The National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, in collaboration with the Office of the Collector, Diu, is organizing a Five-Day Geriatric Care Training Programme in Diu District starting October 9, 2026. Secretary of the Ministry, Shri Sudhansh Pant, will inaugurate the programme at Education Hub, Diu, and administer the Pledge for Welfare of Senior Citizens to participants.
The training programme targets approximately 50 Anganwadi workers, frontline workers, and grassroots-level functionaries, aiming to strengthen community-based support systems for senior citizens and enhance capacity for last-mile service delivery. The initiative seeks to create a pool of trained frontline functionaries capable of providing basic geriatric care, identifying emerging care requirements, facilitating access to government schemes and services, and extending emotional and psychosocial support to senior citizens at the community level.
Key training areas include understanding the physical, psychological, emotional and social dimensions of ageing; principles of basic geriatric care; assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs); personal hygiene; nutrition and hydration; medication support; mobility assistance; safe transfer techniques; fall prevention; home safety; basic first aid; communication skills; psychosocial support; dementia awareness; and prevention of neglect, abuse and exploitation of senior citizens. Participants will also be oriented to government schemes, programmes, and institutional mechanisms available for senior citizens.
The programme adopts a practical, participatory and field-oriented approach combining technical sessions, interactive lectures, demonstrations, practical exercises, case studies, and field examples. It has been contextualized to address specific needs of senior citizens in Diu District, with special emphasis on senior citizens living alone, those requiring assistance with ADLs, and older persons with limited access to family-based care.
Expected outcomes include creating a pool of approximately 50 trained frontline functionaries in Diu District, improving early identification of senior citizens requiring additional care or referral, strengthening awareness of government schemes, and enhancing community-level support for elderly persons living alone. The programme is coordinated by Ms. Asha Sharma and Ms. Ritu Dandriyal from NISD's Senior Citizen Division, with the Deputy Director (Training) & Head of Senior Citizen Division overseeing coordination with the Office of the Collector, Diu.