BENGALURU: Vulnerable to Covid-19 and unable to step out to purchase essentials due to the lockdown, senior citizens are increasingly relying on the Elders Helpline (1090) to get their immediate needs addressed.
The helpline in Bengaluru received 258 calls between April 1 and 20, while there were only 147 calls in the first days of the previous month. A majority of the calls in April were for guidance and support (93), followed by help for medical and healthcare (68), supply of essentials (59) and counselling (38).
The Elders Helpline is a joint initiative of city police and Nightingales Medical Trust. Prior to the lockdown, senior citizens would visit the helpline in person seeking redressal for various problems. Many senior citizens live alone because their children and relatives are living outside the city. But Covid-19 has hit them hard. With no helpers coming to their houses, they have been struggling to do domestic chores like cooking food, washing clothes and utensils on their own.
In the absence of adequate transport facilities due to the lockdown, they are also finding it difficult to access banking, health, groceries and other basic facilities.
Swati Bhandary, associate director, Nightingales Medical Trust, said senior citizens from across the city are calling the helpline. “Some want guidance in getting their monthly pension as the postman didn’t deliver it to them. Some want to know when the lockdown would be lifted or they could travel to meet their dear ones.”
Volunteers are also helping them to get essentials and medicines from nearby shops. “Whenever we receive a call, we immediately transfer it to the nearest Hoysala team which will visit their houses,” said a volunteer.
“I’ve stopped my morning and evening walks. The city looks beautiful, is less-polluted and has less vehicles on roads. But I’m not stepping out since we are more vulnerable to Covid-19. We are unable to go to hospitals for check-ups due to lack of transport facility,” said KS Viswanath, 75, a Malleswaram resident.
Bhandary said they are also receiving calls from people on shortages of some medicines. “We deliver those medicines with the help of volunteers. We arrange transport for dialysis patients who want to go to checkups,” she said.
Help just a call away
Elders’ Helpline: 1090
HelpAge India: 1800-180-1253
Bengaluru South helpline: 99464 99464
Caremongers India : 95911 68886
Relief Riders: 9845272416, 7503944911, 9886491982
Silver Talkies: 9591111300, 6362890768
The helpline in Bengaluru received 258 calls between April 1 and 20, while there were only 147 calls in the first days of the previous month. A majority of the calls in April were for guidance and support (93), followed by help for medical and healthcare (68), supply of essentials (59) and counselling (38).
Times View
Unfortunately, Indian society is still in transition. The joint family has gone, replaced by the nuclear family, but the aspects of elder care handled by the joint family system have not yet been replaced by other institutions. In parts of the West there are homes and communities for the elderly, and these are supplemented by a robust state-overseen support system, including nursing and mental health professionals. Nothing of the kind exists here, which means that when there are extraordinary situations like these, seniors often have nowhere to turn to, The Elder’s Helpline is doing a vital job, but it needs more support from the state and the citizenry.
The Elders Helpline is a joint initiative of city police and Nightingales Medical Trust. Prior to the lockdown, senior citizens would visit the helpline in person seeking redressal for various problems. Many senior citizens live alone because their children and relatives are living outside the city. But Covid-19 has hit them hard. With no helpers coming to their houses, they have been struggling to do domestic chores like cooking food, washing clothes and utensils on their own.
In the absence of adequate transport facilities due to the lockdown, they are also finding it difficult to access banking, health, groceries and other basic facilities.
Swati Bhandary, associate director, Nightingales Medical Trust, said senior citizens from across the city are calling the helpline. “Some want guidance in getting their monthly pension as the postman didn’t deliver it to them. Some want to know when the lockdown would be lifted or they could travel to meet their dear ones.”
Volunteers are also helping them to get essentials and medicines from nearby shops. “Whenever we receive a call, we immediately transfer it to the nearest Hoysala team which will visit their houses,” said a volunteer.
“I’ve stopped my morning and evening walks. The city looks beautiful, is less-polluted and has less vehicles on roads. But I’m not stepping out since we are more vulnerable to Covid-19. We are unable to go to hospitals for check-ups due to lack of transport facility,” said KS Viswanath, 75, a Malleswaram resident.
Bhandary said they are also receiving calls from people on shortages of some medicines. “We deliver those medicines with the help of volunteers. We arrange transport for dialysis patients who want to go to checkups,” she said.
Help just a call away
Elders’ Helpline: 1090
HelpAge India: 1800-180-1253
Bengaluru South helpline: 99464 99464
Caremongers India : 95911 68886
Relief Riders: 9845272416, 7503944911, 9886491982
Silver Talkies: 9591111300, 6362890768
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