Elder Care Group

While nuclear family leads to baby sitting and other child care related issues, but the present paper deals with elder care especially senior citizens. 

Senior citizens need to age with dignity, and proper care may help prolong their life span. While medical care is must when needed but these are the 5 non-medical categories that avoid trauma or at least extend the life of an elderly:

 1.   Patient Advocate: An advocate’s foremost job is to counsel properly, and we all know that counseling is 90% active listening while only 10% speaking, that too after proper understanding what and why something is being said or done.

So, counseling with patience is the most important need for an elder care. Counseling includes psychological, mental, emotional and spiritual – all mind and soul related software discussion within the senior's own home.

Tangible help like gifting family pics or collage of old friends also helps as the seniors tend to dwell rather more on the past.

2.   Home upkeep and support: Cooking, housekeeping, nursing, Aaya, physiotherapy, indoor exercise and other mobility e.g. chair, bed, railings, stairs etc and maintaining other physical hardware resources within the elder's own home is the next human need.

3.   Transportation: Supply of ration, Kirana, medicine, gas, electricity bills, payments, technicians, Mistri etc from outside, also, travel on roads outside e.g. driver, accompany.

4.   OOH Maintenance: Out of Home but within the boundary walls of home and colony e.g. gardening, outdoor exercise, outdoor hobbies and interests – Limited to self mind, body and soul within the known circle or acquaintance.

5.   Social, cultural and religious Interactions with the larger society and bigger unknown gatherings e.g. companionship during tour outside town, city, state or country etc.

The startup ElderCare.group provide point # 1, 4 and 5 free of charge onsite and or remotely with the help of thousands of social workers globally, while point 2 and 3 are as per actual.

The Methodology

ElderCare.group deploys seemingly simple looking but thoroughly rigorous instruments and methods as depicted below:

1.   What: Counseling with patience

How: PhD (Psychology) with 15-20 years relevant exposure facilitate this one-on-one. As the need grows these PhD in turn train competent social workers until they pass Diploma Certificate Examination in Senior Care, both theory and practicals.

2.   What: Home upkeep and support

How: self-owned 100 seater India training Head Quarter of ElderCare.group is leverage to train 1,000s of social workers on cooking, housekeeping, nursing, Aaya, physiotherapy, indoor exercise and other mobility e.g. chair, bed, railings, stairs etc and maintaining other physical resources.

Trauma and other medical, legal and property etc related issues are referred to the next best doctors, attorney and professional agents specializing in senior citizens related cases.

3.   What: Transportation

How: thoroughly trained team of young, energetic and dignified courier, driver, electrician, plumber, technician and Mistri etc are always available 24x7 for any emergency or supply of medicine, ration, Kirana, gas, electricity, bills and payments etc.

4.   What: OOH Maintenance

How: ElderCare.group catapults the local talent into social service that helps seniors even learning a new hobby with interest. At the same time, these local talents feel real achievement, and thus develop rounded personality when they marry or grow little older. 

5.   What: Social, cultural and religious Interactions

How: When the above social workers develop enough companionship with the seniors then they even accompany them while tours and holidays in Metros and also overseas.

Major Contributors

When we take an aerial view of what and how other players are contributing towards seniors then we would discover that 90% senior citizens prefer to stay in their own sweet home for various reasons, and only 10% want to move in old age homes, colony or township for the much discussed advantages. Here are some of the other case studies:

1.   Sian Sadan, Bhilai Steel Plant: The largest unit of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) Bhilai contributes towards seniors by converting its own training center beside Bhilai Institute of Technology, Durg in an old age colony with all the facilities possible for a small colony of about 50-100 occupants.

2.   Government of Chhattisgarh: Several state governments either run their own or partially help various organizations running old age home including that by Chattisgarh government. Most commonly these governments help by allocating free or heavily subsidized land and some governments even extend financials assistance though ridden with kick backs due to red tape-ism.

3.   Government of India: India government is running several schemes for the senior citizens including discounts for train travel and higher bank interest rates etc.

4.   United States of America: Senior citizens in The US never worry about any savings for their old age as their government takes care of and funds all their needs including medical mentioned previously within this paper itself.

5.   Dignity Foundation Township, Mumbai: The Founder of ElderCare.group has had the privilege of a short stint with Dignity Foundation Bombay, 20 years ago while they were running a magazine for the elderly and still planning to launch their township for the senior citizens at Karjat, outskirts.

Many professionals are so particular and specific about using the right terminology while dealing with the senior citizens that sometimes an average Indian with limited vocabulary would even call them finicky or crazy – but that’s how the dignity of elders are respected.

Things Making Seniors Life Easier

ZIPPER PULL / BUTTON HOOK

For seniors who need a little help with zippers and buttons, this combination tool (less than $8) can make it easier to get dressed.

BIG-BUTTON TV REMOTE

Seniors can often have difficulty seeing the numbers on an ordinary TV remote, and pressing the buttons with arthritic hands can be hard too. A big-button remote (about $10) can make a big difference, with an added bonus: It's harder to lose.

BUILT-UP HANDLES

These universal handles (about $17 for a pack of four) attach to utensils, pens, pencils, toothbrushes, and such to make them easier for arthritic hands to hold.

NON-SKID DINNERWARE

Dishes with a non-skid base (as little as $10 each) can make eating easier for someone who has limited muscle control or the use of only one hand.

SOCKS  AID

Bending over and putting on a sock may not be a big deal for younger people, but it can be extremely difficult for older folks. Sock aids ($11 on Amazon) help seniors put on socks without bending over.

LIQUID-LEVEL INDICATOR

Helpful for people who have lost most or all of their vision, a liquid-level indicator (starting at less than $10) sounds an alert when a cup or bowl is nearly full.

TOILET SAFETY RAIL

The simple routine of sitting on a toilet and getting up again can be difficult for some seniors. A sturdy toilet safety rail ($30 on Amazon) can help ensure safety.

GARDEN KNEELER

Older folks who love to garden may find kneeling down -- and getting up again -- a literal pain. There are many contraptions that improve comfort while working in the garden. A padded kneeler (about $40) can be flipped over and used as a low bench.

SHOWER MAT

Not everyone can pony up the cash to install a walk-in bathtub, but safety is paramount for those in danger of slipping. A simple, high-quality shower mat (about $13.50) can help reduce the risk of a fall.

SENIOR-SPECIFIC TABLET

Since younger folks spend a lot of time using social media and electronic devices, it makes sense for seniors to get in on the act, in order to keep in touch. A senior-specific tablet, like the GrandPad, can be far easier to use than a conventional tablet. The price is steep for a subscription ($75 a month) but reasonable for a one-time purchase as a gift for a parent or grandparent.

AMPLIFIED PHONE

An amplified phone can be invaluable for someone who is hard of hearing. Options include corded models (about $27) and cordless models, which are a bit more expensive ($48 or so).

KEY TURNER

A key turner ($5 for two on Amazon) provides a little extra leverage for those who can't easily turn a key in a lock.

CONCLUSION

1.   Job seekers may join this most rewarding earn with joy of helping the seniors.

2.   Under-employed..? You may devote your extra time in this flexi job or part-time business.

3.   Housewives and already employed may find this self-fulfilling and noble service.

4.   Franchisees may generate jobs while still helping the senior citizens within India or abroad.

5.   Social activists may donate their time and or money towards this humane cause.

REFERENCES

1.    Joyful senior citizens: https://www.ElderCare.group

2.    Retiring well on a shoestring budget: https://blog.cheapism.com/aging-well-on-a-budget

3.    Day time wife: https://theworkathomewife.com/non-medical-home-care-business

4.    50 things to do while senior: https://blog.cheapism.com/retirement-ideas-14233/#image=6

5.    What do they need most: https://www.quora.com/What-do-seniors-need-the-most

6.    Entrepreneur: https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.entrepreneur.com/amphtml/170794

7.    8 unwanted things: https://thecaregiverspace.org/8-things-senior-citizens-in-assisted-living-dont-want-to-hear

8.    Starting Home Care Business: https://www.verywellhealth.com/starting-a-non-medical-home-care-business-197981

9.    4 things you must know: https://seniorservicebusiness.com/4-things-you-must-know-before-starting-a-non-medical-home-care-business/

10. Elder Care Business: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/start-nonmedical-senior-care-business-11618.html

11. Top Targets: https://relocationtarget.com/top-15-countries-with-the-longest-life-expectancy