Activities
     
Activity Report 2008-2009 (ILC-India)

1 TRAINING:

1. ILC-I had conducted a three months’ Certificate Course on “Empowered Ageing” from December 08 to February 09 in collaboration with the University of Pune.

The aim of the course was to provide hands-on knowledge and information about health, social, economic, legal and safety issues related to the geriatric population.

This was the first batch of 40 participants, majority of which were senior citizens from varied backgrounds. The group is a blend of persons from the field of education, teachers, army and air force, office bearers of senior citizens organizations. The course was conducted twice a week for two hours each, for a period of three months.

The broad course contents were – understanding and prevention of major illnesses and their  home management - (Osteoporosis, arthritis, etc., Prevention of falls, etc),  Diabetic neuropathy and foot care;  Common illness of old age  like Respiratory, digestive ENT, Urinary problems and other dysfunctions–their causes and symptoms and medical management and role of nutrition in the prevention and management of diseases including mental health issues  and use of assistive devices.

 Other contents were - Personal Hygiene and self care during healthy and diseased condition and basic first aid, particularly for the disabled elderly, oldest old and frail elderly. Important topics like the National policy on Older Persons, schemes for the elderly, Law and the elderly, and volunteerism, were also covered.

2. ILC-I also successfully conducted the Government of India supported six months’ ‘Geriatric Caregiving’ course for which it had also published a special text book on the relevant topics in the regional language of the state of Maharashtra, Marathi.

Thirteen students were given certificates for the successful completion of the course in which they had undertaken several field activities, a questionnaire survey of the vulnerable elderly in collaboration with the Pune Police Commissionerate, besides hands-on training in old age homes.

2 FORUM ACTIVITIES:

1. ILC-I supported two international Conferences-

a) The International Symposium and Conference on Gerontology and Geriatrics, and 14th Biennial Meeting of Association of Gerontology, India from 16 – 18 Dec’ 08 at Tirupati in south India. The focal theme was ‘Health and Wellbeing of the elderly: Mainstreaming Ageing into the Development Agenda’.   
National & international experts from the field of medicine, biology and psychosocial gerontology attended the conference.

  • ILC- I presented a special symposium on the topic- ‘Psychological Aspects on – “ Strategies to Build Human resources for Services to the Elderly Papers”, in which Mr. R. S. Surve, Executive Director, ILC-I, Ms. Anjali Raje, Dy. Executive Director, ILC-I & Ms. Asha Jammihal, Asst. Director, ILC-I presented papers.
  • Dr. S. D. Gokhale, Shri. R. H. Belavadi, Anjali Raje and Asha Jammihal also chaired some of the sessions on psychosocial gerontology, psychological and social aspects of ageing sessions.
  • The valedictory address on: “Longevity – The Challenge of the 21st Century” was delivered by Dr. Gokhale.

b) Conference on the “Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Healthy & Participatory Ageing” organized by the SVT. College of SNDT University, Mumbai, from the 22nd to 24th of January 09 was co-sponsored by ILC-I.
Dr. S. D. Gokhale, Hon. President, ILC-I delivered the keynote address on the “Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Healthy & Participatory Ageing”.

2. International Expert group meeting-

ILC-I organised a one day international experts group meeting on the “Research Priorities in Ageing in India” on the 20th of January 09 in collaboration with the Govt. of India & the Bharati Vidyapeeth.

  • International & national experts deliberated on the issues & areas in the field of ageing which should be considered as priorities for research based on the guidelines of the Research Agenda on Ageing for the 21st Century(RAA-21)
  • Some of the dignitaries who spoke on the occasion were- Dr. Irene Hoskins, President, IFA, Dr. Peter Martin, Director, Department of Gerontology, Iowa State University, Dr. S. D. Gokhale, Hon. President, ILC-I, Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, President, ILC-I, Mr; B. G. Deshmukh, Vice President, ILC-I, Dr. Arun Nigavekar, Chairman, ILC-I, and Dr. Gururaj Mutalik, Former Director, WHO.
  • Proposed Programmes- A one day workshop on “ Orientation of Medical Practitioners to Geriatrics and Gerontology” with the support of the Indian Council of Medical Research and in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association.

3 Programmes:

  • ILC-I has also completed a project on the “Audio-visual infotainment packages for seniors” which was supported by the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India. This was a package specially designed & prepared by ILC-I to cover topics of interest of the seniors.
  • ILC-I is presently undertaking the compilation of a booklet on the “Frequently Asked Questions on Ageing” with the support of WHO.
  • ILC-I has completed its research study on the “Comparative Study of the National Policies on Older Persons” of two developed and developing countries, namely, Australia & Japan and Sri Lanka & Bangladesh with that of India. The report has been given to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India which had supported this project.

4 PUBLICATIONS:

  • The book, ‘Ageing and Spirituality’ authored by Dr. S. D. Gokhale, Hon. President, ILC-I was released at the hands of Dr. Joseph Troisi, Director, UN INIA, Malta during the International Conference held at Tirupati.
  • The Indian Edition of the issue of ‘Global Ageing’, the journal of the International Federation on Ageing (IFA), which features the President of India, Her Excellency, Ms. Pratibha Patil, on the cover page was printed in India by ILC-I. ILC-I had been given special permission by IFA to print this issue as also an earlier issue on South Africa.

5 RESEARCH:

ILC-I has completed a study on the “Comparative Study of the National Policies on Older Persons” of two developed and two developing nations, namely, Australia and Japan and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, along with India. This study was supported by the Programme, Research, Evaluation and Monitoring Division of the Ministry of Social Justice & Environment, Govt. of India.