Chennai: Kauvery Hospital in Chennai, recently launched the Kauvery Ashirwad Program, a multispecialty geriatric care initiative exclusively designed for senior citizens. It was launched by Dr Sirkazhi G Sivachidambaram.
According to a press release, the program includes a wide range of health services and checkups such as diet counselling, eye checkups, dental care, Physiotherapy sessions, elder safe home assessment, ambulance services and home delivery of medicines. Apart from these it also covers mobile clinics or health checkups at the comforts of their home for senior citizens thus avoiding frequent hospital visits.
Dr S Sivakumar, senior consultant, Geriatrics, says, “Over the last six months, uncontrolled diabetes and blood pressure levels have increased the mortality by 30- 50 per cent among senior citizens, especially due to the pandemic. While some have the practice of doing a visit to the hospital for general checkups, the pandemic has stopped them from doing the same. We have identified this gap in the senior citizen group and this program will help them to gain access to comprehensive healthcare”.
The launch also had Dr Kavitha Sundaravadanam, senior family physician, Kauvery Hospital and K Way- Editor who spoke about how the families can make use of this program provide care and safety for the elderly , while Dr Oviya Elango consultant Geriatrics, highlighted on the concept of mobile clinics exclusively for senior citizens under the program.
Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, executive director, said, “The lockdown phase has reinforced the need for special healthcare services for the elderly, minimising their waiting time at hospitals, regular monitoring of their health and comprehensive recommendation for their healthy living”.
The annual package which costs Rs 7500, includes four free consultations by geriatricians , two nursing home assessments, discounts on outpatient pharmacies, OP lab and radiology services.