22-Jul-2022: Update on National Program for Healthcare of the Elderly
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare had launched the “National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly” (NPHCE) during 2010-11 to address various health related problems of elderly people.
The objective of the Programme is to provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality long-term, comprehensive and dedicated care services to an Ageing population. The Programme is implemented as Centrally Sponsored Programme at two levels:
- Primary care services at district hospitals and sub district level through geriatric clinics, investigations & rehabilitation services, domiciliary visits by the rehabilitation worker for bed-ridden elderly and counseling to family members for care of such patients and Health Education. A total number of 713 Districts have been covered.
- Tertiary care services through OPD and in-door facilities, development of specialized human resource through various courses in geriatric medicine as well as research at Regional Geriatric Centers and National Centres for Ageing. Under this Component, Two National Centres of Ageing (NCAs) and 18 Regional Geriatric Centres (RGCs) have been set up.
NPHCE is already aligned with NRHM. In order to further strengthen and broaden the scope of National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly and also help in establishing a range of preventive and health care programmes for older population, a nationally representative survey of older persons in India, LASI (Longitudinal aging survey of India) was conducted under NPHCE. The survey covered all 30 states and 6 Union Territories of India with a panel sample size of 72,250 older adults aged 45 years including 31464 people above 60 years of age and above and their spouses regardless of age. Further, there is a provision of Research on specific elderly diseases at Department of Geriatrics in the Regional Geriatrics Centre & National Centre for Ageing.
15-Mar-2022: Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
As per 2011 Census, total number of Senior Citizens in the country is 10.38 Crore. Data on total number of senior citizens suffering from age related disabilities and living below poverty line are not maintained in this Ministry. However before distribution of assisted devices assessment is done regarding senior citizens who suffer from age related disabilities/ infirmities. The Ministry is implementing a Central Sector Scheme namely Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) under which free of cost assistive devices are provided to those senior citizens who suffer from age related disabilities/infirmities, and belong to BPL category. Since 2020-21 senior citizens who have a monthly income upto Rs. 15,000/- can also avail the benefit.
RVY is implemented across the country. There is no regional focus for RVY.
A total 11 Camps (08 distribution camps and 03 Assessment Camps) have been organised in Bihar since 2019 under RVY scheme and physical aids and assisted devices have been distributed free of cost to 2638 senior citizens.
2-Feb-2022: Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana for Senior Citizens
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment launched a Central Sector Scheme namely “Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana” (RVY) on 1st April, 2017 with the objective to provide the senior citizens, living below poverty line and suffering from any of the age related disability/ infirmity, with such assisted living devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions, overcoming the disability/ infirmity manifested. The assisted-living devices under the scheme are provided to the senior citizens belonging to the BPL category and also to the senior citizens with monthly income not more than Rs. 15000/-. The Government aims to cover all the districts of the country under the Scheme.
The following aids & assisted devices are provided under the scheme:
- Generic Items: (1) Walking sticks (2) Elbow crutches (3) Walkers/Crutches, (4) Tripods/Quadpods (5) Hearing Aids (6) Artificial Dentures, and (7) Spectacles.
- Special Items: (1) Wheelchairs, (2) Wheel Chairs with Commode, (3) Chair/Stool with Commode, (4) Silicon Foam Cushion, (5) Knee Brace, (6) Spinal Support, (7) Cervical Collar, (8) Lumbosacral Belt (LS), (9) Walker/Roalator with Brakes, (10) Walking Stick with Seat, (11) Foot Care Kit:- (i) Flexi Gel Socks, (ii) Socks Cusion Sandal, (iii) Silicon Insole (Complete Foot/Ankle) and (iv) Insole with Pressure Point Relief.
4-Aug-2021: Old Age Homes
551 Old Age Homes with 16290 beneficiaries across the country are being provided grant-in-aid by the Ministry.
In all the homes funded by the Ministry, clear protocol has been prescribed for treatment and care of the residents in the Senior Citizen Homes. Further for Senior Citizens afflicted with Alzheimer’s/Dementia, this Ministry also provides financial assistance for maintenance of Continuous Care Homes (CCH) under NAPSrC.
The monitoring of implementation of the Scheme is ensured through various mechanisms such as regular progress reports on the e-Anudaan portal, physical inspections by Project Monitoring Unit (PMU), online monitoring of performance through CCTV cameras and website of implementing agencies.