NISD Rolls Out Grassroots Geriatric Care Training in Diu

Fifty Anganwadi and community workers in Diu are stepping into specialized eldercare roles as the government turns to grassroots workers to manage a rapidly aging population. The five-day training drive, launched on October 9 by the National Institute of Social Defence alongside the Diu district administration, aims to build a frontline safety net for senior citizens.

Inaugurated by Social Justice Secretary Sudhansh Pant, the field-oriented curriculum equips local personnel with hands-on skills in basic geriatric care, mobility support, and fall prevention. Participants are also trained to handle emergency first aid, manage nutrition and hydration routines, and recognize early symptoms of cognitive decline such as dementia.

A central focus of the initiative is safeguarding vulnerable older adults living alone or without family support. Frontline workers are being instructed to spot indicators of neglect, abuse, or financial exploitation, while serving as direct navigators who connect eligible seniors to existing central welfare schemes and institutional aid.

For policymakers, the Diu workshop serves as a testbed for integrating eldercare into existing rural administrative machinery. Turning village health workers into certified geriatric caregivers could offer an affordable, scalable blueprint for community-based elderly support across India's smaller districts.