Adjusting to living alone brings in a great loneliness for elderly men and women, and often results from the inability to get out of the house to see others, because of reduced mobility or restrictions associated with transport problems. Within the household too, there are many things that appear to be difficult to them, especially when it comes to situations where they want to partake in their routine or complete their daily tasks by themselves. These may be simplest of the tasks, like changing a bulb, replacing a gas cylinder, stacking and disposing old newspapers, or cutting the toe nails etc.

Elderly care is a universal concept. The basic needs for physical care, safety, emotional, psychological and social support, as well as various services associated with the fulfilling of these needs, are vital for the elderly regardless of their lifestyle and the economic strata they belong to.

In accordance with the same, we spearheaded the Vriddha Mitra+ program to be able to reach the elderly living in residential societies. With a dedicated workforce of trained professionals, the VM+ service is equipped to provide services ranging from companionship to patient care.

Before recruiting the community officers for the Community Based Project as well as the residential society-based Vriddha Mitra+ program, we train them and build their capacity for caregiving. Before commencing their responsibilities as caregivers for the elderly, we ensure that each Community Officer engaged with Vriddha Mitra undergoes comprehensive training to ensure they are capable of delivering well-informed and compassionate care. In pursuit of this commitment, we have established the 'Vriddha Mitra Course,' an intensive 3-month training program meticulously designed to equip its participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide exceptional care. This training program consists of 6 modules, delivered through an amalgamation of classroom sessions and field training.

Till 2022, this course was informally being provided within the premises of SCHOOL. However, from 2022 onwards, SCHOOL entered into a partnership with Lighthouse Communities Foundation wherein the participants also undergo an additional 1-month training called a ‘Foundation Course’. The Foundation Course comprises of English Speaking, Computer Skills, Public Speaking Skills, Basic Mental Skills, Soft Skills, etc. After the completion of the Foundation Course, they graduate onto the Vriddha Mitra Course. This initiative was launched with the primary objective of empowering enthusiastic individuals with the requisite expertise to effectively serve the elderly community on a daily basis. Participants are equipped not only to address the immediate needs of the elderly but also to adeptly evaluate their unique challenges and provide tailored solutions. The course curriculum is thoughtfully structured, encompassing modules that delve into healthcare, non-communicable diseases, service provision, and other pertinent domains. These are delivered in-person as well as virtually by experts in the field of healthcare, medicine, and social work.

The curriculum consists of the following modules:

• Module 1: Who is an elderly

• Module 2: Physical and mental health (challenges, diseases and solutions)

• Module 3: Services of all types and details of delivering the same

• Module 4: Code of Conduct

• Module 5: Roles and Responsibilities

• Module 6: Monitoring and feedback mechanism

Until August 2023, the Vriddha Mitra Course has enrolled and provided training to around 150 individuals, capacitating them as caregivers.