Govt to give assisted living devices to elderly

To help the elderly suffering from age-related disabilities, the government has decided to provide assisted living devices like crutches, spectacles, hearing aids and dentures to them.

“The objective is to bring senior citizens belonging to economically weaker sections into active life and build an aged-friendly society by providing them with devices to maintain near normalcy in morbidity.  The assistive devices will be of high quality and conform to the standards laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards,” a senior official from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said.

The scheme aims to address disabilities like low vision, hearing impairment, loss of teeth and locomotor disability.

The devices which will be provided include walkers, crutches, tripods, spectacles, hearing aids and dentures.

“For confirming infirmity, a certificate from any medical officer working in a government hospital will be mandatory,” the official said. The scheme will be fully financed by the Centre. In states, the scheme will be steered by state nodal department.