Hyderabad: At a meeting in the city on Tuesday, 20 senior citizens’ groups brainstormed on the needs of an ageing population and how to develop initiatives to help them live with dignity. An Institute of Aging was a major demand, to create facilities for learning skills among the elderly and also to train skilled care givers and build geriatric centres to cater to the needs of the elderly.
Such aging institutes exist in Europe, the United States of America and Canada, to address the multi-purpose needs of senior citizens. R.N. Mittal, chairman of the Association of Senior Citizens of Hyderabad, explained: “There are 11.8 crore elders in India who require healthcare, security, suitable shelter and an environment where they can age with dignity. Sadly, we find most of them abandoned near railway stations, bus stands, government hospitals, and also on highways. This has to be addressed. We are looking at active senior citizens whose services can be utilised. The government has asked corporate companies to include care of senior citizens in their corporate social responsibility programmes.”
There are 220 senior citizens’ associations in Hyderabad and many senior citizens approach them for help on a number of issues, from healthcare to dealing with smart phones and other technology, travelling, or simply to hear them out. Dr S. Satyamoorthy says, “We need a group of trained volunteers who will spend time with senior citizens and help them deal with these aspects. This will also help bonding between the young and the old. Presently, in nuclear families, there are hardly any grandparents around and hence the young are not aware of elderly people and the problems that they face.”
Many senior citizens can contribute actively in some way, by using their past experiences in careers and professions. Such projects are struggling to take off as they require commitment and support from society, industries and corporate houses.
Only 4 city care homes are free:
There are only four free government-run old age homes in the city; others are run by non-government organisations and charge a fee. Senior citizens with dwindling or no income cannot afford the private institutions, and there are too few government ones to accommodate even a fraction of the eight crore elderly persons who may need such a home.
Dr T.M. Dak, a senior citizen, said, “Fifty-one million or over half of the total senior citizens sleep on an empty stomach and have no health cover. One out of eight does not get any care. Fifty per cent of the elderly living with families report abuse and neglect. Given this situation, there is a need for alternative safe homes where they are given proper care.” Senior citizens also require multi-purpose day care centres, nursing homes and palliative care homes.
