Now, learn to take care of elders
Ruia College has introduced a course on gerontology …….Minakshi Sinha
In an attempt to create awareness about the care of senior citizens, Ruia College, along with Silver Innings, an NGO that works for the elderly, has introduced a gerontology course.
Gerontology helps study the physical, mental, and social changes in people as they age. It investigates the effects of the ageing population on society and helps apply this knowledge to government policies and programmes.
?India has over 70 million elderly, and the figure is expected to escalate to 177 million by 2025,? said Amruta Loverkar, director programme and services, Silver Innings.
?However, senior citizens in our country face several problems. Either their presence is not acknowledged or they are lonely. Also, there is in an increase in the numbers of abuse cases against them.?
Loverkar further said that during the course, they will teach people to emotionally support the elderly as well as how to handle their problems.
Slated to start in September, the fees for the four month course is Rs4,000. ?We have already received around 50-70 applications but the course offers only 30 seats. It is open for professionals, students as well as housewives. The main aim is that we should understand the life and the needs of those in their twilight years,? said Loverkar.
According to Sangeeta Rao, clinical psychologist and head of psychology department, Ruia College, it is necessary for people to understand the technicalities involved in handling the aged.
Agreed 20-year-old Meghana Prabhu, one of the applicants. ?Apart from giving them emotional support, we also need to learn how the senior citizens are susceptible to diseases and how to deal with them,? she said.
Silver innings now also plans to start the course at other institutes, including SNDT in Santa Cruz. ?This was just a pilot project and we got a good response. So now we want to introduce the course at other colleges also,? said Sailesh Mishra, founder and president, Silver Innings.