To bridge the widening treatment gap in geriatric mental health, NIMHANS is set to roll out two pioneering initiatives — NIMHANS–VMS Gruha, a community-based outreach programme, and a Post-Diagnostic Dementia Care Centre developed in collaboration with Dementia India Alliance (DIA). These initiatives coincide with World Alzheimer’s Day, observed on September 21
Psychiatric care at doorstep
The NIMHANS–VMS Gruha programme will take specialised psychiatric services directly to the homes of elderly citizens. While initiatives such as Tele-MANAS have expanded access to mental health care, they do not reach those unable to travel. This gap, experts said, will now be addressed by a dedicated team comprising psychiatrists, psychologists, and nurses who will conduct home visits, provide follow-up assessments, counselling, and assisted tele-psychiatry consultations.
This team will deliver services, while trained volunteers will help raise awareness and provide basic mental health support. NIMHANS trainees will also be sensitised to the unique needs of older adults.
P.T. Sivakumar, professor of Psychiatry and head of Geriatric Psychiatry at NIMHANS, told The Hindu on Saturday that the programme, funded through philanthropic contributions of ₹1.2 crore each from eminent psychiatrists, who were formerly with NIMHANS – Padma Shri awardee C.R. Chandrashekar and Srikala Bharath, currently based in Australia – will be piloted in Bengaluru South Corporation, which has an estimated 3 – 4 lakh elderly residents. Services will extend to old-age homes and destitute elders, he said.
“The idea is to bridge the treatment gap in geriatric mental health and ensure continuity of care. We want to create a sustainable model that can be scaled up across the city with government and community participation. For more information about this service, people can call 99004 18922 during working hours,” Dr. Sivakumar said.
Post-diagnostic dementia support
The Post-Diagnostic Dementia Care Centre will provide structured support to families after a dementia diagnosis — a stage where most are left to cope alone. Developed with CSR support and in partnership with DIA, the centre will offer counselling, care planning, caregiver training, and therapies such as cognitive stimulation, art, music, and culturally relevant interventions.
Significantly, the centre will extend modest financial support to economically weaker families to ease caregiving costs, alongside linkages to welfare schemes such as pensions and disability certification. Online caregiver support groups and volunteer networks will further widen their reach. Work has begun, and the centre is expected to become operational within two months, the doctor said.
“Dementia care in India is largely left to families, with little structured support. Early, structured post-diagnostic interventions improve quality of life and delay institutionalisation,” said Ramani Sundaram, DIA executive director.
Radha S. Murthy, DIA president, added that the centre aims to directly benefit over 3,000 families each year and gradually evolve into a sustainable model through philanthropy, endowments, and public–private partnerships. For support, families can contact 81973 68965.
A growing challenge
India’s population is rapidly ageing and is expected to have 340 million older adults (aged 60 and older) by 2050, of whom 5.3 million will have been living with dementia since 2020. Yet, more than 90% of older adults with mental health conditions remain untreated due to stigma, lack of awareness, and poor accessibility.
“These initiatives are not just about clinical care; they are about promoting healthy aging, reducing loneliness, and creating networks of community participation. The time has come to care for those who cared for us once,” Dr. Sivakumar said.
Both programmes are in line with the World Health Organisation’s declaration of 2021–2030 as the Decade of Healthy Ageing, highlighting the need for inclusive and sustainable care models for India’s elderly.
Published – September 20, 2025 10:05 pm IST
