Government run old age homes set for a paradigm shift

The initiative will integrate the activities of various stakeholders in geriatric care.
Image for representational purpose only.
Image for representational purpose only.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state-run old age homes are poised on the verge of a sea change as a psycho-social care programme and individual care plans (ICP) are on the anvil for the inmates. The project - beginning in August - to be implemented in threephases is a joint initiative of the Social Justice Department (SJD) and Bengaluru - based National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS). It is learnt through such an initiative the activities of various stakeholders in geriatric care will be integrated and a system will come into being to develop and enhance the physical infrastructure of the old age homes.

“As per the action plan submitted by the NIMHANS, the project will consist of three phases. While phase I is from August-March 2019, phase II will be from April 2019 - February 2020. Phase III of the project which will commence in March 2020 will draw to a close in March 2021,” said an officer with the SJD. Phase I will focus on developing and standardising the ICP and the second phase on implementing the ICP and capacity building. The analysis and review of the activities carried out in the first and second phases will make up phase III.

“The programmes of psychosocial care and ICP will be initially implemented in 17 old age homes. As part of implementing the ICP, an assessment will be made on areas such as physical, emotional, family, social and recreational needs. To ensure its successful implementation, a colloquium will also be held in capital,” said the officer. According to the project report, all the staff involved in geriatric care will be provided training and master trainers will be appointed for this. It is said the manual and the training workbook for the same will be developed jointly by NIMHANS and the Kozhikode-based Institute of Mental Health an d Neurosciences. While the estimated cost of implementing the first phase has been put at Rs 15.09 lakh, the second and third phases’ implementation is expected to cost Rs16.93 lakh and Rs13.80 lakh, respectively.

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