"Service delivery to the geriatric population is a challenge...", India, 2012.

"Demographic explosion in the greying population", Vidya Krishnan, Live Mint.com. Fri, Apr 6 2012. 

"Population of people aged 60-80 to increase by 326% between 2000 and 2050 and those over 80 years by 700%"

‎..."Mint’s Vidya Krishnan says India will have to brace itself for a social transformation, with the population greying faster than policy makers had envisaged." (watch Video)

..."As for the elderly poor, Cherian [chief executive, HelpAge India] said there was no concept of retirement. “For them, the government needs to step in, enact laws that provide them social and financial security,” he added."

...“Service delivery to the geriatric population is a challenge but we intend to address the policy gaps first and then look at implementation,” said Sujaya Krishnan, joint secretary, health ministry."...

...“The policy will create a tiered, national geriatric care with focus on outpatient care, palliative, rehabilitative as well as respite care” he said. Besides giving tax incentives to families caring for older members, the senior citizens policy calls on the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions to reconsider the retirement age in the context of increased longevity."

Link: http://www.livemint.com/2012/04/06213146/Demographic-explosion-in-the-g.html

‎"WHO predicts Maharashtra rise in dementia cases", DNA, 2012.

‎"WHO predicts Maharashtra rise in dementia cases", Tuesday, May 15, 2012, by Rito Paul, DNA. 

"Unfortunately, Rao’s case is an exception rather than the rule in India. Working with Silver Innings Foundation (SIF), an NGO that cares for the elderly, Rao says, “Most families live in denial about their parents or grandparents getting dementia as they think memory loss is natural with advancing age. By the time they realise that something is seriously wrong, the disease progresses to a higher stage.”

..." I stimulate her brain with a strict daily routine and doing things like listening to old Hindi movie songs and reading the newspaper together,” says Rao."...

Link: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_who-predicts-maharashtra-rise-in-dementia-cases_1688822

A pictorial depiction of ageing in India (Source: HelpAge India)

From HelpAge India: Demographic explosion in the greying population: Population of people aged 60-80 to increase by 326% between 2000 and 2050 and those over 80 years by 700% says..
http://www.livemint.com/2012/04/06213146/Demographic-explosion-in-the-g.html

‎"Dementia cases in Delhi to rise by 226%", Times Of India, 2012. (excerpt)

‎"Dementia cases in Delhi to rise by 226%", Kounteya Sinha, Times Of India, May 12, 2012.

"NEW DELHI: Delhi will see a mammoth 226% increase in dementia cases among those aged 60 and above by 2026 as compared to 2006, while Maharashtra will see a 112% increase. Jharkhand will see the highest percentage increase in dementia patients during the same period at 262%. 


According to Union health ministry's projections released on Friday, Bihar will see a 221% increase, followed by Assam (183%), Chhattisgarh (180%) and UP (177%). "...

..."The WHO report said, "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." 


Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dementia-cases-in-Delhi-to-rise-by-226/articleshow/13103548.cms

International Workshop 'Human Rights of Older Persons in the Asia Pacific Region, India 2012.

International Workshop 'Human Rights of Older Persons in the Asia Pacific Region', Focus on Health and Wellbeing at Mascot Hotel, Thiruvananthapuram, June 4 - 6, 2012. Organizer IFA & Centre for Gerontological Studies, Trivandrum, India. 

Contact: pkbnayar@rediffmail.com; gerontocentre@gmail.com

The Nightingale Medical Trust in Bangalore: about dementia care in India.

"A place to go when memory fails", ARCHANA NATHAN, The HINDU, May 2, 2012.

..."Each patient requires different treatment, given by a team of doctors, psychiatrists and caregivers

For Radha Murthy, managing trustee, Nightingale's Medical Trust, geriatric psychiatrist Soumya Hegde and their team of doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, researchers and in-house caregivers at the Nightingale's Centre for Ageing and Alzheimer's, a day is spent always on their toes.

They manage more than 70 patients suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease at their centre in Kasturinagar.

An offshoot of the Nightingale's Medical Trust, this 71-bed facility houses a memory clinic, and offers day care, short- and long-term care for patients."....

"Initial assessment,...

"Caregiver training,...

"Patient negotiation,...

"No cure yet,...

Read full article at: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3377072.ece

Support for Caregivers in India for patients in terminally ill condition?

“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….

Dr Ramachandra Panicker (INSTITUTE OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE. KOZHIKODE. ; TRIVANDRUM INSTITUTE OF PALLIATIVE SCIENCES and at AMRITA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES. COCHIN) :

Our survey revealed a finding that inadequate support to the caregivers is the main reason for admitting a terminally ill patient to an acute care hospital. 

Majority of the caregivers and family members were fully aware of the huge cost factor and futility of the procedures done in acute care hospitals, but were of the opinion that they have no other option due to social pressures. 

We are at present involved in awareness classes on different death trajectories in chronic illnesses and concept of road to death through our NNPC's. I request my friend's opinion in this matter.

See also link: Pain and Palliative Care Policy in Kerala, India at

http://alzheimerdiseaseinindia.blogspot.fr/2012/04/pain-and-palliative-care-policy-in.html

Testimony from a family Caregiver (India):

My opinion is that, we must create a some support group, who can be contacted by the care giver for advice any time on these kind of issues. the support group shall give enough emotional support and training to care giver to face the social pressure. In my personal experience, most pressure comes from those who are closely related to the patient, but never gets involved in caregiving. The kind of guilty feeling they try to induce on care giver is unbearable.

Alzheimer's Disease in India :

Thank you for sharing your experience with us and also 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.