THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a move to strengthen elderly care and address the growing challenges of an ageing population, the state government plans to introduce a one-year practical caregiver course and establish a volunteer corps of Plus Two students to support senior citizens across the state.
On Monday, the Department of Senior Citizens entered into an MoU with 12 institutions to strengthen academic, research, technological and institutional collaboration in elderly welfare.
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the government would develop a comprehensive elderly-care network by coordinating local self-government institutions, NGOs and other agencies.
He said that stringent legal action including prosecution, will be taken against those who abandon or drive their elderly parents out of their homes and stressed that caring for senior citizens should become a social culture rather than remain the government's responsibility alone.
The proposed caregiver course will be designed after studying the curricula followed in Germany, the UK and Australia, with modifications to suit Kerala's requirements.
The one year practical programme will be positioned just below nursing in terms of professional training. Caregivers will be deployed through a coordinated mechanism involving the government, local bodies, NGOs and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.
The government also plans to create a database in every panchayat identifying senior citizens who require care, along with details of their mental health and medical conditions.
The database will be periodically updated to help formulate targeted welfare programmes. A volunteer corps comprising Plus Two students will be another component of the initiative.
Students will visit elderly people and enquire about their well-being. Such interactions are expected to help address loneliness and improve the emotional well-being of senior citizens, Satheesan said.
The 12 institutions that signed the MoUs include the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), Dementia India Alliance, Public Health and Social Development Foundation, Health Action by People, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kerala Association of Professional Social Workers, Loyola College of Social Sciences, Swasti - The Health Catalyst, Centre for Management Development, Centre for Socio-economic and Environmental Studies, Bharata Mata Extension for Organic Research and Environment, and the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS).