Allow attendants and caregivers to move: Social justice ministry

NEW DELHI: The social justice and empowerment ministry has written to the home ministry seeking a modification in the guidelines on restrictions during the extended lockdown period announced on Wednesday to allow movement of attendants and caregivers in view of the large number of senior citizens in the country who are bedridden and indigent.

“The senior citizens who are currently bedridden and require bedside attendants are currently facing severe difficulties as the movement of the bedside attendants is currently not permitted,” the social justice and empowerment ministry wrote in a letter to the home ministry, a copy of which was seen by ET. “Without this assistance, many lives may be lost.”

It is estimated that nearly 28 million senior citizens in the country require a bedside medical attendant or healthcare provider. Several senior citizens and their family members have written to the government in the past few days, highlighting the dire need for such attendants.

In its letter, the social justice and empowerment ministry, which is the nodal authority on issues related to senior citizens, proposed an addition to para 5(vi) of the April 15 guidelines issued by the home ministry.

The para says all health services, including Ayush, will remain functional throughout the country during the lockdown and lists hospitals, nursing homes, medical laboratories, veterinary hospitals, diagnostics and also related supply chains. There is, however, no mention of bedside or medical attendants serving at homes. The ministry proposed that “bedside attendants and caregivers of senior citizens” be added to the para.