Reaching the unreached - A model of health care services for Rural elderly

This study is a report of a camp organized by the geriatric clinic of BLDE DU Shri B M Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Vijayapura(Karnataka) during the COVLD- 19 wave under a scheme named-the ‘Reaching the Unreached'programme. One hundred elderly (63 males and 37 females) people registered for the camp on 31/12/2021. The common diseases noted were Hypertension (17%), osteoarthritis (14%), Diabetes (08%), Anaemia (08%), Cataract (05%) Stroke (03%), and heart diseases (03%), while 20 percent of elderly did not have any disease. This camp not only recognized the health issues among the elderly population, but it has also solved major issues like accessibility, affordability, and consistency. This study also proves that the model used by this camp in providing health services to the elderly is cost-effective, sustainable, and reproducible.