How Ngos Are Mitigating Geriatric Issues In India

By Author: kanan james
Total Articles: 17
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The prevailing geriatric conditions have been taken into consideration by social work organizations with utmost care. This has to be acknowledged since the population of India is increasing and to work for lakhs of suffering senior citizens in the country is a commendable job. The problems are rising due to a lot of problems, one of them being more and more nuclear families. This leads to a lack of dependency in old age as even in nuclear families, many children stay far away from their parents. In rural areas, the sons and daughters frequent to cities or towns for employment that leaves the ageing parents in a vulnerable state. Moreover, there are cases of negligence, poverty, manhandling, ostracisation, etc. which create problems for the senior citizens at a time when they need help the most. The following explains how non-profits are helping our society to be a safe environment for the elder populace.

Senior Care Accommodations
This is one of the most evident examples of how charitable institutions are giving their best when it comes to care for old people. Old age homes ...
... are specialised care homes for senior citizens who were displaced from their original homes. Here aged individuals from different walks of life irrespective of caste, creed, gender or wealth stay together mostly for the rest of their lives. Intensive care is given with hospitable environments where they can feel safe and confident.

Mobile Healthcare
In many towns, cities and villages there are senior citizens who don't have access to all the health facilities that are important for healthy living. To make it possible for every Indian citizen to get access to proper medication, mobile health care systems came into existence and now is an integral part of senior care services. Mobile Health consists of units which comprise of doctors, pharmacists and social workers who venture into the remotest corners of the country and make healthcare available to nearly every household. It also enables people to keep track of their health reports and progress.

Help during Natural Calamities
During natural disasters, the old people suffer the most as it requires immediate evacuation from the affected sites. Due to their frail health, they are always not able to escape and at times succumb to the situation. In the horrific tsunami disaster of Japan which occurred in 2011, 56 per cent of those who met their demise were aged 65 or above. The necessary information and awareness to tackle such situations of emergency are provided by various organizations so that the elderly are better prepared whenever the next time such hazardous situations occur. NGOs also urge various governments to provide all the necessary requisites to help senior citizens during such circumstances. In case someone gets injured and needs medical attention, they make it accessible for the injured to receive medical help prior to others.

Mental Health and Psychological Support
The term 'mental health' is being used a lot these days. Even 10 years ago this wasn't the case. When we speak of mental health of senior citizens, it is an intrinsic and highly complicated chapter in geriatric studies. Many aged people are known to be suffering from depression. This shouldn't come as a surprise as many of them have a lot of psychological problems which develops as they keep on ageing. This is observable in old age homes where the inhabitants come from different backgrounds most of which may haven't been so pleasant or worth sharing as staying away from one's own home and family can itself be so disheartening. Apart from that Alzheimer, Lewy Body Dementia and other neurological conditions affect the brain severely. Psychological counselling and medication are provided and routinely checked to ensure their wellbeing.

Therefore, the magnitude of work conducted by Social Work organizations is quite comprehensive when it comes to caring for the elderly. It’s necessary to also realise and appreciate the fact that such institutions work entirely on funds which is one of the most difficult things to do. Hence, let's hope that this continues to grow better and we finally have a society which is safe and content for every aged person.