‘Vayo Santhwanam': Kerala to pilot govt-aided centres for bedridden elderly patients
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has decided to initiate a pilot project to set up aided centres for the caring of the indigent and bedridden elderly people. The Social Justice Department's move comes in the context of an increasing number of ailing elderly persons in the state being abandoned by their children..
Although 16 old age homes are functioning in the state, these do not have in-patient facilities. Hence, the plan is to launch centres under the name, ‘Vayo Santhwanam’ for bedridden patients over 60 years of age.
It may be noted that the elderly helpline number - elderly line has been receiving numerous concerns. Over 33,290 individuals got in touch with the elderly line in the last two years. Of these 2835 people requested a place to stay.
| District | No. of people who contacted elderly line seeking accomodation |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 366 |
| Kollam | 279 |
| Pathanamthitta | 185 |
| Alappuzha | 311 |
| Kottayam | 176 |
| Idukki | 80 |
| Ernakulam | 342 |
| Thrissur | 216 |
| Palakkad | 210 |
| Kozhikode | 238 |
| Malappuram | 107 |
| Wayanad | 57 |
| Kannur | 210 |
| Kasaragod | 76 |
| Total | 2835 |
Care will be provided in collaboration with voluntary organisations that run orphanages, old age homes, etc. Services including accommodation and treatment are offered free of cost. 80 percent of the cost will be covered by a government grant.
The centre should be equipped to offer the services of a doctor, a nurse, and a physiotherapist. It should cater for 25 people.
In the initial stage, a centre will be started on a trial basis in one district. The government has already notified An Expression of Interest (EOI) for the same.