Kauvery Hospital launches exclusive orthogeriatrics department

The department combines the medical specialities of orthopaedic and geriatrics to provide holistic care

Kauvery Hospital has launched the Department of Orthogeriatrics for comprehensive orthopaedic care, reportedly the first-of-its-kind in India.

Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon & Executive Director and Dr Lakshmipathy Ramesh, Senior Consultant Geriatrician, of Kauvery Hospital spoke on the benefits of the department for senior citizens. A multi-genre theatre work titled `Fire & Ash’ by JustUS Repertory was staged subsequent to the launch event.

The department combines the medical specialities of orthopaedic and geriatrics to provide holistic care. As an inaugural offer, the hospital offers an array of benefits including arthritis screening package at a special tariff of Rs 750, and Dexa Scan at a special tariff of Rs1500 that can be availed on or before July 31, 2015.

Reportedly, the dedicated 12000 sq ft orthogeriatrics facility houses 15 exclusive in-patient beds, senior-friendly amenities like low level cots and bathrooms with grab bars, spacious corridor for physiotherapy and rehabilitation apart from advanced medical equipments and devices such as Dexa Scan and an expert team of geriatric physicians, geriatric nurses, geriatric physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals for providing world class care to the senior citizens. Dr Selvaraj, a renowned orthogeriatrician, heads the department.

On the importance of comprehensive geriatric care, Dr Selvaraj of the hospital said, “The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in its study jointly brought out with Help Age International, points that the number of people in the 60+ age group will increase from the current 100 million to 323 million by 2050, constituting 20 per cent of India’s total population by then. It further predicts the number of people over 80s to increase seven fold. It is also of concern that the study discloses, that around one-fifth of the elderly live alone or only with spouses in both rural and urban areas. These findings underline the fact that with a growing elderly population in the country, there is a need to strengthen geriatric care services so that the increasing healthcare demands of the elderly can be met.”