Caring for seniors is a labor of love that requires a special person and just the right touch. The work of a caregiver is done willingly and selflessly. Many caregivers do their work quietly, invisibly and around the clock in homes, hospitals and other places. How we take care of our elderly
is the most crucial factor since caring for the elderly is a very delicate matter. It is a great responsibility that one might think it is pretty much the same as caring for the infants and children. They both need special attention and proper care. They are also vulnerable to safety concerns, abuse, and medication .
Some elders are being taken cared of by family members at home while the others in some institutions, old age homes and rehabilitation centers.
Care giving is really a hard job, because it demands an effective approach to how a caregiver will manage the care of the elderly, which will in turn provide for a more healthful and convenient way of living for the old ones.
Our aging population, increased longevity and the growing burden of chronic illnesses escalate the need for caregivers. Caregivers need support and community programs to help them remain healthy and maintain caring for another.
If caregivers – family or professional – are suffering, the quality of care they provide to others is compromised. Because of this, the caregivers are increasingly seeking effective supports in the form of easily accessible and affordable training
In response to this growing need, the Dr. V S Natarajan Geriatric Foundation Has Launched the Caretakers Enrichment Program (CEP).
Through the Dr. VSN Geriatric Foundation’s training programs, we seek to enhance the quality of care as well as enhance the quality of life for all caregivers and those they provide care to.
Our Aim – To serve and support both professional and family caregivers in care of elderly as well as self- care.
Our Vision – Offer the unique emotional support and guidance that caregivers require in order to succeed in providing the Elders with the best quality of care.
Our objective – To equip the caregivers with the tools they will need to be caring and competent in their careers while protecting their own health and well-being.
The components of Caretakers Enrichment Program (CEP)
CEP for caregivers in old age homes – Bridging Professionalism and compassion in care of the ElderlyA caregiver is one of the members of the health care team who assists in administering the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social welfare of the patient most particularly the elders. The principal task of the caregiver is to ensure that the patient is being properly well taken cared of dependent on the patient’s ailment and needs.Being a caregiver is a tough job for the reason that caring for the aged takes a lot of patience, understanding and time. It comprises a great deal of responsibilities.At present, caregivers of today assume a variety of roles in performing an effective health care. These are just a few of the many roles and responsibilities of a caregiver towards elderly care -Roles of caregivers :
As Adviser/Consultant, the caregiver must learn how to talk and listen to the elder’s feelings and give counseling if the need arises. Acquainting the elder in the surroundings will diminish the feeling of insecurity.
As Teacher, the caregiver informs the patient on information pertaining to healthful practices of everyday life, assists with the treatment to avoid further diseases or illnesses that may occur. And educates the aged on how to care for his personal hygiene.
As Organizer/Coordinator, the caregiver is in direct contact with the patient and the whole health care system, ensuring proper coordination in the total wellness of an elderly.
CEP for family members – We have got your backFamily members and friends who take up the caregiving mantle are a special breed.People like them strive to provide for their loved ones and ensure their comfort and wellbeing in any way they can. Caregivers rise to meet countless challenges, but as a loved one’s needs increase, they can suddenly find themselves overextended physically, mentally and even financially.For many, caring for a chronically ill family member is “the right thing to do”, but it is also often a source of emotional hardship, physical stress, and social isolation.In response, skill-building, coping, and psycho-educational programs have become a necessity for family caregivers to meet the changes and challenges in their – as well as the patients’ – lives.Finding the tools the family caregivers need to be able to make time for your career, doctor’s appointments, exercise, a social life, and general respite will not only help them thrive, but also ensure that their loved one is receiving the quality care they need.
The CEP Caregiving Book Series These book series aim to educate and inform the family and community caregivers in caring for elderly and also in self care.
Our Curriculum
Health Issues of the Elderly
Nursing care for the Elderly
Nutrition for the Elderly
Exercise therapy for Elderly
Mental wellbeing of Elders
Ortho Geriatric Care
Psychiatric Care
Neurological problems of the Elderly
Caregivers stress management – tools and coping techniques
Issues Faced By caregivers
Women’s health
Open session for finding solutions to unique issues and calrifications
Our Pedagogy
Lectures and Presentations by the Trainers and practitioners
Interactive Q&A sessions
Group discussions
Booklets for further reading
Our Trainers
The Caretakers Enrichment Program (CEP) of Dr V S Natarajan Geriatric Foundation, works closely with eminent industry leaders, healthcare practitioners and geriatric care specialists for creation and effective delivery of the best quality training modules –
Dr. V S Natarajan – MD, FRCP(Edin), D. Sc.
Mrs. Kousalya Sarathi – Nursing Superintendent (Rtd)
Ms. Vidya – M Sc, Food science and Nutrition, Abbott Nutrition
M. Rama Raju – MPT, DTR (Canada), CSP (UK), Geriatric Physiotherapist, Life Healthcare
Dr. Sheila Sekar – MBBS, DA, PG in D.M., PG in Yoga and Naturopathy
Dr. Shridhar Vaitheswaran – MD, MRC (Psych), Consultant Psychiatrist and Co ordinator (Dementia care at SCARF – DEMG), Schizophrenia Research Foundation (India)
Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj – Chief Orthopaedic surgeon and Executive Director, Kauvery Hospital
Dr. R. Palatial- Consultant Neurologist
Dr. G S Shanthi- Professor of Geriatric medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Gov’t General Hospital, Chennai