PGI at doorstep of the elderly

CHANDIGARH: The staff and doctors of PGI will just be a phone call away for the elderly patients who have bed sores and cannot make it to the hospital. The project, funded by the department of science and technology (DST), will work like a balm for many of the city’s 70,000 senior citizens who are bedridden.
After receiving a call for help, the staff would register the number and after giving some emergency tips there and then, the paramedics would later visit the patient’s home.Apart from providing ice packs, the staff would train caregivers in feeding through nasal pipes and repositioning the patient suffering from bed sore. Dr Amarjeet Singh of PGI’s department of community medicine, who is working on the project, said, ‘‘As part of the project, we will take a head count of these patients. As of now, the focus will be on helping the elderly by going to their homes.’’
The department and National Institute of Nursing Education (NINE) have been working on DST-sponsored projects for senior citizens.
Nine projects to help seniors
Projects of National Institute of Nursing Education (NINE) include checking facilities at the city’s two government hospitals and a charity-based old age home.
‘‘We found that conditions at old age homes, including the government-run institution, are not favourable. A report will be submitted to DST and we will meet officials from UT’s department of social welfare,’’ said Dr Sukhpal Kaur of nine.
Explaining the need for the project, Dr Puneet Bains of department of community medicine said, ‘‘The elderly face a number of health problems. The degeneration process associated with aging also affects bone and skin tissues. A major reason for medical complications in bedridden patients is the fact that they are immobile.’’