FREE OLD AGE HEALTHCARE CAMPAIGN BY AGEWELL FOUNDATION

Madan Lal, an 85-year-old resident of Subhash Camp, Aali Village was suffering from several old age related problems. He was unable to move around freely due to arthritis and severe back pain. He was living a life of misery. He could not step out of his house and meet neighbours, relatives or friends. His family members ignored his health condition and relegated him to one corner of the house. He was fed up with his life. But through Agewell Foundation’s timely intervention, Madan Lal is now enjoying the remaining years of his life again. 

Madan Lal is one of the beneficiaries of Agewell Foundation’s Free Old Age Healthcare Campaign, run in slums of Delhi and NCR. During a survey in his locality, Agewell volunteers identified his requirement and accordingly provided him with a wheelchair. This intervention now allows Madan Lal to move around freely and live life with newfound hope and happiness. 

Agewell Foundation also provides him with 60 Adult Diapers every month and has given him a bed pan. Due to weakness in old age he is unable to walk independently and cannot work. He needs constant support from his family members for moving around on his wheel chair. 

Wheel chair provided by Agewell Foundation not only proved helpful and comfortable to Madanlal but also his family members. Now they can take care of him in a better way.

Madal lal ji belongs to very poor family, migrated 4 decades back from West Bengal. Presently his children & grandchildren look after him.  His annual household income is less than Rs. 24000. There is no senior citizen group in the area. 

There are many other destitute and marginalized elderly whose life has been transformed by such initiatives by Agewell Foundation over the last fifteen years.

In old age almost everyone has to deal with healthcare related issues due to various factors. Fast declining health status, lack of family support, marginalization and isolation among various other factors contribute towards abysmal living conditions for the destitute elderly. The situation is protracted in slums where socio-economic constraints play havoc for elder persons as they are mostly seen as burdens rather than assets by their family members. 

Agewell Foundation identifies such helpless and destitute older persons across slum clusters of Delhi-NCR and has been providing them with much required help and relief material through its network of dedicated volunteers.

Agewell Foundation has been conducting its Free Old Age Healthcare Campaign in slums of Delhi & NCR since 2012. Over 3000 Adult Diapers, 500 Walkers and 100 Wheelchairs are distributed every month. This campaign has been supported through contributions from regular as well as occasional donors.

Chairman of Agewell Foundation, Mr. Himanshu Rath said, “Healthcare in old age has become one of the major challenges in India, particularly for old people from below poverty line families,destitute and marginalized. They have no dedicated facility to take care of their health in old age. All of us who can afford to assist them in whichever way possible must extend a helping hand.”

Agewell’s Appeal

Agewell appeals to socially inclined individuals, the corporate sector and socially responsible organizations to come forward and join hands for this initiative so that a large number of destitute elderly can be assisted.

Agewell Foundation shares complete details of beneficiaries with the donors to keep them informed about the progress of the project.

You can pledge to donate for this cause on special occasions like birthdays, marriage anniversaries or death anniversaries of your loved ones and express your solidarity towards older people by doing your bit.  

About Agewell

Agewell Foundation is a not-for-profit NGO, working for the welfare and empowerment of older persons across the country since 1999. Agewell has set up a two-tier network of over 7500 primary and 80000 secondary volunteers spread across 640 districts of India and interacts with over 25000 older persons on daily basis through its volunteers’ network. 

Recognizing the work being done by Agewell Foundation ECOSOC has granted Special Consultative Status to Agewell Foundation at United Nations.  It has been granted Associate NGO status by Department of Public Information, United Nations (UN-DPI). Agewell has also been member of Working Groups and Steering Committees on Social Sector for Xth, XIth and now the XIIth Five-Year-Plan of Planning Commission of India since 2002.

For more information, visit www.agewellfoundation.org