Social welfare (SW) department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR) for training geriatric (elderly) caregivers at CIHSR on Tuesday.
SW department was represented by its director Tosheli Zhimomi and CIHSR was represented by its director Dr. Sedevi Angami. It may be mentioned that the ministry of social justice and empowerment introduced Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) Scheme, which aims at improving the lives of senior citizens.
The MoU was signed under AVYAY scheme’s day rehabilitation initiative programme.
SW department is the nodal agency providing financial assistance for training geriatric caregivers in partnership with hospitals to enhance elderly care.
Speaking at the signing ceremony as special invitee, commissioner & secretary SW, Martha R Ritse pointed out that the ministry of social justice & empowerment had recognized the need for geriatric care, which led to the introduction of AVYAY scheme.
She said that CIHSR had been an excellent choice for partnership due to its progressive approach. She compared CIHSR’s efforts to the advanced geriatric care practices seen in larger hospitals in other countries. She expressed hope that with the MoU signing, the elderly would finally receive the care they deserved.
Ritse said Nagas were once known for honouring and caring for the elderly, but over time, they might have lost something in the process of advancement.
She expressed belief that the initiative would also help the younger generation understand and engage with the elderly, offering potential employment opportunities and encouraging a realistic approach to addressing both the needs of the elderly and the employment needs of the youth.
She also expressed hope that with the signing of the MoU, CIHSR would create an ecosystem to address the needs of the elderly, ensuring that they received the best possible care.
Giving an overview of geriatric care, Dr. Sedevi Angami said that MoU aims to address the growing global issue of elderly care. Acknowledging the challenges involved in elderly care, Dr. Sedevi said that CIHSR had conducted four batches of a home-based care course, which was accredited by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati.
He also highlighted the global significance of elderly care and cited challenges in countries like Japan, China, and Scandinavian nations, where aging populations were a concern. He said that in some places, elderly individuals passed away unnoticed, underscoring the importance of creating a supportive care system.
CIHSR director also emphasized the importance of supporting the elderly, including those bedridden or with dementia. He pointed out the societal issue where young people rarely choose caregiving professions. He stressed that a healthy society must invest in elderly care.
In her keynote address, SW director, Tosheli Zhimomi asserted that the signing of MoU had been in the works since last year and was part of AVYAY Scheme. The scheme aimed to improve the quality of life for senior citizens through a state action plan, emphasizing specialized training for geriatric caregivers.
While nurses receive general training, she said geriatric caregivers required specific, targeted training, as their role was distinct from that of regular nurses.
She expressed optimism that the signing of MoU would ensure better training for caregivers, enabling them to work more efficiently and effectively.
Through this initiative, she hoped to foster an environment where senior citizens could enjoy improved healthcare, dignity, respect, and fulfilment, recognizing their invaluable contributions.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by SW deputy director, K. Wango Langsym, invocation by advisor member care, Networking and Head of ENT, Dr. Clement Momin, and closing remark by consultant, palliative care, CIHSR, Dr. Tony Vikas Biswas.
The training Geriatric Caregivers course will be for 6 months including 3 months of intensive theory and practical classes, followed by a 3-month internship at the hospital.
Candidates with a minimum qualification of Class 10 and age between 17 to 45 years of agecan apply for training programme. Application forms are available from March 3, 2025, (8:30am to 4pm Monday-Friday and 8:30am to 12:30pm on Saturdays) at the CIHSR Accounts Office, Administrative Block, and the last date for submission is April 4, 2025, by 4pm.