Promilla Singh played for the country

SHELTERS But life played with her

This 80 plus former tennis champion gave her best to the country. Today, only an old
photograph is proof of her earlier life, for her memory now comes in bits and pieces as
Old Age Homes/ Day Care Centres Dementia has taken its toll.
For many older people who With no one to take care of her daily needs, she found shelter in an old age home
don't have a roof over their supported by HelpAge India in Bangalore, a home away from home.
heads or a place to call
their own, HelpAge Kewal supplied food to all
But was left with none himself
supported Old Age Homes
& Day Care Centres serve This 80 plus bespectacled man from Beri village (Rohtak), Haryana, was an earnest vegetable
vendor, through which most villagers ran their household. One day his fingers got amputated
as a home away from under a mustard oil refinery machine, but that didn't deter his smiling spirit.
home. HelpAge has been A widower, with no family to support him, Kewal was then enrolled into HelpAge India's Support
working towards creating a Gran programme, through which his basic needs were met and he could lead a life of dignity.
composite shelters for the
e l d e r l y. I t e n v i s i o n s
residential complexes for Vastala spent her life teaching the young
Asking nothing in return
elders offering a broader
85 plus year old Vastala Vishnu Surve, from Ratnagiri (Maharashtra), spent most of her life
range of services and teaching less fortunate children in a Mumbai school until retirement. Being the family's main
comfort, such as those bread winner, despite her increasing physical weakness, she refused to ask her children or
anyone for help. Her health didn't permit her to stand in long lines at a hospital.
provided in HelpAge – NDTV Viewers supported Tamaraikulam
Elders village in Cuddalore (TN) and Kalyan Ashram in Kolkata HelpAge India's Mobile Medicare Unit programme took her under its wing and today she comes
for regular checkups and has started looking after herself again. “Live with dignity, never beg”,
(WB). says a proud Vastala.

DISASTER MITIGATION
At HelpAge India, we actively voice the needs of thousands of such disadvantaged elderly. We advocate
Relief & Rehabilitation for their rights and work towards empowering them. We focus on issues such as pensions, social
inclusion and healthcare to enable them live with dignity. With your assistance, we reach out to
During disasters the worst affected are the elderly, physical many more like them.
frailty often prevents them from running to safety in time or even
in accessing relief material where they often get sidelined by
younger and more able bodies. HelpAge works at rehabilitating
these elderly, by not only providing them relief material but also
by providing long term sustainability options. HelpAge has Support our forgotten leaders
actively run projects during the Kashmir & Gujarat earthquakes,
Orissa cyclone & floods, the 2004 Tsunami, Bihar floods in 2008
DONATE NOW !
and the Leh cloud-burst in 2010 among others. www.helpageindia.org

HERITAGE TOURS HEAD OFFICE

C-14, Qutab Institutional Area New Delhi – 110016 Ph: 011- 41688955/56. Email: headoffice@helpageindia.org
Special Tours for the elderly are organized to historical & religious To know more and to contact our offices nationwide, log onto: www.helpageindia.org
places with the aim to fulfill their dreams and reward them
physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. These tours give Our other websites:
www.helpageindiaprogramme.org, www.supportagran.org, www.hisave.org
elders an opportunity to explore places they always wanted visit
but never could during their busy lives. The tours help senior
citizens find peace, joy, relaxation and rejuvenate them. It also
Donations to HelpAge India’s approved projects are 100% Tax Exempt under Section 35 AC and 80 GGA of
the Income Tax Act. Empowerment
helps tackle the problem of isolation, boredom and neglect. & Inclusion
 AGECARE SERVICE HUBS relatively short. HelpAge is running Community Managed
Creating an Environment for Change Palliative Care projects in 52 villages spread across the districts
A composite response to senior citizens needs across urban of Cuddalore & Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kollam district in

H
elpAge has been working towards integrating it's
areas, are HelpAge India's Agecare Service Hubs which provide Kerala.
programmes and services and consciously moving
customized services such as: a helpline facility, physiocare,
from welfare towards development. Advocacy for the
recreation activities, a tea/coffee corner, assistive devices, Eye Care
rights of the elderly has gained immense momentum and
healthcare, a library, computer literacy, discounted services, For the want of a simple eye
HelpAge is working closely with the Government and Senior
servicing homes for the aged, opportunities for active ageing, operation many elderly can't even
Citizens Associations across states to bring about changes at
volunteering and working with Senior Citizens Associations. The see the smile on the faces of their
the policy level.
Hubs located in more than 20 states provide a vital support loved ones and become entirely
system for many elders. In addition, more than 40 physiotherapy dependent on others for their
clinics 'Fitness & Wellness Centres' have been established in the sustenance. More than 80% of the
country in partnership with Senior Citizens Associations. 12 million blind people in India, can't
ADVOCACY
see due to cataract. HelpAge India conducts thousands of free
Student Action for HEALTHCARE cataract surgeries for the elderly every year.
Value Education
(SAVE) Mobile Medicare Units (MMUs) Other specialized care projects are also underway for Alzheimer
It is imperative that right HelpAge's Mobile Medicare Unit (MMU) service brings not just and Cancer patients.
education and values be basic healthcare to the door steps of the needy elderly, but also in
inculcated within children some areas provides alternative care, through yoga & meditation
SOCIAL PROTECTION
early in life for them to be classes, shelter assistance, disability aids, counseling and
sensitive to the needs of conducts multi-specialty camps and home visits to bedridden Support a Gran
the elderly. Keeping this elderly. Each MMU vehicle is manned with a qualified doctor, Through this programme the
in mind, HelpAge pharmacist and a social worker. Medicines & treatment are destitute elderly are provided
launched its Student dispensed free of cost. In 2010 - 11, 10 lakh treatments were basic ration, daily use articles,
Action for Value meted out, spread over 840 locations in 29 states, through more clothing and some money to
Education programme. The 3 main goals of SAVE are: To than 70 MMUs. sustain themselves through the
Inculcate values of care & respect for the elderly in children, to year. Today, these elderly live
prepare today's children & youth for their old age and to create an Physiocare with dignity & independence.
age-friendly society. HelpAge is working closely with schools and With age, it is important one
educational institutions urging them to show their support and takes extra care of one’s Helplines
advocate for the cause of the elderly. health, a little care and caution HelpAge launched its first Elder Helpline in Chennai in 2004.
can prevent or delay many These Helplines address problems of elders such as isolation,
Working with Senior Citizens Associations disabilities. HelpAge has neglect, facilitate emergency responses, counsel them, provide
HelpAge India recognizes the potential of the senior citizens and opened physiocare centres information on access to various elderly schemes and linkages
is involving them in various activities. Seminars are organized by across the nation, helping with the government, police and referral rescue & relief services.
HelpAge in conjunction with Senior Citizens Associations (SCAs) many elders walk again and Today, Elder Helplines running across the country serve as
across the country on National Policy on Older Persons, continue with their basic daily lifelines for many elderly.
Maintenance & Welfare of the Parents and Senior Citizens Act activities without being
(2007) and other relevant elderly issues for better advocacy of dependent on others. Livelihood Support
their rights and entitlements, urging Government and decision HelpAge's income generation & micro-credit schemes aim to
makers for quicker action. Senior citizens are now feeling Palliative Care restore pride and dignity to thousands of elderly making them
empowered to raise their voice & take action on issues Palliative Care is the care of patients and their families, by a team financially self-sufficient and independent. It enables them to
concerning them. of trained professionals at a time when the patient's disease is no look after themselves and their family and keeps their self
longer responsive to curative treatment and life expectancy is respect intact.