Comprehensive Elderly Care Program (CECP)
Janseva Gramin Vikas Va Shikshan Pratisthan has implemented the Comprehensive Elderly Care Program across 11 blocks and 170 villages in Yavatmal and Chandrapur districts. The program aims to create a sustainable, community-driven support system that enhances the health, dignity, and quality of life of elderly individuals through integrated healthcare services, social inclusion initiatives, and opportunities for economic empowerment.
Program Overview
To enhance the health, dignity, and overall well-being of elderly individuals by providing accessible, integrated, and community-based healthcare services that promote preventive care, timely treatment, and holistic wellness for healthy and active aging.
Core Objectives
- Strengthen access to healthcare services for the elderly through alignment with the National Programme for Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE).
- Foster continuous social, cultural, and recreational engagement at the village level.
- Facilitate economic and emotional well-being through skill-based and counselling interventions.
- Encourage community participation and Gram Sabha representation by elderly individuals.
Program Components
Health Services
The health component of the Comprehensive Elderly Care Program is designed to deliver both preventive and responsive care through a holistic approach. It integrates physical and mental health services into community-based and facility-linked platforms, ensuring that elderly individuals receive dignified, continuous, and accessible care.
- Weekly geriatric clinics at Primary Health Centres (PHCs): Offering check-ups, follow-ups, and treatment for age-related health conditions.
- Routine Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) screenings and physiotherapy sessions: Supporting early diagnosis and functional mobility improvement.
- Mobile medical outreach: Targeting homebound and mobility-restricted elders with door-to-door care, check-ups, and referral services.
- Specialized health camps in collaboration with tertiary hospitals: Providing access to multi-specialty services including vision care, orthopedic support, and chronic disease management.
- Holistic physical and mental health promotion: Incorporating yoga, pranayama, counseling, and emotional wellness sessions as core components of care at the community level.
Social Engagement & Activity Centers
- Activity hubs under the initiative called “Mayechi Sawali”, a village-based model that fosters physical, emotional, and social interaction among elderly individuals.
- Daily sessions featuring yoga, devotional music, storytelling, group discussions, and games.
- Recreational and spiritual activities including trips to holy sites and community festivals.
- Reading corners and peer-based storytelling sessions
Skill Development & Income Generation
- Training in diya making, rakhi crafting, food processing (mung wadi, jowar papad, chutney).
- Village exhibitions and Agro Fairs to market elder-made products.
Community Advocacy & Awareness
- Street plays, wall murals, and audio campaigns on elder rights and health.
- Participation in Gram Sabhas with documented inclusion in Village Development Plans.
- Family counseling and home visits for isolated and bedridden elderly.
Program Achievements (Cumulative)
- Reached over 30,000 elderly individuals across 5 administrative blocks.
- Established and operated 170 Activity Centers, (dedicated space for elderly)
- Conducted 250+ physiotherapy sessions and regular health screenings.
- Trained 200+ volunteers and healthcare workers in geriatric care and community outreach.
- Enabled elders to access government welfare schemes, including pensions and mobility support.
- Facilitated intergenerational bonding, enhancing elder inclusion within community structures.
- Organized religious trips and agro exhibitions, increasing morale and public visibility.
- Integrated elderly perspectives into village planning and governance processes.
Stakeholder Collaboration
The program is implemented in partnership with a broad coalition of institutional and community stakeholders:
- Government Bodies: Dept of Health, District Health Society, Gram Panchayats.
- NGOs & Foundations: Azim Premji Foundation and Janseva Gramin Vikas Pratishthan.
- Medical Institutions: Suretech Hospital, Nagpur, Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Sawangi Meghe and Mahatme Eye Bank & Eye Hospital, Nagpur
- Community Actors: Local volunteers, caregivers, elderly peer groups.
- Media Partners: Local outreach platforms, street artists, and awareness campaigns.
