What happens when an Elderly person who is living alone, has Dementia and is aggressive? What happens when an older person who poses a threat to his or her own self and/or to others?
Do we put dependent and vulnerable older people in a locked room, tie them up, strap them to the wheelchair or do we follow certain standards, guidelines or advance directives?
As India is greying fast it is critical that the feet on the street are trained on privacy, dignity and safeguarding of Senior Citizens especially those who have impaired decision making capacity.
The larger point of debate is not about how to restrain seniors who have an aggressive nature but it's about the interdisciplinary concept of linking The Mental Healthcare Act with The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act and Indian Nursing Council Act.
While there is a lot of stress on imparting training and guidance to Caregivers, Nurses and Doctors on the nuances of Aged Care but there is hardly any workshops or training sessions for the management level of service providers on deciphering and understanding the relevant Legislative Acts which impact the care delivery for Older People.
As a nation the importance of having a multidisciplinary team approach is extremely crucial otherwise we will have each state and district running their own race without even understanding for which game they are competing in?
Pankaj Mehrotra
