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geriatric care : the need of the hour for taking care of the elderly persons

Viewing the urgent need for taking care of the elderly persons and in order to conduct applied researches in the area of gerontology, a unique Geriatric Care Department under the aegis of NRI Senior Care was inaugurated under the aegis of Dr. Vandana Kumari Foundation at Paryavaran Complex in the neighbourhood of Saket in South Delhi by the Senior Citizens headed by Chancellor Dr. P. R. Trivedi in the presence of the local Ward Councilor Shri Rampal Yadav. This need based Centre will function in the specialized areas of geriatric counseling, geriatric sociology, geriatric medicine, geriatric nursing, geriatric security, geriatric housing and geriatric rights. This was formally announced jointly by the Trustees of DVK Foundation: Dr. Sushil Kumar and Dr. Vandana Kumari while substantiating the need of the proper medical care of the elderly persons of the National Capital Region (NCR).

The newly established Geriatric Care Centre being inaugurated jointly by the Ward Councilor
Shri Rampal Yadav and Chancellor Dr. P. R. Trivedi at Paryavaran Complex, New Delhi.

Recalling the establishment of DVK Foundation, the Founder Trustee and the World Renowned Oncological (Cancer) Surgeon  Dr. Sushil Kumar said that the idea and the concept to establish the organization came from the renowned Institution Builder Dr. P. R. Trivedi who had impressed upon the leading medical experts for researching on geriatric care after the establishment of DVK Foundation on October 1, 2015 at New Delhi based on the resolution of 14 December 1990 of the United Nations General Assembly (by resolution 45/106) designated 1^st October for holding the International Day of Older Persons.

This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing - which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing - and endorsed later that year by the UN General Assembly, Dr. Sushil Kumar added.

In 1991, the General Assembly (by resolution 46/91) adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons. In 2002, the Second World Assembly on Ageing adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages, Dr. Sushil Kumar further added.

For the current year, the entire focus will be based on the suggestions given by Chancellor Dr. P. R. Trivedi in the light of the theme of the 2015 commemoration is "Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment", Dr. Sushil Kumar explained.

Suggesting a Masterplan Paradigm to the DVK Foundation's functionaries, Chancellor Dr. P. R. Trivedi said that "Leaving No-One Behind" necessitates the understanding that demography matters for sustainable development and that population dynamics will shape the key developmental challenges that the world in confronting in the 21st century. If our ambition is to "Build the Future We Want", we must address the population over 60 which is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030.

The Chief Guest Chancellor Dr. P R Trivedi with the Guest of Honour Ward Councillor Shri Rampal Yadav,
RWA President Shri Mahavir Singh, Senior Citizen Society President Shri Bindeshwar Sharma and the
Founders of DVK Foundation Dr. Sushil Kumar and Dr. Vandana Kumari at the entrance of the
Geriatric Care Centre and Free OPD Facilitation Outfit at Paryavaran Complex, New Delhi.

Recalling the DVKF's Court of Governors' advice that the registration of DVKF be done on another international day, it was decided to register DVKF on 15 October 2015 being the United Nations International Day of Rural Women, in the light of the fact that DVKF has to give priority to the rural women who are deprived of the medical facilities, Dr. Sushil Kumar discussed the future activities with selected rural women.

The DVKF feels that rural women, the majority of whom depend on natural resources and agriculture for their livelihoods, make up over a quarter of the total world population. In developing countries, rural women represent approximately 43 per cent of the agricultural labour force, and produce, process and prepare much of the food available, thereby giving them primary responsibility for food security.

The Chairman and Chief Medical Director of DVK Foundation Dr. Sushil Kumar perusing the
medical reports of the Senior Citizens for giving expert advice and medical care guidelines.

Bearing in mind that 76 per cent of the extreme poor live in rural areas, ensuring rural women's access to productive agricultural resources contributes to decreasing world hunger and poverty, and make rural women critical for the success of the new Sustainable Development agenda for 2030, the agenda of DVKF further outlines.

The Director and Trustee of DVK Foundation Dr. Vandana Kumari prescribing the medicines
and medical care guidelines to the Senior Citizen seeking expert advice at NRI Senior Care,
Paryavaran Complex, New Delhi

Doctors and Volunteers taking blood sample from the Senior Citizen and other visitors
seeking medical advice based on the results of blood chemistry measured through latest
diagnostic equipment.

At the outset the renowned Ace Poet Shri Bindeshwar Sharma welcomed the guests by reciting a poem related to health care, wellness and lifestyle. The Resident Consultant (Social Marketing), DVK Foundation Shri L P Singh while proposing a vote of thanks said that the day when DVK Foundation was registered was not only the international day of rural women but this important day also coincided with the World Students Day declared by the United Nations to mark the birthday of President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

Highlighting the outstanding contribution of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in different areas of nation building, Shri L P Singh added that Dr. Kalam wasn't just the People's President, but an inspirational personality who also was a teacher, scientist, author, professor and policy-maker Despite having such great qualities, the most endearing feature of his personality was his simplicity, Shri L P Singh further added.

Elucidating the action plan for strengthening the newly created Cell related to Geriatric and Elderly Care with a view to helping the elderly rural women in Nagaland and Assam along with other North Eastern States of India with the active cooperation of the local and grassroot level NGOs namely "Nagaland Empowerment Agency for Transformation (NEAT)" headed by Dr. Imotemsu Longkumer Ao and "Norther Eastern Agency for Revival (NEAR)" headed by Dr. Hemendra Nath Dutt (who are actively engaged in rural health care management), Shri L P Singh said that women and men age differently and that the problems of elderly women are exacerbated by a lifetime of gender based discrimination, often stemming from the deep-rooted cultural and social bias compounded by other forms of discrimination based on class, caste, disability, illiteracy, unemployment and mental status. He further explained that the Patriarchal Hierarchy and access to property rights are also discriminatory. Burdened with household choices for a longer span of time compared to older men, the older women do not have time for leisure or recreational activities. Further elaborating on the health of women, he was of the opinion that they experienced proportionately higher rates of chronic illness and disabilities in old age compared to men and that they also suffer greater non-communicable diseases and experienced lower social and mental health status specially if they are single and / or widowed. Over 50% of women over the age of 80 years in Nagaland are widows, he opined.