More care for the disabled elderly

Irangika Range

Social Services Ministry has launched a programme to provide numerous services for disabled elderly persons living in low income households by visiting their homes and assessing their needs.

Accordingly, social services officers attached to the ministry will visit the houses where elderly persons with disabilities in low income families are living across the country to fulfill their needs and support these groups in facing life's challenges, Social Services Minister Felix Perera told the Daily News .

They will also provide various services free to elders who are suffering from debilitating diseases and elders living alone in houses.

Accordingly, arrangements have been made to recruit new officers to the ministry for the implementation of this home visiting service.

"We have decided to appoint one social service officer for each Grama Seva Niladhari division in the country.

'They will be provided with training with the assistance of the Health Ministry, the minister further said. 'We have taken a number of initiatives to launch this home visiting service to provide physical care and mental healing for old people with disabilities.

'Although, the government has implemented various services to afford a welfare approach in caring for the needs of the aging population, the requirement to review and revise them to better fit the current scope of issues, especially for the elderly and disabled, is essential," the minister said.