Guide Lines
This programme is launched mainly to help the deserving elderly (70 and above) with the restricted mobility (60 and above) or to manage the acute medical problems.
The Doctors residing in the particular area will attend the elderly who reside in the same locality.
General Physicians or Geriatricians will be involved in the programme.
Physiotherapist and Psychologists have also committed to serve for this good cause.
In a needy situation the family members can contact the nearby Doctor who is enrolled in this project, either by phone or in person. In response, the Doctor may attend the call for immediate treatment or guide the caregiver over the phone. For emergency visit it is better to provide necessary transport facility. If necessary after the visit, he may direct the patient for admission in the nearby Hospital or Nursing Home.
It is better that the family members get acquaintance with the near by doctor and appraise about the elderly person in their house. This will enable the Doctor to know about the health status of the elderly persons, well in advance.
Regarding professional charges it is up to the Doctor and the patient relative should decide about it. It is very difficult to draw strict fee structure.
Family members are requested to use this scheme very carefully and not to disturb the Doctors unnecessarily for minor problems.
The phone numbers and address of the Housecall programme Doctors, Physiotherapist Psychologists, Nurses, Nursing Aidees and Laboratory Services can be obtained from the following places
Dr.V.S.Natarajan -Phone No: 26412030
Mr.M.S. Murugaiyan – Cell: 9884145189
Mr.Vasudevan – Cell 9444479315
Need of the hour- Geriatric Housecall Programme
– a pioneering project by Senior Citizens Bureau, Chennai
Longevity of life is now a ‘fait accompli’. More and more people are living beyond 70 and 80 years of age. Though the elderly enjoy longevity of life, they are prone to suffer from multiple problems like falls, stroke, arthritis, parkinson’s disease, dementia and urinary problems.
The concept of family physician has totally disappeared now. At the present juncture, doctors are not in a position to make housecalls due to various reasons like pressure of work, lack of time and difficulty in transport. When the elders fall ill, all of a sudden, medical facility is not only an urgent necessity for them, but has also to be extended right at their homes. Due to non availability of medical personnel nearby, the sick elderly are unable to receive urgent medical attention. Such denial of immediate medical attention tends to develop complications in the condition of the sick elderly. Sometimes it may even lead to the extent of endangering their life. Bedridden elderly need continuous medical care or at least periodical medical attention at home.
To manage acute medical problems or for treating patients with chronic disabilities this programme is launched. We launched this programme last year on 17th Feb. 2008. Initially the team consists of 35 Doctors, 11 Physiotherapists and 5 Psychologists. The panelist names have been published in the neighbourhood papers.
The family can get the information from the Office Bearers of the Bureau.
Once we get a call from the family members, we will get the information about the patient’s problem and the area in which they are living and try to help the family by suggesting one or two Doctors phone numbers who reside on their area. Subsequently the family will be in touch with the Doctor and get the medical advice at their doorstep.
One year report:
Approximately 300 elders were seen at their home.
Women out numbered men among the beneficiaries.
Patients of age 70 and above were maximum benefited. In a period of one year 55 Doctors, 18 Physiotherapists and 2 Psychologists joined in this project.
Five Doctors opted out of from the panel due to reasons beyond their control.
Initially 20 major areas of Chennai city were covered under this programme, which has gradually spread over 34 areas in a period of one year.
Still many more areas like Kolathur, Red hills, Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Thiruvatriyur, Porur yet to be covered.
Types of Calls:
Most of the calls are emergency like falls, high fever, disorientation, stroke, difficulty in breathing and difficulty in urination.
Non emergency cases like lack of mobility – due to arthritis, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and dementia are also attended.
Academic Meet:
To update the recent developments in the Geriatric Medicine, scientific lectures have been arranged periodically.
Death certificate:
To get a death certificate is really a great problem for the family members. This problem has been discussed with the panel of Doctors and requested to issue the death certificate at the earliest with a nominal charge or without charge if possible. This has been well accepted by the Doctors and so far, nine death certificates have issued by the Doctors. Family members are very much satisfied about the ready response from the Doctors.
Geriatric Lab Service:
We also launched Geriatric Lab Services on 1-10-2008 to do blood test for sick elderly at their home. Reasonable concession will be offered for the lab test. But still, this programme has not yet picked up well.
Launching of Geriatric Nursing & Nursing Aids:
Some elderly needs nursing care personnel to attend acute problems or to provide continuing support. For this we are also providing list of addresses who will arrange Nurses, Nursing aids or Ayyas from this month onwards.
This project is a unique by its own way, in which a group of panelist work for the care for the elderly in emergency and non emergency situations, may be the FIRST of its kind in our country.Overall the programme is highly successful and the many caregivers are thanking the Bureau either in person or over phone for launching this programme.