Rights of Elderly in India by the National Human Right Commission, 2011.

From Silver Inning Foundation, Mumbai: KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS for Elderly in India - (NHRC) National Human Right Commission 


Link to download the document: http://silverinnings.posterous.com/#!/know-your-rights-for-elderly-india-nhrc-natio

or report available on request at: hendi.lingiah@gmail.com

Book: Alzheimer's Disease (How to manage Alzheimer's Disease), testimony from Balagopal Keeran, New Delhi, India.

“The Indian Caregiver’s Corner” :

This section is made in part, to explain theoretically the different aspects of Alzheimer’s Disease, the patients and caregivers have to face worldwide… like the impairment process, the different disorders: memory, language, organization… changes in personality and behavior…. But also, the impact of the pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions like socialization, meditation, physical exercise, the caregiver’s role and difficulties encountered in India. 

Readers are invited to enrich this section to make it an experience-based one, a resourceful section for other caregivers to find there helpful tips/ways to cope with the symptoms, the daily care activities and to face specific situations in their local setting, at home, outside, with family, doctors….

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (How to manage Alzheimer's Disease): 

From autor Balagopal Keeran (Family caregiver, New Delhi): "My father is an AD patient and that is how we got to know about this. Since then, trying to bring out awareness about the disease and inputs to family caregivers from our personal experiences.


There is still so much of ignorance about AD in India. People still presume it is a natural part of aging !


About his book: "My father is a victim of this dreadful disease and we have had some terrible experiences based on our lack of awareness of the disease, its symptoms, and changes in patient's behavior. 

I have committed lots of mistakes as a family caregiver due to my ignorance and lack of awareness about this disease. I am seeking repentance for my mistakes and also want to ensure that nobody repeats my mistakes and that everyone can understand their patient well and provide the correct response to the patient's changing behavior as the disease progresses."

My book - ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (How to manage Alzheimer's Disease) wherein I have shared my personal experiences as a family caregiver.

Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0076LYO6M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=diabetescare3-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0076LYO6M%22%3EALZHEIMER%27S+DISEASE+%28How+to+manage+Alzheimer%27s+Disease%29%3C%2Fa%3E%3Cimg+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assoc-amazon.com%2Fe%2Fir%3Ft%3Ddiabetescare3-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0076LYO6M

Alzheimer's Disease in India :

Thank you for sharing your experience with us and on our Facebook group. I am sure the other Caregivers facing similar situations there would be very moved by seeing all your efforts in making your mother feel comfortable through the disease.

Indeed, each testimony is important for us because other Family Caregivers in India, may find there the support and relief they needed, benefit of your "advises and tips" and you may even have enlighten their pathway then.

So dear Members and Reader, thank you for bringing hope, by participating even if you don't have a "serious" problem/case but even just feelings/thoughts are worth to share. It is really helping us in raising awareness on this disease, to bring support and knowledge for Dementia Care Management in India.

Pain and Palliative Care Policy in Kerala, India.

2nd Batch BCCPAN students now completed their training in Palliative Care from Palliative Care Training center General Hospital Alappuzha. Now 36 Grama Panchayaths of Alappuzha District had comunity Nurses trained in Palliative Care.

 Govt of Kerala declared Pain camp: Palliative Care Policy on 15th April 2008. The policy aims to address the various problems faced by patients with chronic, incurable and life limiting diseases with community participation.


A multidimensional approach offers the best possible quality of care to these patients as no one member of the team has the skills or the insights to provide comprehensive palliative care which encompasses the physical, psychosocial, spiritual on their own.


The policy aims to address two paradoxes in community in the life cycle of patients with chronic , progressive illness 
1. Most dying people would prefer to remain at home till the end, but most of them die in institutions. 
2. 90% of the final year of life for most patients is spent at home, but most people are admitted to hospital to die.The sad fact is that most dying people are admitted in the end without formally consulting to their wishes.


Post graduate certificate programme in palliative care is open to MBBS graduates at INSTITUTE OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE. KOZHIKODE; TRIVANDRUM INSTITUTE OF PALLIATIVE SCIENCES and at AMRITA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES. COCHIN.


You can search at the respective sites in net.Govt of kerala recoganised Palliative care as a new speciality in medicine adressing the problems of the incurably and terminally ill patients vide order No- G. O ( P) No.109/ 2008 H camp; FWD. You can refer-- PAIN and PALLIATIVE CARE POLICY. GOVT. OF KERALA.


BCCPAN is the only recoganised training programme recoganised by Govt of Kerala to work as palliative care nurses in the Palliative care project of Local Self Government Institutions. The candidates were Auxillary Nurses with Nursing Council Registration. They must be permenant residents of the respectve LSGI's. 


They were selected by the Palliative care Project monitoring commete of the respectve LSGI with the help of Kudumbasree mission. They were given 3 months training in govt recoganised training institutes like the one in General Hospital, Alapuzha. The expenses for training were met by Kudumbasree mission. Candidates were given a monthly stipend of Rs 2500/- during the period of training. 


After completion of the course they will go back to respective LSGI's to intiate palliative care activities. They were eligible to get an Honorrarium of Rs-3000/- (? raised to Rs- 5000/- from this year). Their work is monitored every month at the training center were difficult cases and problems were discussed.


In the field they were supported by a team of trained Volunteers who were visiting the patients atleast once in two days. We established regular home care programmes in 36 LSGI's. This year we are planning to start the programme in 10 more LSGI's.

"Everyone can avail benefits of Arogyasri", Times of India (link)

"Everyone can avail benefits of Arogyasri", Times of India, Apr 23, 2012.

...."There are 930 conditions that are covered under the scheme and for 121 conditions, medication for one year can be availed free of cost. Citizens can consult 'Arogyamitras' at hospitals for such details," he said. The Arogyasri officer said everyone can avail the scheme's benefits. "If an individual is not a white ration card holder, a letter can be issued from the CM's office on presentation of necessary health documents."....


Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Everyone-can-avail-benefits-of-Arogyasri/articleshow/12830150.cms?intenttarget=no#access_token=AAABrIHwVZA2UBAOHcVD0ytXCmleZCmZA93VH52v4AW3MFRj7EZAZCt6TKqGVRbss2HFgZA5sgXP2gk3h9pkF9lgiwfQapQo8SQcHnWAxr7LQZDZD&expires_in=7037

Cases of patients with Alzheimer's Disease in India? (link)

"Memories of another day", Shobha John, Apr 15, 2012.

"Vacant looks. Irrational talk. And at times, violent mood swings. It's an illness few understand. Most think patients with dementia are mad or psychologically impaired, little realizing it's a dysfunction of the brain. According to latest figures of the World Health Organization, nearly 3.7 million people in India suffer from the disease - a number that is set to double over the next 20 years. Globally , a whopping 35.6 million are afflicted by this debilitating condition. "...


Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/Memories-of-another-day/articleshow/12670753.cms

"India to be one of the dementia capitals soon?", Chennai, India.

"India to be one of the dementia capitals soon?", Chennai, Apr 17, 2012. 

...“This will ensure that the money spent on dementia care and consultation will go up threefold,” he added. As there are almost twice the documented number of people believed to be living with dementia in India, it is imperative that the findings in this report are taken heed of by policy makers, he said."

“There are a great number of people from civil society to healthcare professionals and others who are willing to support people with dementia, but there has to be a unified national policy to bring that together,” he said, expressing a wish that schemes like the NREGS could be used to provide care-givers for people in rural areas."...


Link: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-to-be-one-of-the-dementia-capitals-soon/249316-60-120.html

Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007, India.

Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 downloable at: http://silverinnings.posterous.com/#!/the-maintenance-and-welfare-of-parents-and-se

Draft "National Policy on Senior Citizens, 2011" (link)

Draft "National Policy on Senior Citizens, 2011" downloable at: http://silverinnings.posterous.com/#!/national-policy-on-senior-citizens-2011-draft

Global prevalence of dementia: a Delphi consensus study (Lancet, 2005)

"Global prevalence of dementia: a Delphi consensus study." Alzheimer's Disease International. Source: Section of Epidemiology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK. 

"Abstract
BACKGROUND:
100 years after the first description, Alzheimer's disease is one of the most disabling and burdensome health conditions worldwide. We used the Delphi consensus method to determine dementia prevalence for each world region."

..." INTERPRETATION: We believe that the detailed estimates in this paper constitute the best currently available basis for policymaking, planning, and allocation of health and welfare resources."

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16360788

Alzheimer's Disease International's charter of principles for the care of people with dementia and their carers.

"The principles stated below should be seen as basic, core principles. Many national associations may choose to elaborate on these, especially if their countries are at a more advanced stage of economic development.

Statement of Principles:

Alzheimer's Disease International recognises the following principles as fundamental to the provision of care for people with dementia and for the support of their family members and caregivers:

1) Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are progressive, incapacitating diseases of the brain that have a profound impact on persons with dementia and members of their families.

2) A person with dementia continues to be a person of worth and dignity, and deserving the same respect as any other human being.

3) People with dementia need a physically safe living environment and protection from exploitation and abuse of person and property.

4) People with dementia require up to date information and access to coordinated medical, psychological, rehabilitive and welfare services. Anyone thought to have dementia needs prompt medical assessment and those with dementia require ongoing care and treatment orientated to maximising their quality of life.

5) People with dementia should as far as possible participate in decisions affecting their daily lives and future care.

6) The family caregivers of a person with dementia should have their needs assessed and provided for and should be enabled to take an active role in this process.

7) Adequate resources should be available and promoted to support people with dementia and their caregivers throughout the course of dementia.

8) Understanding the experience of living with dementia, especially from the perspectives of persons with dementia and of their carers, is vital to providing effective advocacy, quality care and meaningful rehabilitation. Information, education and training on dementia, its effects and how to provide care must be available to all those involved in the assistance of people with dementia."

Link: http://www.alz.co.uk/charter-of-principals

Alzheimer Ethics & Society CHARTER 2010.

Alzheimer Ethics & Society CHARTER 2010, Ethics Forum & Department of Research into Ethics, Tuesday 21st September 2010 – World Alzheimer’s Day, France.

Foreword: People suffering from Alzheimer’s or a related disorder cannot just be defined by their disease and the impairment that it causes, whatever their age.

They must be able to enjoy the same rights as any other citizen, having access to competent care of a high standard to compensate for their disabilities, provided by care-givers who respect their dignity as human beings and listen to their expectations. 

These rights must be enforced whatever the stage of their disease. They must continue to occupy their rightful place in society to avoid exclusion or discrimination. 

Alzheimer 2010: the care-givers make a commitmentAll those who take care of people with Alzheimer’s or a related disorder, be they relations or volunteers, make the following commitment to ….: 

1/ … Recognise that an Alzheimer patient has the right to exist, to have feelings and wishes, to refuse.

2/-…Respect the patient’s choice;

3/ …Respect the patients, their assets and their material choices;

4/ …Respect the patient’s emotional ties;

5/ …Respect the patients’ freedom of thought and encourage their activities;

6/ …Make sure that the patients have access to care to compensate for their disabilities to avoid aggravating their condition;

7/ …Develop and guarantee vocational skills through initial training and continuous training and also by team-work;

8/ …Care for, respect and support patients until their life draws to a close;

9/ …Help the patient to profit from research and its progress.

10/ …Contribute to disseminating an ethical approach to all.

Senior research fellow at the Mayo Clinic aging and dementia imaging research lab talks about the research on STAND-Map.

VIDEO: Dr. Prashanthi Vemuri, Ph.D., a senior research fellow at the Mayo Clinic aging and dementia imaging research lab talks about the research on STAND-Map or STructural Abnormality iNDex that may help physicians differentially diagnose three common neurodegenerative disorders in the future: Alzheimers disease (AD), Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Lewy body disease (LBD) using Structural MRI.

"It’s Not Optional – Seniors Must Be Told Long-term Care Options (Indianapolis, USA) link.

"It’s Not Optional – Seniors Must Be Told Long-term Care Options", (Indianapolis)

Indeed, but would such initiative be implemented/needed in India, being provided all these informations before being discharged from hospital : contact informations reg local ageing agencies, determine best options for care, assess cost of care, provide counselling and follow up with the geriatrician?


Link: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?%2Fcontent%2Farticle%2F24947-1

The basis of social security systems?

"The Simple Idea That Is Transforming Health Care", A focus on quality of life helps medical providers see the big picture—and makes for healthier, happier patients

"The logic is simple. People are more likely to manage their condition properly when they have more accessible, personal goals, like being able to do more at work or keep up with their kids, instead of focusing only on comparatively abstract targets like blood-sugar levels. And that, in turn, leads to much better health.

Numerous studies show that when people have a higher sense of well-being, they have fewer hospitalizations and emergency-room visits, miss fewer days of work and use less medication. They're also more productive at work and more engaged in the community."....


Link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304450004577275911370551798.html

Universal Health Coverage in India, when?

"The road to universal health care", K. SRINATH REDDY, A. K. SHIVA KUMAR, The HINDU, April 14, 2012.


“The best form of providing health protection would be to change the economic system which produces ill health, and to liquidate ignorance, poverty and unemployment. The practice of each individual purchasing his own medical care does not work. It is unjust, inefficient, wasteful and completely outmoded ... In our highly geared, modern industrial society, there is no such thing as private health — all health is public. The illness and maladjustments of one unit of the mass affects all other members. The protection of people's health should be recognised by the Government as its primary obligation and duty to its citizens.”

These are the words of the distinguished Canadian surgeon, Norman Bethune, who, in 1936, called for universal health protection in which health services would be provided to all through public funds.

He pointed out that the major causes of ill health among the poor in Canada, at that time, were: financial inability to pay, ignorance, apathy and lack of medical service. These are true of present-day India, where health insecurity continues to increase with growing economic prosperity.

WHAT IS UHC?
Universal health coverage (UHC) has now been widely adopted by Canada and many other developing countries both as a developmental imperative and the moral obligation of a civilised society. India embraced this vision at its independence.".....


..."However, insufficient funding of public facilities, combined with faulty planning and inefficient management over the years, has resulted in a dysfunctional health system that has been yielding poor health outcomes. India's public spending on health — just around 1.2 per cent of GDP — is among the lowest in the world. Private health services have grown by default, without checks on cost and quality, escalating private out-of-pocket health expenditures and exacerbating health inequity. 

While the National Rural Health Mission and the several government funded health insurance schemes have provided a partial response, out-of-pocket expenditure still remains at 71 per cent of all spending, without coverage for outpatient care, medicines and basic diagnostic tests."

..."Influential policymakers in India seem to be attracted by the idea that private health care, properly subsidised, or private health insurance, subsidised by the State, can meet the challenge.

However, there are good analytical reasons why this is unlikely to happen because of informational asymmetry (the patient can be easily fooled by profit-seeking providers on what exactly is being provided) and because of the ‘public goods' character of health care thanks to the interdependences involved. There are also major decisional problems that lead to the gross neglect of the interests of women and children in family decisions.”

It is also well known that insurance schemes (whether funded by the Central and State governments) at best provide limited health care and at worst divert a large part of the health budget to expensive hospitalised tertiary and secondary care, to the great neglect of primary care."


Link: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article3312047.ece?homepage=true

A large demand for Palliative Care in India.

"Fragile india, handled with care. Is the country doing enough for its elderly, dying and homeless? Shreevatsa Nevatia meets the providers and recipients of care to find out.

..."Unlike much of the West, where the social services are now an accepted interventionist tool and where carers are a professionalised workforce unto themselves, the issues surrounding care, more specifically care-givers in India, are little known." 

..."Sandip P Purab, JASS’ secretary, says, “We started with wanting to care for those who were in desperate need of life support. We find people on the streets, bathe them, take them to a hospital, and rehabilitate them.” Working on the street, adds Purab, is not that easy a task. “You don’t get that much support from the police and you get no support from the people.”

..."A need for a greater strengthening of care in the palliative sector was also reiterated at the Tata Memorial Centre, where associate professor Dr Manjiri Dighe works in the Department of Palliative Medicine. According to her, “There is a large demand coming from the families of patients who are dying, and from doctors like oncologists. But have a look at the number of specialised physicians in the state. There are maybe 10 or 15, just these small islands of care. And that is far from optimal. Far from what you’d get to see in places like the UK.”

..."After all this time, she says, “You stop believing in God when you begin to realise that the blight isn’t cancer, it’s poverty.” Questions of faith often surface at the Bhakti Vedanta hospital, where Dr Vineeta Sharma has been part of the Department of Palliative Care since 2008. Though the hospital was formed and runs on the principles of the Krishna-worshipping ISCKON community, religiosity is never an essential component of care, informs Dr Sharma. She says, “It is patient-oriented. There are those who don’t want to talk about God. Then there are those who do."


Link: http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?id=14603&boxid=26650308&ed_date=2012-4-15&ed_code=820009&ed_page=12

"The Context and Challenges of Dementia Home Care in India" by Swapna Kishore.

COMPREHENSIVE NOTE on: "The Context and Challenges of Dementia Home Care in India" by Swapna Kishore, Trainer in Dementia Care in India and former Family Caregiver of her mother.

"This note provides an introduction to dementia home care in India, a country where awareness is low, where dementia is often confused with old age, where support systems are pathetic and where society expects a lot from caregivers under the umbrella of duty, love, joint family, and culture, but where society at large does not know enough about dementia to effectively support families in such dementia care."....


Link: http://alzheimerdiseaseinindia.blogspot.fr/2011/11/context-and-challenges-of-dementia-home.html

"7m unorganised sector workers to get pensions", The Times of India. (link)

"7m unorganised sector workers to get pensions", The Times of India, IANS, Apr 13, 2012.

..."Swavalamban is a contributory pension scheme under which the central government contributes Rs.1,000 per annum in each NPS account opened with deposits of of Rs.1000 to Rs.12,000 per annum."

Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/7m-unorganised-sector-workers-to-get-pensions/articleshow/12650038.cms

"Govt told to consider capital punishment for crimes against elderly", New Delhi, India.

"Govt told to consider capital punishment for crimes against elderly", Jayant Sriram, The Indian Express, New Delhi, Fri Apr 13 2012.

"Observing that crimes against senior citizens are similar to “epidemics” and require urgent and serious remedies, a Delhi Sessions court has called on the government to counter the steep rise in such crimes, by making them punishable with death."

..."This court feels that our wise representatives in Parliament should provide for capital punishment in such cases also, where senior citizens are the victims, so as to teach a lesson to the offenders and to deter others from indulging in crimes against senior citizens,” the judge said."...


Link: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/govt-told-to-consider-capital-punishment-for-crimes-against-elderly/936265/

"Is it best to keep an Alzheimer’s patient in a known environment for as long as possible?" (excerpt)

"Is it best to keep an Alzheimer’s patient in a known environment for as long as possible?

A steady routine and the encouraging and accepting support of familiar people helps individuals with dementia respond optimally to everyday stresses.

For this reason, it’s often optimal to keep a person in a familiar environment. But keep in mind that the familiar environment may not be adequately prepared to protect a patient who falls, is aggressive, or engages in risky behavior.

Further, the familiar environment may lack supports and optimal stimulation. In situations where an alternative environment supplies these important protections and supports, there can be advantages to moving from a more familiar setting."


Link: http://www.ahaf.org/questions-answers/is-it-best-to-keep-an.html

"Draft document on setting up support groups" from Swapna Kishore on Swapna Writes Blog.

Caregivers need support, and one very important mechanism is a support group where caregivers can meet and talk face-to-face (an in-person support group), or they can discuss a topic with an invited expert, or learn some important skill.

Setting up a dementia support group is definitely something that concerned volunteers can consider.

I have prepared a detailed draft document for persons who may want to set up an in-person support group. I am making it available here for feedback and comments from anyone who may want to set up such a group. 


Please let me have your comments so that I can modify the document and make it available as a “released document.”

Link: http://swapnawrites.com/resources-for-volunteers-for-dementia-care/available-draft-document-on-setting-up-support-groups/

"Senior citizens prefer 'peaceful' shelter homes for better lives", Times of India (excerpt)

"Senior citizens prefer 'peaceful' shelter homes for better lives", Times of India, Guwahati, Apr 9, 2012. 

"Sending old people to shelter homes was considered to be a taboo, a while ago as people feared social repercussion from fellow society members but the situation has changed, lately as more number of senior citizens prefers putting up at the old age homes"

..."Most of the boarders residing at 'Aamar Ghar' have come there because their children have no time for them. But there are some who have opted voluntarily to reside there to steer clear from any possible bickering with their children"

..."Parents used to be socio-centric and today, children are ego-centric. But changes are not always a negative factor. It is good that some old people prefer engaging themselves in different pastime pursuits to find a new meaning of life."


Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Senior-citizens-prefer-peaceful-shelter-homes-for-better-lives/articleshow/12601659.cms?intenttarget=no

VIDEO "Dementia: A public health crisis in India?

Almost a year after the World Health Organisation declared Dementia including Alzheimer's Disease as a Non-Communicable Disease, the WHO is all set to declare it as a Global Health Crisis, urging governments across the world to make it a health priority. For India this declaration is crucial, given that 90 per cent of the cases go undetected.

"Dementia cases worldwide will triple by 2050: WHO report".

"Dementia cases worldwide will triple by 2050: WHO", Kounteya Sinha, Times of India, Apr 12, 2012. 

"WHO warns that India, which is witnessing a greying population, will face serious problems in tackling the disease. "The government of India has begun to realize the extent of the situation and the need to establish dementia-sensitive services. The next few years will see the establishment of the National Institute of Ageing, and special provisions for people with dementia in the National Policy for Older People and the National Mental Health Programme," the report says."


Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dementia-cases-worldwide-will-triple-by-2050-WHO/articleshow/12628815.cms

Dementia: a public health priority

Dementia is a syndrome that affects memory, thinking, behaviour and ability to perform everyday activities – usually of a chronic or progressive nature. The number of people living with dementia worldwide is currently estimated at 35.6 million. This number will double by 2030 and more than triple by 2050.

Link: http://www.who.int/mental_health/neurology/dementia/en/index.html

Music Therapy in India ?

"Healing with music", Gudipoodi Shihari, The Hindu, April 5, 2012. 

..."'Across the world, physicians, surgeons, psychiatrists, psychologists are seeking the help of music therapists for better results. Music therapy is now an established health profession. In this system the doctor first assesses the needs of the patient. A qualified music therapist indicates what choice of raga and tala and whether it is vocal or instrumental music that suits the patient. While instruments provide a continuous melodic pleasure, vocal music adds a pinch of spiritual element through the lyrical content.

A serious music therapy session too requires case study to first assess whether this medium of therapy can be extended to improve motor and emotional skills for effective treatment. Music is more suited for palliative care and hence should always be combined with traditional treatment. In some hospitals, even in India, mellow music is played to divert and relax patients."...




Link: http://www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article3283502.ece

"what am I when there is no care recipient? " by Swapna Kishore from Swapna Writes.

"Disorientation, memories, adjustments, new realities: two weeks after my mother’s death".

"These last two weeks, since my mother died, have been busy in some ways, surreal in many. I am acutely aware of the spaces left empty by the death, spaces in my day, my mind, my feelings. I’ve been swinging between energetic bouts of work, apparent acceptance of my changed situation, sharp bursts of memories, confusion about my future, and total disorientation that hits my guts with a feeling that something’s horribly wrong. I’ve talked about my mother with more people in these two weeks than in the last few years; most of these interactions have been heart-warming, yet put together, been a heavy dose of socialization for an introvert like me. And I’ve kept myself moderately busy because I’m not sure I can handle too much emptiness.

It’s weird."....

"what am I when there is no care recipient? My usual “about me” text in various online profiles includes a clause “and a caregiver for a mother who has dementia.” This must be changed…to what?"


Link: http://swapnawrites.wordpress.com/2012/04/11/disorientation-memories-adjustments-new-realities-two-weeks-after-my-mothers-death/

"Few doctors for the silver years", The Hindu. (excerpt)

"Few doctors for the silver years", by Shubhomoy SIKDAR, The HINDU, Health, April 8, 2012.

..."Even at the policy level, the situation is not very encouraging. Geriatrics or old age care is not a priority for the government as most planners see it as wasteful expenditure with no future returns. According to Dr Ray, the recent trend is to club old age care with the non-communicable disease programme.

In addition, to ensure the availability of more specialized doctors for senior citizens, there is a need to increase the number of beds for older patients in all hospitals and to reduce the cost of care. This, HelpAge believes, can only be done by providing either free or subsidised medicines, proper insurance as healthcare for the aged demands enhanced funding.

It also believes that long term care policies need nuanced deliberations to create an environment that provides the elderly equal opportunities, protects their rights and enables their full participation in society." ...


Link: http://www.thehindu.com/health/article3293405.ece

"Ageing India May See a Rise in Number of Widows: WHO", by Kounteya Sinha (excerpt)

"Ageing India May See a Rise in Number of Widows: WHO", by Kounteya Sinha, The Times of India, April 3, 2012, India.

Dr Nata Menabde said: "Being a male-dominated society and given the fact that women in India rely on their husbands for the provision of economic resources and social status, a large percentage of older women are at risk of dependency, isolation, and/or dire poverty and neglect."

..."The Registrar General of India's latest data from the Sample Registration System, 2010, had found that the percentage of women in the age bracket of 60 years and above is higher in 17 out of the 20 large states.

Dr Menabde said that a further consequence of differential life expectancy "is that there are more women especially among the oldest old, those 85 years and above. Given that disability rates rise with age, this means that there are substantially number of older women than older men living with disabilities."

WHO says that women have higher chances of getting excluded from various social security programmes due to lower literacy and gender issues.

"Women's labour in developing countries is concentrated in the informal, agricultural and service sectors. Older women have less access to social protection such as health insurance, which has a cumulative negative effect over a woman's lifespan and can seriously affect their health in old age," Dr Menabde added."...


Link: http://www.globalaging.org/elderrights/world/2012/Ageing%20India%20May%20See%20a%20Rise%20in%20Number%20of%20Widows%20WHO.html

"Solve puzzles, stimulate brain" (excerpt)

Solve puzzles, stimulate brain, Hetal Vyas, Times of India, Bangalore, April 7, 2012. 

..."Dr Satish Chandra, director , Nimhans, said: "There has been a huge rise in dementia cases in the past two decades. When I started practising about 25 years ago, we used to see 1-2 cases every year. Today, we get 10 a month."...


Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Solve-puzzles-stimulate-brain/articleshow/12565323.cms

Memory Clinic started in Mumbai by Sheild Foundation. (excerpt)

"If detected during early stages, dementia can be managed: doctors", Prachi Pinglay, Hindustan Times,  Mumbai, April 07, 2012.

...“Often signs of dementia are ignored and accepted as part of the ageing process,” said Swati Ingole, founder, Shield Foundation. Doctors at Memory Clinic conduct a Mini Mental State Examination, which looks at 30 aspects and has questions related to cognition and memory such as what a patient has eaten that day or what his or her name is. If a patient scores less than 24, he is referred for further tests."...


Link: http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/If-detected-during-early-stages-dementia-can-be-managed-doctors/Article1-836750.aspx#.T3_uWj1iTEo.facebook

"Helplines flooded with health problems of elderly" (excerpt)

"Helplines flooded with health problems of elderly", Maitri PORECHA, The Free Press Journal, April 07 2012, Mumbai.

..."Requiring special facilities and trained staff to render these, special geriatric centres have to be put in place," said Dr S C Anand, former president, Indian Medical Association ( IMA).

The civic body has grossly fallen short on providing special health care facilities for elderly. Geriatric wards for the elderly have not been constructed in civic- run KEM, Nair and Sion hospitals. Additional Municipal Commisioner (Health) Manisha Mhaiskar had admitted that in spite of previous plans, there was no separate budget allocation for geriatric and mental health facilities in more than 160 BMC dispensaries in Mumbai."...


Link: http://www.freepressjournal.in/news/57109-helplines-flooded-with-health-problems-of-elderly.html#.T3-XTmkWewk.facebook

"In India, as elsewhere, good health adds life to years", WHO India.

"To inform and sensitize all authorities and actors and to call for action in this domain, the WHO Country Office for India in partnership with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, is planning a series of consultations, workshops and activities involving stakeholders at the national, state and local level. 
On the World Health Day 2012, 19 state level meetings as well as a national meeting are being organized. WHO is also supporting a one‐day national meeting at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi on 7 April 2012. 

It will include a walkathon with elderly participants."


Link: http://whoindia.org/LinkFiles/WHOIndia_WHD_2012_Press_Release_Final.pdf


Pdf available also on request at hendi_lingiah@gmail.com