Senior Citizens Guide 23-07-09.pmd - Helpage India Programme

3• Access to food and adequate nutrition for all older persons.iii) Universal and equal access to health-care services• Development and strengthening of primary health-care services to meet theneeds of older persons.• Development of a continuum of health care to meet the needs of older persons.• Involvement of older persons in the development and strengthening of primaryand long-term care services.iv) Older persons and HIV/AIDS• Improvement in the assessment of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the health ofolder persons, both for those who are infected and those who are caregiversfor infected or surviving family members.• Provision of adequate information, training in care-giving skills, treatment,medical care and social support to older persons living with HIV/AIDS andtheir caregivers.v) Provision of improved information and training for care providers, healthprofessionals and para-professionals on the needs of older persons.vi) Development of comprehensive mental health-care services ranging fromprevention to early intervention, the provision of treatment services and themanagement of mental health problems in older persons.vii) Extension of CGHS Coverage to cover grand parents and dependent oldrelatives of the government employee.viii) Provision of Mobile Medicare Units in remote and inaccessible areas forproviding healthcare to the older personsMINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENTi) To encourage universities/departments/ research centers to develop anddeliver appropriate educational and training material relevant and useful forolder persons.ii) To inculcate the traditional values in education system in order to removeprejudices against the elderly.iii) Primary education sector to be supplemented by voluntary educators amongthe senior citizens in schools facing the problem of shortage of teachers.MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENTi) Formulation of specific programmes/ schemes for the social, economic, health,safety and welfare of the elderly women and including a similar component inthe existing schemes/programmes.ii) To take a proactive stand for the elderly destitute women and give priority totheir problems under their existing schemes.iii) To develop nutrition programme for the elderly women.MINISTRY OF FINANCEi) Adoption of the age of 60 years for senior citizens for giving tax benefits.