Mangaluru Police Commissioner calls for care of elderly in city

Mangaluru Police Commissioner calls for care of elderly in city

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 3, 2017: Police Commissioner T.R. Suresh in a long neded call, asked people to be more sensitive to the problems of elderly senior citizens. He said not less than around five elderly persons approach him daily with complaints of ill-treatment and undue pressure from kin and institutions.

Police Commissioner Suresh was speaking at the launch of World Alzheimer’s Month organised by People’s Association for Geriatric Empowerment (PAGE), an association of over 25 organisations, at Kadri Park on Friday, September 1. He said one should have patience to listen to the issues of elders and address them in a humane manner.

The anxiety that elders in the city was represented by people in general. The 1090 helpline needs to be better equipped. Though the police and administration  is extending good support; the  NGOs connected to elders care must extend active co-operation to improve matters. one example is that currently Aadhaar cards are very essential even to the very aged. These people in their 80s and 90s and specially in old age homes do not have supporting identity documents and their kith and kin too are indifferent. The Govt and administration must formulate proper procedure and notify accordingly and empower the elders help line to render due assistance in securing needed Aadhaar card with possible arrangement to get the process completed right in the place where the elderly persons reside in the city.
Exploitation of the sick and elderly is very high and suitable machinery can be put together to make the end lives of these suffering people better and secure. There are several issues that can be smoothed with regard to the elderly as a duty if there is a will by the concerned authorities.

Olinda Pereira, president, PAGE, inaugurated the launch. Prabha Adhikari, vice-president, gave an insight into Alzheimer’s and also explained the activities planned for the month. J.R. Lobo, MLA, Mangaluru City South, said children should take care of their aged parents and elders.

Jerardin D’Souza, founder of Mangalore Alzheimer’s Association, said Alzheimer’s is preventable and one must have a positive outlook and not give up efforts in making their lives manageable.