Elderly Care in India is still at a nascent stage hence it is important that we develop the right policies and standards which could form the foundation for the future.
It is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to share best practices and training material which are understandable and relatable. For a diverse country like India the training material needs to be documented in vernacular languages which is easy to remember and implementable by the concerned care staff.
Though socially developed countries have well defined care standards however in my opinion some countries have overcomplicated the same. Objective of policies and guidelines should be to create a simple framework which is practical and not become a limiting factor for growth.
Health Care in India is a State subject hence the task at hand is even more challenging. Central Government has many welfare schemes which are independent of the state programmes yet without the support of respective State Governments implementing them can be an uphill task.
Some of the Central Government schemes are gradually witnessing a positive impact at the ground level, one such scheme is Ayushman Bharat.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana or National Health Protection Scheme is a program which aims to provide service to create a healthy, capable and content new India.
For any scheme or programme to make a positive impact the key is to start from the village level, Ayushman Bharat is working on the same lines through Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres.
The Operational Guidelines of Elderly Care at Health and Wellness Centers envisage mobility based classification of elderly with three main categories:
- Mobile elderly
- Restricted mobile elderly (mobility only with personal assistance/device)
- Bed-bound (assistance required in some form)/home bound elderly for any reason and those requiring palliative care or end of life care.
Comprehensive Primary Health Care-Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CPHC-CGA) is a multi-disciplinary assessment to plan care and treatment including short term and long-term goals, follow up and rehabilitative services.
The systemic evaluation of physical health, functional status, mental and psychological health and social health factors of elderly population are evaluated by a team of health professionals.
Elderly individuals require special care and support. The Primary Health Care Team has the responsibility for providing care for the elderly starting from the community level to the Primary Health Centres.
Training Manual on Elderly Care for Staff Nurse at Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is a very good training guide which should be read by all.
The document can be accessed at https://nhsrcindia.org/ or can be downloaded/viewed below:
- Download – Elderly Care Training Manual for Staff Nurse
- Download – Elderly Care Training Manual for CHO
Elderly Care Training Manual for Staff Nurse
Elderly Care Training Manual for CHO