Call to care for the elderly

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 23.The 29 trainees of the three-month certificate course on care for elderly persons, a programme of the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) and Dr. Reddy's Heritage Foundation, on Saturday learnt some valuable do's and dont's of their profession -- give them love, affection and a feeling of being wanted as part of the family.

The occasion was valedictory function of the course attended by Ms. Gayatri Ramachandran, Principal Secretary, Women Development, Child and Disabled Welfare. The trainees were from the old-age homes which receive Government grants.

Addressing the gathering, she stressed the importance of giving emotional support to senior citizens. "The need for friendship, interaction, becomes absolutely necessary as a person gets older," she said.

The need for care of the elderly was felt more these days when families did not remain closely knit, as in the past, and when youngsters went in search of greener pastures, deserting elderly family members.

The course, she said, had come at the right time, since it bridged the gap and the filled the need of society. "It goes a long way in helping the elderly," Ms. Ramachandran said.

Mr. Rafiq Rahman of the NISD, programme coordinator, said the course was being organised in the South as part of the NICE programme -- National Initiative in Care of Elderly. The aim was to form a cadre of youth to solve the problems of senior citizens. The course was only one to be launched by the Government of India. The message the institute sought to give to the elderly persons was `self-help was the best help'.

He said the course would be reviewed next month, when it was to be taken up for the Western and north-eastern regions at Pune and Guwahati respectively.

Mr.Mittal of the Probus Club and Mr.Tilak Raj Mehta of the Heritage Senior Citizens Club spoke. Earlier, Mr. K.R.Gangadharan, director of the Heritage Hospital, which conducted the course, welcomed. The gathering included a large number of members of the Heritage Senior Citizens Club.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Faithful to a vanishing art
Next     : Rajkumar abduction crisis: Oppn. insists on
           alternative strategy