BENGALURU: The health department inaugurated a Mobile Active Ageing Van of Nightingales Trust in Puttenahalli on Saturday. The van will visit old age homes to train the elderly in physical, mental and social fitness therapies. Priority will be given to government-sponsored old age homes in Bengaluru. The helpline 1090 is also available if one wants to get more information, Principal Secretary to the Health Department Shalini Rajneesh said on Saturday.
There will also be trained instructors to provide this programme.
The Nightingales Medical Trust established the Nightingales Trust — Bagchi Centre for Active Ageing in October 2014. It aims to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases in older adults. The centre has some 130 members who avail the services every day. It offers a wide range of activities including physical, cognitive and social cognitive activities. All members are subjected to an initial assessment to decide what type of activity they are supposed to do. These tests are repeated every three months.
Members have found the programme to be beneficial. There has been a significant decrease in parameters like blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol and weight. There has also been considerable enhancement in their cognitive and social well-being.
“The overwhelming response has inspired us to take it to other parts of Bengaluru. Now we have started a new project in Kothanur named NMT Age Care - Centre of Active Ageing. This centre introduces programmes for the elderly to keep them healthy through a combination of social engagement, mental stimulation activities and fitness programmes. It follows the similar protocols of the pilot centre and is set up for delivering the programme to lower middle class,” said Dr Radha Murthy, founder, Nightingales Medical Trust.