Scheme for older persons revised with more facilities

New Delhi, May 31 (UNI) The Integrated Programme for Older Persons initiated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been relaunched with enhanced health and other facilities.

As many as 17 more components have been added to the existing three--Old Age Home, Day Care Centre and Mobile Medical Units, an official of the Ministry said here.

Under the revised scheme notified this month, care for diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia have been included. Besides, senior citizen would now avail of new facilities like the physiotherapy centre, helpline, and place for housing their associations under the scheme.

The official said the government had doubled the grant for the scheme in consonanace with the rise in consumer price index.

The scheme has been revised as part of the implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

The new law casts an obligation on the children or persons who inherit the property of their aged relatives to maintain them. It also proposes to make provisions for setting up old-age homes for providing maintenance to the indigent older persons.

The Act puts in place a mechanism to provide need-based maintenance to the parents and senior citizens. It also envisages providing better medical facilities to senior citizens.

It also institutionalises a suitable mechanism for protection of life and property of older persons.

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