Sponsored by the Goa Hindu Association, the delegates -- mainly from small towns in west and southwest India -- will arrive in here on November 7 for the two-day conference.

According to convenor Ramkrishna Naik, the delegates will be drawn from voluntary organisations which work directly and indirectly with senior citizens. The association which runs privately-funded old age homes in the state is now looking to enriching the lives of the aged who choose to reside in their own homes.

Most senior citizens prefer congregating at a public place two or three times a week for recreational purposes, says Naik. To this end, the association has mooted the setting up of day-care centres for the aged. ``Schools, colleges, temples, churches could make for ideal day-carecentres where senior citizens come together to discuss their problems,'' says Naik.

In the association's own old age home in Goa, inmates are encouraged to keep busy by taking up various activities. Some, for instance, teach underprivileged youth while others keep accounts for local traders.

``We will think up various post-retirement engagements for senior citizens at the conference,'' says Naik. Aged persons are often faced with loss of self-esteem after retirement though they are capable of leading active lives, he adds.