Care of the elderly has become a major concern in today’s society where youngsters often do not get enough time for their parents. The mushrooming of home nursing agencies has come as a huge relief for such people, though the efficiency and trustworthiness of nurses are still a cause for concern.
Kudumbasree in Kozhikode district is all set to address this situation through its Geriatric Care Giver project.
“The home nurses do not get paid well while the agencies take about half of what the customers pay. On the other hand, the nurses are often not well trained and people don’t always find them trustworthy. We plan to put an end to exploitation of all types in this field,” said Kudumbasree Kozhikode District Project Officer Kavitha P.C.
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In the first phase, 30 persons will be selected from a district and trained for 20 days at the Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE). They will get additional training at Health Action by People (HAP) in Thiruvananthapuram.
Thus, 420 people will be trained all over the State.
Initially the plan is to train Kudumbasree members or their family members in the age group of 18 to 40 years. A management team of care givers will be formed in each district.
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“Initially the programme will be implemented in urban areas and later will be extended to the rural belt based on demand,” said Ms. Kavitha.
The Mission plans to set up telephone and online booking systems for those who need care givers. A minimum wage of ₹12,000 will be ensured for all care givers.