An initiative on Care for Elders

By

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation

AASARA

(Equal Rights and Dignity for Elders)

About AASARA

Aasara (Senior Citizens Welfare Programme) has started functioning from 30th August, 2007. Under the supervision of Commissioner & Special Officer, GHMC and inaugurated Aasara Call Centre-1253 with a great vision to extend the services to the Senior Citizens and to provide a sustainable organizations of their own to evolve suitable processes. The Call Centre is functioning with the support of HelpAge India as a nodal agency. Identity cum Privilege cards are being issued to the senior citizens after duly obtaining information in the prescribed format along with age, residential proof, and two passphort size photos. Nearly 38084 are proudly carrying these ID cards in the city of Hyderabad. Numbers of camps are going on all over the city, including in old and interior places and slum areas for health check up, eye testing, blood camps, supply of spectacle,Wheel Chairs etc.

Helpline (1253):

Any Senior Citizen or one on behalf of a Senior Citizen can make a call to AASARA Helpline No. 1253 to record his / her problems or complaints.

The AASARA Helpline receives calls between 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM on all days.

Helpline Support Services:

One social Worker and one Project Coordinator from HelpAge India will attend to the grievances received through helpline immediately and redress the issues with the help of Volunteers and Local Senior Citizen Associations.

Any Senior Citizen or one on behalf of a Senior Citizen can make a call to AASARA Helpline No. 1253 to record his / her problems or complaints.

  • Number of grievances registered in the call center - 13,161
  • Number of grievances redressed - 13,086
  • Number of Applications received for ID cards - 39488
  • Number of ID cards issued - 39142

Helpline services received-303

Redressed-288

Aasara Senior Citizens Identity / Privilege Card:

Identity cum Privilege cards are being issued to the senior citizens at free of cost after duly obtaining information in the prescribed format along with age, residential proof, and two passphort size photos.

The Following are the facilities being extended through Aasara Identity Card

• Free entry into parks for activities like yoga, pranayama etc.
• Provide preference for the Senior Citizens in public places/GHMC service center
• Conducting medical camps for Senior Citizens.
• Establishment of Day Care Centers for the Senior Citizens.
• Encouraging voluntary services to provide various support services to Senior Citizens.
• Providing counseling for the needy.
• Arranging wheelchairs in parks and GHMC office.
• Solving the issues through the helpline on priority basis.
• Facilitating Old Age Pensions (OAP) as per Government forms
• Providing police protection.
• Medical concession through IMA and APNA.
• Shelter assistance in home for elderly.

Identity/ Privilege Cards Issued (Age wise classification)

AgeNo. of Persons

60-6522777

66-70 9571

71-75 4727

76-80 1664

81-85 562

86-90146

91-95 34

96-100 7

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Total= 39488

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Aasara News letter

Aasara news letter providing all the information related to activities and also discusses issues related to the senior citizens. Aasara news letter has been like mouth peace of senior citizens in Hyderabad- So far six issues brought out quarterly. Aasara news letter been tool for various campaigns to bring awareness among the senior citizens on issues related to senior citizens.

Community Based Organizations:

  • Senior Citizen Associations- 151
  • Day Care Centers- 50
  • Number of volunteers
  • General - 450
  • Professional- 250

Senior Citizen Associations / Residential welfare Associations:

The Senior Citizen Associations / Resident Welfare Associations play a pivotal role in promoting and strengthening activities of Aasara by extending the support through local volunteers. All the senior citizen associations in the twin cities were brought under Aasara umbrella to share their views and to work together to achieve the desired needs of the elderly.

DayCareCenter:

The Day Care Centers have an important role in the lives of senior citizens and for the society. These centers help to develop the social relations among the senior citizens. They would act like mini cultural centers to spread the message of health, happiness among the senior citizens. The unity, strength and happiness among the senior citizens would have the impact on children and youth.

The day care center will be a focal point for implementing the Aasara activities like Eye Care Camps, etc., through its volunteers. This would help the Senior Citizens to reach the poor and needy. It is proposed to open at least 5 Day Care Centers in each circle

  • Procedure:

Application from senior Citizen association requesting day care center along with resolution on the accommodation availability to start the DayCareCenter

  • Activities:
  • Meeting the recreational needs by providing TV, music system and cultural activities.
  • Providing physical activity through thread mill, and mental abilities by providing indoor games (chess, caroms, etc) as well as yoga, pranayama, etc.
  • Facilitating pensions for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
  • Helping in improving talent in the respective fields of their interests -literature, light music, painting, etc.
  • Creating awareness on health and nutrition.
  • Enlightening on social problems such as child labour, illiteracy, HIV, etc.
  • Meeting the medical needs through a panel of doctors from Allopathy, Ayurvedic, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Unani & Physiotherapy treatments.
  • Facilitating birthday celebrations.
  • Visiting other homes for elderly.
  • Conducting seminars on ageing.
  • Participating in community activities.
  • Providing services through panel of professionals.

Volunteers:

General and Professional Volunteers are being registered under Aasara to extend the support for the Senior Citizens. The General Volunteers includes Rtd.Officials, youth, women and other interested persons

Professional Volunteers like doctors, Advocates, Counselors, physiotherapists, Physiatrist, Rtd police officials, Revenue officials etc.,

  • Volunteers Meeting:-

Every Second Friday the Volunteers Meeting is being organized between 3.00 to 5.00 Pm at Face to Face Meeting hall with specific agenda on the activities of Aasara. Volunteers are taking active role and participating in all Aasara activities with lots of commitment and zeal towards the welfare of the senior citizens.

These monthly volunteers meeting created a platform for the senior citizens and to the volunteers to understand the issues of senior citizens, raise the issues related to senior citizens, share the life experiences of each other and to get aware of the welfare schemes for senior citizens and their rights. These meetings also created an opportunity to build a greater senior citizens network in the city. This volunteers meeting is a very good entry point for the people who wants to involve in the Aasara activities and program. During these volunteers meetings Aasara team will update the activities and up coming programs to the senior citizens. This meeting also gives an opportunity to the senior citizens to interact with the GHMC officials directly for queries and clarifications.

Eye Health Care :

Total Camps Conducted:-

No. of camps conducted… 108

No. of persons screened… 15536

No. of cataracts identified… 1108

No. of persons identified for spectacles … 7290

Health Camps in Oldage Homes:-

Dr.RangaReddyLionsEyeHospital came forward to conduct free Eye Health Checkup to all the inmates of OldAge Homes by providing free spectacles and free medicines as sponsored by Seth Gulab Rai Charitable Foundation. 150 Old Age Homes proposed to cover during June and July, 2009.

Plastic Surgery Screening Camp:-

Aakar – Asha is conducted its 6th free surgical rehabilitation camp on 25th January,2009 in association with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, AASARA and Indira Kranthi Patham. The persons identified at the screening camp will be referred for surgery on 13th to 15th February, 2009 at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills through Dr.BharatendraSwain, Plastic surgeon.

Total Screenings------103

Surgeries Conducted------31

PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS / INSTITUTIONS:

Aasara's Partnership with organizations like 1) HelpAge India, 2) CADRE (Center for Alternate Dispute Resolution & Education), 3) ARDSI (Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India),4) Akar-Asha (Plastic Surgery Foundation),5)LV Prasad's Eye Institute, 6)Lions Eye Hospitals, 7)Gold Age Foundation, 8)Pain Relief and palliative care, Hyderabad (MNJ), 9) FAPSCO (Andhra Pradesh Senior Citizen Confederation) and 10)APSCCON (Federation of Andhra Pradesh Senior Citizens Organizations), 11) Oldage Homes etc., extending their support services at senior citizens' doorstep is a remarkable achievement.

Partnership with the ARDSI

ARDSI :

The Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India, ARDSI, is a secular, non-profit, national, voluntary organ-ization, dedicated to improving the quality of life of persons with dementia.

The lack of an organized support group in Hyderabad for persons with dementia and their families, motivated a committed group of neurologists, psychiatrists, healthcare professionals and caregivers to start ARDSI Hyderabad Deccan, as the local chapter November 2008.

A successful collaboration between AASRA and ARDSI Hyderabad Deccan was initiated in January. The collaboration commenced with conducting awareness sessions at the senior citizens forums affiliated to AASRA. It will be extended to include memory screening camps and induction training for volunteers.

LVPEI / LionsEyeHospitals

The pilot project taken up by Aasara in coordination with LV Prasad Eye Institute / LionsEyeHospitals has proved to be a good beginning in promotion of Eye healthcare. Eye health and general camps are being conducted in association with LVPEI / LionsEyeHospitals.

Aakar - Asha Foundation

Aakar-Asha Foundation has conducted its sixth free surgical rehabilitation camp on 25th January 2009, in association with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation - AASARA and Indira Kranthi Patham.

IMA / APNA (Indian Medical Associations / AndhraPradeshPrivateHospitals and Nursing Home Associations)

The activities of Aasara have helped for easy convergence with related organizations and provided base to negoiate with IMA and APNA for the benefit of senior citizens. In this context, upto 20% concession has been approved by both APNA & IMA.

OLDAGE HOMES

- Health Camps

* Seth Gulab Rai Charitable Foundation, Hyderabad conducted a free Eye Health Checkup camp for all the inmates of Old Age Homes and provided free spectacles medicines in association with Dr. Ranga Reddy Lions Eye Hospital, Secunderabad.

*47 Oldage Homes covered and 1584 number of inmates were examined for both diabetic and eye health. 650 spectacles were provided free of cost.

APSCCON & FAPSCO:

Andhra Pradesh Senior Citizen Confederation and Federation of Andhra Pradesh Senior Citizens Organizations - both state level bodies, are implementing various activities for elder persons in association with Aasara.

Goldage Foundation, Saroor-nagar: The foundation has been the venue for bedside assistance training programme.

MNJ Institute of Oncology: MNJ Institute has provided bedside assistance training services and also screening of cases which were referred by Aasara.

Aasara News letter

Aasara news letter providing all the information related to activities and also discusses issues related to the senior citizens. Aasara news letter has been like mouth peace of senior citizens in Hyderabad- So far six issues brought out quarterly and planning lo increase the frequency to bimonthly. Aasara news letter been tool for various campaigns to bring awareness among the senior citizens on issues related to senior citizens, also news letter is being the easiest way to reach the information to all the senior citizens in all corners of the city. It is in the process of increase the number of pages to providemore information related lo Aasara activities.

Bed Side Assistance Volunteers: (Geriatric Care)

One of the major activities that Aasara has successfully implemented recently is training of volunteers for Bedside Assistance. This innovative training programme in association with Gold Age Foundation ARDSI and MNJ Institute of Oncology has been designed to provide placements to the poor and at the same time, render assistance to senior citizens who are bedridden. 32 volunteers have completed training at GoldAge Foundation, Saroor Nagar in the first batch and placements allotted. Any senior citizen who requires bedside assistant may call the help line 1253.

AASARA Registration Committee:

Aasara is in the process of expending its activities to reach the Senior Citizens in the city, Aasara Committee constantly meeting and reviewing the activities and plans. To work more independently and to organize them selves through Aasara, members in the core group initiated the process and after the approval of Commissioner and Special Officer, registered the Aasara under societies registration Act, with registration number 114/2009 dated 5-03-2009. Aasara committee also opened bank account at SBH, operated by Mr.Kanna Babu, President, Aasara (AC (IT&AASARA)) and Mr.Bhagawanulu, Treasurer, and Mr.Y.Raja Rao, Secretary Aasara.

Aasara committee nominated some members for the Aasara news letter committee to look after the issues related to Aasara news letter. Nominated members of the Aasara news letter, 1.P.L.Menon, 2.B.Rama Rao, 3.Deshpande, 4.Margarate reeves, 5.M.A.Sattar Khan.

Mobile Medical care:

One Mobile Medical care unit – Ambulance was provided by HelpAge India to Aasara. This vehicle is being utilized for the conduct of Health camps and Rehabilitation elder persons in oldgAge Homes etc.

Conceptual thinking on InstitutionalBuilding &Community Doctors concept

Mr. P. Sreenivasulu, Project Director, Aasara welcomed the Senior Citizens and dignitaries to the dais and Mr. Anjaneyulu president for the Senior Citizens forum Nagole, presided the meeting. Dr. Rao Chelikani, President FAPSCO, Ln.Prof. G. Manohar Rao, Gandhi nagar Senior Citizens association, Mr. Bhasker, Sr.Executive, Wackhardt hoispitals, Ln.G.Jitendra rao, vice Governor, District 324 C5, International, Dr. Sulapani, MD ortho Surgeon, Rajyalaksmi horpitals, Vanasthalipuram, Dr. Markandeyulu, MD, Children specialist Nagole and Dr. M.S. Ranga Reddy, MDS were present and participated during the session.

Institutional building

Mr. Anjeneyulu, as president made the opening remarks emphasizing the need and necessity of the strengthening of the Senior Citizens Associations.

Mr. P. Sreenivasulu, Project Director, Aasara explained the institutional building process and the major role of community based organizations of Senior Citizens. 1. Formation of Senior Citizens Associations and strengthening of existing associations. 2. Formation and Strengthening of Day Care centers. 3. Creation of Voluntary base from youth, Women, and elders in each association and requested the participants to emphasize the role and responsibilities of Senior Citizens in promoting the above CBOs.

Community Doctor Concept:

Project Director emphasized the need of Medical assistance to the elders especially during the emergency. When Senior Citizens are in dire situations the need of medical assistance and support from the local /community Doctors role is vital. The local doctor/ community doctor can attend at home and support for immediate medical aid to the elders at home itself and later according to the advice of the community doctor elder can be shifted to nearby or suitable hospital on his advice, and the doctor should inform the concern hospital about the diagnosis and also medication extended so far to reduce the diagnostic costs. The community Doctor concept is basically for the Senior Citizens Association within the boundary and to promote the confidence among the family members in emergency needs.

Rehabilitation of Persons with disabilities

•Conducting of integrated disability camps in every circle of GHMC.

•Issuing the disability medical certificates, RTC / Railway passes on concession.

•Facilitating loans for disabled persons.

•Facilitating and issuing wheel chairs, artificial limbs, walking sticks and doing surgical corrections operations.

•In the last 5 camps, 3000 RTC and Railway passes and 5000 medical certificates were issued.

Activity Plan for 2010-11:

To sustain the community based organizations of Senior Citizens a detailed activity plan Month wise/Activity wise prepared as per the suggestions made during the Aasara- committee meetings.

Towards well coordination and preparation for the activities Aasara prepared an activity plan till March 2010.

New Intiative Formation of Circle level Aasara Committees :

GHMC commissioner decided on july 2nd 2010 to Aasara will be decentralized and start the activities in the areawise. To take the first intiative from GHMC in India to Formation of Circle level Aasara committee.

Special Commissioner issued the letters to all Deputy municipal Commissioer’s to organized the circle level meetings and elect the circle level committees.

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation

Circular Memo No: 240/Aasara/GHMC/2010-11Dated:14-07-2010

Sub:-GHMC-Aasara- Formation of Circle Level Aasara committees –

Instructions – Reg.

Ref:- Minutes of the Aasara Committee meeting held on 02-07-2010

In Panwar Hall, GHMC.

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The general body meeting of Aasara Committee was held on 02-07-2010 in Panwar Hall, GHMC, which was headed by the Special Commissioner, GHMC, where in a decision was taken to establish Two Tier Aasara Committees initially one at the Head Office and other at circle levels in order to have adequate representation and better coordination even at local level activities in the circles.

The structure of circle level Aasara Committee is as follows,

Nominated Posts:

  1. Additional Commissioner(UCD),GHMC-Chief Advisor
  2. Deputy Municipal Commissioner of the circle -President
  3. Project Officer(UCD) of the circle-Organizing Secretary - 1
  4. Representative from Local SCA s-Organizing Secretary - 2
  5. Representative from Local SCA s-Organizing Secretary - 3

The following posts shall be filled by the Senior Citizens/ N.G.O’s /FAPSCO/APSCCON and other citizens serving the cause.

  1. Vice President-Aasara Member
  2. Secretary-Aasara Member
  3. Joint Secretary-Aasara Member
  4. Treasurer-Aasara Member
  5. Joint Treasurer-Aasara Member
  6. Executive Committee Members- Minimum 5 members (Aasara Members, Volunteers, Reps from Oldagehomes, NGOs etc.).

This committee shall be elected or selected based on the competition and 1/3rdof the above committee shall be filled with women candidates.