The number of elderly in the city is growing day by day and FWD Business decided to take a look at what the situation is now
Words: Vandana Devi Images: Various Sources
A phenomenon that has been affecting Kerala in the recent years is the increasing elderly population in the state. With June 15th being observed as ‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day’ worldwide, we decided to dig around a little to see how ‘Aware’ we are about the problems affecting them. We wanted to take a closer look at the elderly in Kochi, see what the government is doing for them, what NGOs are doing and most importantly what the general public is doing.
Most of the elders in our state are directly dependent on their children or relatives for their day to day requirements. Most elders do not have pension or even savings of their own. And it isn’t uncommon to hear children and relatives exhorting pension and/or savings from the few that do have it. Provisions for their well being are limited and the pressure of this dependency falls upon the working class to satisfy.
Old Age Homes
Government spends on welfare schemes for the elderly and this includes Old Age Homes, care centres and other planned projects. In Ernakulam district, 120 Old Age Homes are functional as of Mach 2017. They can accommodate a maximum of 5,234 individuals and most of these homes are packed. Four of these institutions are run directly by the government, Government Old Age Home in Thevara, Ashabhavan for Men in Kusumagiri, Home for Physically Handicapped Women in Thevara and Mahila Mandiram in Champakara. Others are registered under the government and some of them are aided by the government as well.
In order to apply for grants from the Government, the institution is required to fulfil certain requirements (which includes facilities, infrastructure and so on). They should also have been functioning for more than 3 years after registration. For the 2016-17 year, out of the 116, only 22 institutions have received grants and that too, totals only to a sum of Rs.1 crore.
Medical and psychological care is available for the elders here. Common health problems prevalent among this age group include diabetes, hearing disability, hypertension, cataract and so on. These institutions besides having Nurses for their care, also have weekly visits by doctors. For the mentally ill, specialised doctors also visit. Medications are prescribed and given regularly. While some doctors provide their services voluntarily, in some cases there are also tie-ups with PHCs (Primary Health Centres).
Other Government schemes
Other planned schemes include “Theruvu velicham”, a 2013 initiative in which abandoned elders are picked up from streets, temples, churches, hospitals etc, provided basic care and then either sent back to their relatives or sent to Homes for rehabilitation. Keeping in mind the increased needs of the elderly affected by Dementia, a Dementia Care Centre also functions with the government working along with ARDSI (Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India) for the same. Full time care providers, ARDSI doctors and necessary medications are all provided for. These planned schemes fall under the budget set aside for Marginalised Groups which also runs children homes, Nirbhaya Shelter Homes and so on. This budget totals upto Rs. 50 lakh which after being divided to all these different projects, hardly leaves any sufficient funds for elderly care schemes.
Difficulties and what to do about them
Budgetary problems aside, several other difficulties also remain. Many Homes and care centres are not registered, which means that the Government cannot regulate the activities going on there. Outside funding, especially foreign contributions are many a times misused. The money the government provides is so little and can take us only a small way. The rest upto us the citizens, to do.
Firstly, we need to make sure that while contributing money, we sign an agreement saying exactly where this money is to be utilised. This reduces the possibility of misuse. Secondly and most importantly, we need more socially active and sincere individuals and groups who are willing to come out and help these people. NGOs, CSR funding and philanthropic acts aside, we need to take the initiative to stretch a hand to help the old man or woman on the road to reach a place where help will be provided.
We need to first start caring for the elders in our own families, then contribute towards setting up such centres and homes and raise awareness about the very many struggles the elderly population are facing. Because today it is our grandparents being affected, soon it’ll be our parents and before we know it, it’ll be us in that position.
(With inputs from Mr Prakashan, Superintendent at Social Justice Department, Collectorate, Kakkanad.)