Experts point out need of long-term care for elderlies
By Mahima Devkota, Kathmandu, Mar. 30: Geriatrics and gerontologists of the country has expressed a concern over the lack of health friendly care services for the elderlies in the country.
They stressed that the long term care provides assistance to the aged people for prolonged periods to compensate for the loss of function and mobility which also maintains their rights and dignity. Long term services also help the aged in avoiding longer and unnecessary stay in hospitals.
Dr. Ramesh Kandel, a senior geriatric doctor, said that health systems need to be transformed so that the aged can ensure affordable access to evidence-based medical interventions that respond to the needs of older people and can help prevent care dependency later in life.
“But, Nepal is still lagging in providing age-based care such as in-home care, adult day programmes, independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, palliative care a continuum of care facilities, and dementia care facilities,” said Dr. Kandel.
While mentioning that the aged people suffer from both degenerative and non-communicable diseases due to the aging of the body’s immune system, Dr. Kandel stressed on the need of the long term care to address the enormous burden to both family and society of disabilities that can result due to these morbidities
Dr. Kandel said that our current health system is mainly focused on providing immediate or curative-focused treatment facilities while turning a blind eye to the care that the aged patients need after the treatment.
Mainly, such care is needed by the aged as they suffer from multiple degenerative and communicable diseases such as visual impairment, difficulty in walking, chewing, hearing, osteoporosis, arthritis, and incontinence that renders aged people incapable of performing the activities of daily living and instrumental living.
While pointing out the need to change the health system as per the change, Dr. Kandel said that it is about that we shift our focus from acute care to long term care for elderlies.
Similarly, Sumanta Prasad Banjade, chairperson of Geriatrics Society of Nepal, said that our society is still not aware about the special needs of older people and that it can be met only by skilled professionals. As a result, there are no specialized geriatric hospitals, daycare centers, and caregivers for the old aged, in the way such cares are available for the other age group people.
So, there must be collective efforts on raising awareness that there are special health needs of the elderlies and that it can be fulfilled only through aged-based specialized care, added Dr. Banjade.
Sanju Thapa Magar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ageing Nepal, sees lack of awareness and skilled manpower in the field of gerontology as the reason behind the incompetence health care services and facilities for older people although there are seven regional geriatric hospitals in the country.
While shedding light on the matter, CEO Magar said, “There should be a comprehensive and integrated health care system to cater to the needs of the aged people for they are dynamic and complex.”
Furthermore, Amrit Bahadur Thapa, medical coordinator of Geriatrics Society of Nepal, which was initiated by health experts after observing the need for geriatric care, said that geriatric care ensures that old aged people find a way of having an active and healthy life.