Allopathy Treatments

The primary objective of the programme is “health and well being of the elderly” and promotes healthy ageing. Hence the MMU is designed to provide Primary Healthcare services for the elderly viz.

• Free treatment: The doctor would physically examine patients & based on the available equipments clinically diagnose patients and prescribe medicines. Wherever required, the patients would be referred to pathological laboratories for detailed investigation /secondary/tertiary health care service providers for specialist treatment /care.
  
  
• Free medicines: The MMU stocks medicine for all common ailments including Hypertension, Diabetes, Arthritis, etc. These medicines would be issued to the patients free of cost by the Pharmacist on the basis of the Doctor’s prescription. The Pharmacist would also explain the dosage of medicines and their side effects, if any to the patients.
  
  
• Physiotherapy services: This intervention aims to prevent or manage chronic conditions and promote healthier ageing to the elderly. Physiotherapy services focus on maintaining or improving mobility, function and physical activity with an aim to maximize independence of beneficiaries through exercise and self-management principles. The services emphasize balance; flexibility; strength; posture; functional and cardiovascular ability. They also include health education and advice on relevant issues such as falls risk reduction, posture, back care, continence and home exercise programs.
  
  
• Basic Diagnostics: The MMU van is equipped with basic diagnostic equipments such as Stethoscope, BP Apparatus, thermometer, weighing machine etc for checking the vital signs. In addition to this there is a ‘glucometer’ for blood sugar testing. This was introduced due to the high incidence of diabetes which has been identified as one of the four most prevalent Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), so that patients suspected to be suffering from Diabetes & also those who have Diabetes are regularly examined and advised on management of the disease.
  
  
• Home visits by Doctor (in case of bedridden patients): The doctor and the paramedic team conducts weekly visits the houses of bedridden elders who otherwise cannot approach or be brought to the vehicle. They examine & clinically diagnoses the problems presented by the elder patient or caregivers and prescribes medicines and advices the patient and their caregivers.
  
  
• Counselling for patients, elders, family members and caretakers: the counsellor and the doctor provide necessary advice and counselling to patients and caretakers on various ailments and home care. The project team also conducts regular counselling sessions on various aspects for healthy ageing i.e. (a) diet and nutrition; (c) weight reduction; (b) regular exercise; (d) smoking; (e) alcohol; (f) social activities. By adopting a healthier lifestyle, the risk of a whole range of diseases can be reduced. 
  
  
• Community awareness on the rights of the elderly: Every person has the right to freedom and respect and the right to be treated fairly by others. A person's rights do not diminish when he or she becomes old, regardless of his or her physical or mental ability to exercise or fully appreciate his or her rights. A positive, supportive and caring attitude by family, friends, caretakers and the community will help people to continue as integral, respected and valued members of society. Creating awareness in the community especially among the younger generation will help to sensitize them on the various aspects of taking care of the aged and in long term will also help them in preparing for their old age. 
  
  
• Referral linkage with local health providers: The team promotes initiate linkages with private as well as government health care facilities so as to ensure that the required services would be available on demand. The linkage between the HelpAge beneficiaries and these identified institutions would ensure accessibility and affordability of the services.
  
  
• Linkage with Govt. schemes/ programmes: This initiative aims to increase awareness among the elderly poor about various social security, food security and habitat security schemes, and thus enabling them to advocate/ demand their rights. We realize that elderly people need support to avail these schemes. HelpAge would play a facilitating role in linking them with the local and district administration and also collecting the information from the government offices and disseminating this information to the concerned/ eligible beneficiaries thus improving their access to social welfare schemes’.