Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 8 CITY VIEWS October 24, 2025 Aristacare Indian Nursing Home Program Celebrates 20th Anniversary, And Diwali A ristaCare Health Service, celebrated the 20th an- niversary of its visionary Indian Nursing Home Program October 19, 2025. The event also celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights, a memorable time for residents of the Cedar Oaks venue in South Plainfield, NJ. More than 100 guests as well as parents housed in the senior care facility, gath- ered to celebrate the anniversa- ry as well as Diwali. Sweets and delicacies decorated the tables, as did religious images. The event began with Ganesh Vandana led by founder and president of the Indian Nurs- ing Home Program, Mukund Thakar, who also spoke about his experience over the two de- cades. More than 20,000 Indian parents have been served by the facility, he said, calling it “my parents’ temple,” adding that currently he has “800 parents.” Young children performed a dance number, and women did the garba dance in a circle, all dressed in traditional finery. Thakar, who saw the need for culturally appropriate care needs for Indian seniors, worked with his wife Rama, and daugh- ter Ankita Patel, to make it a reality. Ankita Patel is the direc- tor of the Indian Nursing Home Program. Among other services, Patel, noted, since the elders cannot visit temples easily, “We brought the temple here,” and programs such as Annakut etc. are held at the nursing home. Support staff who work at the facility were also present at the event, as were residents, some of them in wheelchairs. Thakar received support in his initiative from co-founder Sydney Greenberger, president of AristaCare Health Services, who was also present at the event. Greenberger, in his speech, wished everyone a Happy Di- wali. He praised Thakar calling him a “really special human being, saying what he does, “It is always been from his heart…. This was never a job. It was a calling. And you (Mukund Thakar) succeeded beyond any- body’s wildest imagination.” For two decades the Program has been dedicated to providing senior care services specializing in post-acute rehabilitation, memory care, and long-term care given to Indian senior citizens, Aristacare notes. Thou- sands have been served over the years with what families see as a nurturing community built on compassion, culture and care. Edison, NJ Mayor Sam Joshi arrived and mingled with the guests, chatting with commu- nity leaders and family mem- bers of the residents. He spoke in mixed Gujarati and English, saying he was “humbled and honored” to be present. Joshi spoke of some of his city’s programs since he became Mayor 4 years ago, that have been inclusive and reached out to Indian seniors with services. The Mr. Fixit program he said had helped seniors with simple daily chores like buy and install- ing light bulbs in their homes, or programs to pick up and drop people for their doctor’s appointment. The Mayor was honored with a shawl, as were several other supporters who were key to the success of the AristaCare facility for Indian seniors. Edison Councilman Biral Patel, Sunil Nayak of the orga- nization AIANA (Association of Indian Americans in North America), and community leader Pradip Peter Kothari also spoke, as did several others. By a StaffWriter PHOTOS:Raja Bhatty Founder and President of the Indian Nursing Home Program Mukund Thakar with his wife Rama, and daughter Ankita Patel, as well as staff and guests pose for a picture at the october 19, 2025, celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Program, and Diwali, at the Cedar Oaks facility in South Plainfield, NJ. At least a hundred guests attended the 20th anniversary and Diwali celebrations October 19, 2025, at the Indian Nursing Home Program, Cedar Oaks, South Plainfield, NJ. Some of the residents of the Indian Nursing Home Program of AristaCare, at the 20th anniversary celebration and Diwali festival, October 19, 2025, at the Cedar Oaks facility in South Plainfield, NJ. President of AristaCare Health Service Sydney Greenberger, and Edison, NJ Mayor Sam Joshi, chat at the 20th anniversary and Diwali celebrations held for the Indian Nursing Home Program, in the Cedar Oaks facility in South Plainfield, NJ, October 19, 2025.