CHARITY BASED OLD AGE HOME IN TAMIL NADU AND PONDICHERRY

At present 95 million people in India are above the age of 60, by the year 2025 nearly 80 million more will be added to this population bracket. With improved life expectancy rate in our country, it’s estimated that as many as 8 million people are currently above the age of 80 years. Changing family value system, economic compulsions of the children, neglect and abuse has caused elders to fall through the net of family care. Homes for the Aged are ideal for elderly people who are alone, face health problems, depression and loneliness.

Over the past several years, HelpAge India extended financial support for infrastructure development and provided assistive devices to nearly 90 such institutions around the country. HelpAge India has also compiled a list of 484 Homes for the Aged in 16 cities of the country with information about basic facilities, key features and contact details of these Homes, available on HelpAge India’s website.

FIELD OPERATION

Tamaraikulam Elders Village (TEV): Recognised as a model demonstration project by the Government of Tamil Nadu, TEV is the first Home for the Aged constructed by HelpAge India. Situated in Cuddalore, about 20 km from Puducherry, the construction of this Home for the Aged was made possible by the generous donations from viewers of NDTV. This model age care, free stay facility for rural poor has a capacity for 100 persons. TEV has multiple age friendly facilities and is self-sufficient in terms of energy and food. Active residents raise livestock, look after a fish pond, a vegetable plot, a greenhouse and a rice paddy field. As part of their income-generating activities, they produce items such as toiletries, banana-leaf rope, straw bags and pickles for sale in order to raise money for TEV. The residents have excellent healthcare facilities, practice active ageing techniques, participate in community meetings, celebrate festivals and are also involved in recreational activities with local community and Panchayat. TEV takes care of all the needs of its elders and provides them emotional and physical care.