The Vriddha Mitra programme is built on a long-term vision of creating an age-friendly ecosystem that supports older adults to live with dignity, safety, and independence within their communities.This ecosystem goes beyond service delivery by strengthening specialized care for the elderly, advocating for inclusive public infrastructure, and enabling access to essential health and social entitlements through active engagement with public systems. towards ageing by promoting awareness, empathy, and respect across communities.
Because no one should have to grow old feeling alone.
Objectives Of Community Based Mechanism
Creating social support structure by establishing relationship with the elderlies, their families and community as a whole.
Establishing community based comprehensive service delivery model for basic care of elderlies and activating the public system to provide comprehensive services to the elderlies.
Building linkages with different schemes and programs to enhance inclusion
Geriatric Units were operationalized as exclusive centers for the elderly, which would understand their physical and mental health conditions and offer them customized care. The units comprise of a spacious room with various physiotherapy equipment, cots, and screens for privacy. Students from physiotherapy units provide individualised and focused treatment at no cost to the elderly.
We realized that the older adults are at greater risk of illness and death during many types of emergencies including the Covid-19 pandemic. We also started witnessing that few specific conditions of elderlies, such as impaired mobility, diminished sensory awareness, multiple chronic illnesses, and social and economic limitations reduced their ability to adapt during situations like ‘Lock-Down’. Within no time, special efforts were initiated by the team. The most promising aspect that came handy during this situation was our already existing process of filling ‘Saving Life Checklist (SLC)’ for each elderly, which gave us complete understanding of their health, especially chronic illnesses.
Our work during the COVID-19 pandemic was instrumental in developing the protocol for our emergency response system.
The Vriddha Mitra program addresses the elderly caregiver shortage by training youth through its academy, promoting healthy aging, reducing healthcare costs, and creating careers.
Over 400 youth in Pune have been trained, with expansions to Gwalior and Bhopal, focusing on slum communities. Graduates work in various care settings with ongoing mentoring for skill enhancement and growth.
The curriculum consists of the following modules: