Better facilities for elders

There is relief for some inmates at the Delhi government-run old age home in Bindapur. With the temperatures soaring, the female dormitory at the home will soon be air-conditioned.

The old age home has received the air-conditioners as donation from a private company. The administration decided to give preference to the dormitory as most of the occupants there suffer from amnesia or other mental illnesses.

Around 30 per cent of the 60 inmates here suffer from mental illnesses. These inmates have little recollection of how they ended up here.

“Two air conditioners will be installed in the female dormitory on the third floor. We decided to give them the preference as most of these members suffer from amnesia or other age-related mental ailments. The stay will be a better experience for them if we improve the living conditions,” said a senior official at the home.

There are 47 female inmates. Of these, over 20 are accommodated in the dormitory. “It is a hassle for these inmates to maintain the air coolers. The air conditioners will be installed within the next two weeks,” said the official.

The rooms at the home which are occupied on sharing basis, however, have to do with coolers. One of the recreation rooms is also being air-conditioned.

“It will be a relief for the elderly men and women in the mornings who want to watch TV or read books in the recreational room,” said the official.

Special attention is also being given to their diet to prevent summer-related ailments.

“We are taking extra care to keep them rehydrated as most of them suffer from different health conditions. We are giving them lime water frequently throughout the day with the temperatures rising,” said the official.

However, little is being done to improve the staff strength at the home.With the capacity of the home being stretched to 60, the ratio of caretakers to inmates remains poor.

Currently, there are four caretakers — one female and three male, one part-time nurse and a part-time doctor. Officials have pointed out the need for at least 12 caretakers here.