Basic health care at home for senior citizens

Kathmandu, February 1. With the slogan "The Metropolitan City's service to senior citizens when they are disabled: basic health care at home", Kathmandu Metropolitan City has launched a program to provide basic health care to senior citizens above 70 years of age at home.

Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol wrote on her Facebook - "Now health care will not be limited to hospitals. Kathmandu Metropolitan City is starting basic health care at home for parents above 70 years of age from today. From health surveys to health promotion, facilitation, regular tests, necessary medicines, consultations to hospital in complex cases - all services are at your doorstep."

As part of the program to provide basic health care to senior citizens above 70 years of age at home, Kathmandu Metropolitan City is starting the work of surveying the health status of senior citizens from today. After training, nursing staff who go to homes for the survey have been provided with health examination materials, medicines and survey tablets.

Talking about the expected results for the health workers who will be participating in the survey, Acting Chief Sunita Dangol said, "This is not just your official responsibility. It is also a humanitarian service. Therefore, it is not about fulfilling your responsibility. There is someone for us, the senior citizens who have no one and nothing. Please behave in a way that makes you feel that you will get help when you need it." Emphasizing on obtaining results in any way while participating in the survey, she said, "If you do not have money to avert a disaster, if you do not have anyone to support you when you are in trouble, you may not get the behavior you think you will get from the senior citizens. Consider it natural. Explain and explain to them, and create a comfortable environment to work." Acting Chief Sunita Dangol said.

"Due to the changing social environment, there is a situation where children are abroad and parents are in their own country. The health condition of parents in Kathmandu may not be known in reality even if you read what is written on paper. Parents may not be able to tell the truth. What is said in the consultation is not on paper. Therefore, we are creating a telemedicine system to help their children abroad by informing them of their condition and supporting them for a healthy life. Acting Chief Sunita Dangol said, “We ensure the right to basic and emergency health services. The message of the Metropolitan City is to ensure that citizens are guaranteed.”

The Metropolitan City has stated that the survey is about to be launched with the aim of providing services at home, giving priority to senior citizens who have nothing, that is, their financial situation is weak, who have no one, that is, they have property but no family member to support them.

The survey work has been started with the aim of sending health workers to the homes of senior citizens who are unable to walk due to physical disabilities, chronic diseases, and cannot go to regular health institutions for health treatment, and to provide basic health services, Acting Chief Sunita Dangol informed.

A 5-day orientation has been provided to the nursing staff who will be participating in the survey. Similarly, health check-up tools and equipment have been provided during the survey. The materials provided for health check-ups include blood pressure monitor, glucometer, digital thermometer, pulse oximeter, health record form, visit logbook, and data entry tablet. Similarly, sterile gauze, bandage, antiseptic bandage, triangular bandage, crepe bandage, antiseptic wipe, cotton, medical tape, and sterile dressing set are provided.

This service provides medication management and nutrition counseling. Family meetings and dialogue programs are conducted to strengthen mental and social conditions. Efforts are made to control chronic diseases. A referral system is developed to provide quick treatment for emergencies.

Similarly, counseling is provided on exercise, mental health, and hygiene. Based on the data collected in this way, budgets, plans, and programs for risk reduction for senior citizens will be made realistic in the future. The Metropolitan Municipality has stated that there will be an increase in supportive feelings towards senior citizens.

According to Kalpana Shrestha, the focal person for the program, Hospital Nursing Inspector, "Coordination will be made with the ward office and women's health volunteers to create an environment where senior citizens can easily meet and talk to them as needed."