Smitha feels like part of their family and even called her “the fun daughter” for how she has brought the light back to their mother’s eyes. Although Anuradha still struggles with depression, she is now more accepting of her limitations and changes in her life situation with the correct support system and coping mechanisms.  

Anuradha has found the fun in day-to-day life again, and spends time participating in art activities, and games put on by the nursing facility. One of her favorites is bingo since when she wins, she gets ice cream. She has also even taken up knitting again, which she hadn’t done since leaving India. Meeting in person with Smitha was a turning point for her, as this was the start of her new and improved support system. She advises others in similar situations to seek therapy, finding it both helpful and entertaining. She says, “I feel that especially for old people who are depressed and have lost interest, having programs where they get some entertainment, some social connections would be good for them to feel better about themselves.”   

To learn more about AACI Adult & Older Adult (AOA) Behavioral Health program, please visit Adult and Older Adult | Rehabilitation and Support | AACI.