By Mahima Devkota, Kathmandu, Jan. 28: Ishwori Sharma, 83, a resident of Lokanthali, Madhayapur Thimi Municipality-1, Bhaktapur, has to go to hospital frequently as she has been diagnosed with multiple morbidities such as sugar, pressure, and rheumatic disease.

Although her son and daughter-in-law take her to hospital and bring her back home whenever needed, she has no choice but to stay at home all alone at day time as her son and daughter-in-law go to office and her grandchildren are college students.

With nobody to talk to and seek help during the day at this age, octogenarian Sharma feels lonely and helpless. Day hours are tediously long for her as she sits idly for she cannot do any activities including cook the item she wants to have.

She is apprehensive as to what will come of her when she becomes unable to go to the toilets herself. She wishes for some kind of formal or informal care for senior citizens like her.

Unfortunately, there is no formal geriatric care in Nepal which could provide senior citizens such as Sharma with long term care and assisted living.

Similarly, Tika Kumari Poudel, 72, a resident of Pahariyariuna, Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-5, Sindhupalchowk district, lives at home all alone as her only son is abroad, doing businessman in the UAE.  She shares that she has met with many difficulties while conducting daily activities of living such as cooking, bathing, cleaning and commuting.

She goes to the hospital herself when needed. Sometimes her relatives help her to go to the hospital. But, at home, she feels lonely and wishes for someone to provide her assistance and health care.

Like Sharma and Poudel, there are many aged people who face difficulties in conducting the activities of daily living, said Dr. Sumanta Prasad Banjade, chairperson at Geriatrics Society of Nepal.

Geriatric care ensures that old aged people find a way of having an active and healthy life. The memory exercises, making sure that the medication they are using does not have any side effects, and strengthening their capacity in performing their daily work are done by the geriatric care, said Amrit Bahadur Thapa, medical coordinator of Geriatrics Society of Nepal.

Pointing out that there are only four registered geriatricians in the country, which makes 1 geriatrician for 52,500 aged people, Dr. Banjade said that because of lack of awareness, lack of proper medical as well as an academic institution, there is a lack of trained and skilled geriatricians and gerontologists as well as caregivers in the country.

According to the 2011 census, there are 21 million elder adults in the country which accounts for 8 per cent of the total population.

Our society is still not aware that there are special needs of older people and that it can be met by only skilled professionals. So, there are no specialized geriatric hospitals, daycare centers and caregivers for the old aged the way such cares are available for the other age group people, Dr. Banjade said.

Even though the government has introduced the provision of establishing a geriatric ward in each and every provincial hospital, but, due to lack of skilled and trained professionals, the government policy is yet to be translated into action, said Dr. Sumanta Prasad Banjade, chairperson at Geriatrics Society of Nepal.

Saying that there is an organization called the geriatrics society of Nepal established by health experts after observing the need for geriatric care, Dr. Banjade said that geriatric care provides professional care to the elderly and it also helps them to live actively and healthily.

Geriatrics Society of Nepal provides free basic care like measuring blood pressure, ECGs, ECHOs, blood tests, and urine tests as well as counseling to the aged people and the family, added Amrit Bahadur Thapa, medical coordinator of Geriatrics Society of Nepal.

An old aged person may have different problems ranging from forgetfulness to stubbornness. This brings a blow to the family relationships so the Geriatrics Society of Nepal not only focuses on counselling not only to aged people but also to the concerned family, said Thapa.