There is an enormous need for enhanced elder healthcare in India, where poor and destitute elders often face accessibility and affordability challenges. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, access to quality healthcare has become even more difficult , as many elderly people have lost their livelihoods and are struggling just to survive – for them, visits to a medical professional, medicines etc are luxuries they can ill-afford.

Most elders suffer from chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory ailments and other underlying health concerns that require regular medication and consistent health check-ups .

HelpAge India’s flagship Mobile Healthcare Unit (MHU) program provides sustainable healthcare solutions to elders and their communities in the most remote parts of India as well as in urban slums.  Each patient receives an individual patient record which keeps details of treatments and helps monitor progress.

These MHUs often conduct specialized health camps focusing on specific diseases and also conduct free health check-ups. Social workers help empower the disadvantaged elders with information on various diseases and provide tips on preventive measures to prevent the onset of disease. HelpAge’s MHU service has been recognized as Asia’s largest mobile healthcare network for elders. Currently, 170 HelpAge India MHUs are servicing 2000 community locations, spread over 24 states.

The Covid-19 pandemic has also engendered a fear of transmission in hospital settings (especially amongst the elderly and infirm).There are also restrictions on hospital access coupled with limited public transport services – all these factors make healthcare access for the elderly even more challenging. The situation is even more exacerbated in rural areas where services are far and few between at the best of times.

The Mobile Healthcare Unit program is an innovative and effective way of reaching the unreached elders and their communities, ensuring timely and regular access to quality healthcare services, thus improving quality of life. 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

DONATE:

$200  – One elder person’s medical treatment for a year 

($4 for each medical visit; 50 such visits are done in a year for each elderly person)