This document outlines an initiative by the Dharma Foundation of India to introduce self-management programs for health issues common in older community-dwelling adults. It notes issues like arthritis, respiratory disease and more. It aims to empower elders through workshops, distribution of educational booklets, and forming elder groups to jointly address health, social and financial problems while promoting active aging. The goal is to establish an integrated community-based approach and inform future government policies to better support the growing elderly population.

1. An Age Friendly Initiative
Introducing Self Management to Community Dwelling Elders
Dharma Foundation of India

2. Population Ageing in India
Projected to be 113 million, i.e. 8.9% of total
populations by the year 2016

3. Health Issues
• Arthritis
• Respiratory Care
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular
• Vision/Cataract
• Bladder and bowel dysfunction
• Neurological deficits

4. Social Issues
• Elder abuse
• Social Isolation
• Financial
• Lack opportunities for re employment
• Unawareness of rights of elders.

5. Vision
Attainment of Universal Access to Equitable,
Affordable and Quality health care services,
accountable and responsive to elderly needs.

6. Stages of Elder Care
• Preventive and early
detection
• Curative
• Follow up
• Rehabilitation/Chronic
Care

7. Missing
Health Systems in India
NGO/Trust/SCWO
Private
Hospital
Semi-Govt (Public)Hospital
Govt. Hospital
Curative care Preventive care
Suggested Preventive
Program
Corporate
Companies/
government
sector
employees
Absence of
government
policies
Community Care
Centre(CCC)
Allied Health Professionals
Sugar
Obesity
Pain
Blood pressure
Dementia

8. Healthcare in India
• Constitute government and private sector having
primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.
• The various problems faced by the healthcare
industry are shortage of doctors, nurses and
infrastructures leading to unavailability of cost
effective and accessible care at the primary level.

9. Need of the hour: Integrated Approach
Towards Community Wellness
• Formulated on international research and knowledge
based on important principles and guidelines by
WHO Active Ageing Policy and Towards Building an
Age Friendly City.

10. Dharma Foundation of India
• Dharma Foundation of India was registered in 2010 as a
charitable trust under the Certificate Section 60 of the Indian
Trust Act 1882 in New Delhi ,by a group of dedicated
healthcare providers .
• The main objective of the organization is to work for
wellbeing and quality of life for disabled and vulnerable
population of India .

11. Objective
• We collaborate /handhold with NGOs and other organizations
at the grass root level to implement strategic models to
overcome physical and sociological barriers within their
communities through a holistic approach to a person and
their environment in the areas of health, education, social
inclusion, skill development and empowerment.
• Our projects for older persons are centered around
developing care models based on the WHO guidelines of
Active Ageing and Towards Building Age Friendly
Communities.
• The strategy supports full participation and inclusion of older
persons in the life of their communities.

12. Objective
• Empower and create opportunities for community
dwelling older persons to participate in their health
and social issues.
• Develop health and social models.

13. Main Objective
• Address the fragmented health and long-term care
system in India to adopt care models
• Publish research/evidence based data to help State
Governments and Central government of India to
framework future policies for older persons.

14. TRAINING ON SELF MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH ISSUES
FOR ELDERS IN THE COMMUNITY

15. Subjects
• Common health issues.viz cardiovascular, arthritis,
neurodegenerative condition, vision and hearing.
• Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration,
fatigue, pain and isolation,
• Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving
strength, flexibility, and endurance,
• Healthy diet
• Appropriate use of medications, polypharmacy.
• Communicating effectively with family, friends, and
health care professionals
• How to evaluate new treatments.
• Active Ageing

16. Activity: Awareness Workshops
• Activity:
• Workshops for education/empowerment of elders
3 awareness programs/ workshops (3 hours/day)
• These workshops are taken by healthcare providers,
sociologists/friends of elders.

17. Activity: Distribution of booklets
• Briefs of these lectures are
translated in local languages and
distributed as booklets to the
elderly who attend the workshops

18. Standard guidelines for organizations
Form Elder Groups:
• Small groups of 10-15 elder subjects.
• Selection of voluntary elder members as a group
leader/local supervisor.
• Social interaction will be encouraged in smaller
groups where group leader conduct
exercises/recreational activities/discussions

19. Way Ahead
• Nonmedical interventions can assist elders in coping with and
adapting to changes as one ages.
• Health and social services delivered within a neighbourhood by
local people in local establishments, and community-based
support and voluntary groups can play an important role in
delivering support and care to older persons.
• The Self-Management and Community Wellness Program will not
conflict with existing programs or treatment as it is designed to
enhance regular treatment and disease-specific education given
by clinicians/family physicians in healthcare organization.


20. Expected Output
• Inputs of group meetings will be discussed carefully
documented and presented to the local government
representative.
• Encourage active participation of the elders in voicing
their opinion regarding community problems
• It may form a cost effective way to introduce
prevention/early detection of co morbidities in elders.

21. Benefits
• Interventions of group activities and self managing
co-morbities have improved mobility and quality of
life of elders in the community
• There is more awareness about government services
and policies available to older persons.

22. Past Experience Of Similar Work
DFI has been involved in research
and development with following
international collaborators
where the model has been
developed with WHO-SEARO

23. Thank you!
email: dharma.dfi@gmail.com
Mobile Number:+919811020093
Website: www.dharmafoundationofindia.org