Home / Health / Kerala Launches Elite Caregiver Force
Kerala Launches Elite Caregiver Force
17 Jan
Summary
- SEWA Kerala launched advanced palliative and geriatric care services.
- Thirty women trained to provide home care for chronically ill patients.
- The program addresses a shortage of skilled caregivers in Thiruvananthapuram.
In a move to professionalize the care economy, SEWA Kerala launched advanced palliative and long-term care services, including specialized geriatric care, on Saturday. This significant initiative was developed over two years of intensive collaboration with the Swashreya Mahila Sewa Sangham (SMSS), Pallium India, and Health Action by People (HAP).
The program focuses on deploying a dedicated workforce of 30 women, equipped with skills to offer compassionate, high-quality home care for individuals suffering from chronic illnesses. This specialized training directly tackles a pressing shortage of skilled caregivers within Thiruvananthapuram.
Kerala's demographic shift towards an aging population and rising 'time poverty' among families necessitates such services. The initial cohort of 30 women completed a comprehensive three-week training under Pallium India, covering essential medical knowledge for conditions like dementia and Parkinson's. Former Chief Secretary S.M. Vijayanand inaugurated the program, emphasizing its role in patient dignity and women's economic independence.
