Srinagar- ‘Moul Mouj Health Centre’ – a dedicated facility for senior citizen care – was inaugurated at Karan Nagar, Srinagar on Friday.
Dr. Zubair Saleem, Senior Geriatric Consultant & Head, Moul Mouj Health Centre said the state-of-the-art center is an initiative of Kashmir Clinics and it aims to provide comprehensive healthcare services tailored specifically for the elderly population.
Addressing the gathering of participants, Dr Saleem said the prevalence of elder abuse is alarming and psychological abuse is a significant problem among the elderly in Kashmir.
“As a geriatrician with 12 years of experience, I have the privilege of treating over 30,000 seniors in Kashmir, witnessing firsthand the widespread issues they face. It has been seen that those responsible for elder abuse are often the victims’ own family members,” he said.
According to Dr. Saleem, out of approximately 30,000 patients seen in Kashmir, 62 percent reported experiencing psychological trauma inflicted by their married sons, while 20-30 percent reported similar abuse from their daughters-in-law.
“One in two elders in Kashmir is suffering due to elder abuse,” Dr. Saleem said, highlighting the critical nature of the issue. “Isolation and elder abuse are most rampant among our elders,” he added, pointing to the severe psychological and emotional toll on the elderly population.
He further said that elder abuse can have devastating effects on the physical and mental well-being of older people. It often leads to chronic health issues, depression, and a diminished quality of life. Despite these severe consequences, elder abuse remains a silent crisis, largely unaddressed by locals and social service agencies,” Dr Saleem, the Former Head, Geriatric Department, JLNM hospital, said.
“We are taking a significant step towards ensuring the holistic mental and physical well-being of our seniors by inaugurating the Moul Mouj Health Centre.”
Dr Shakeel ur Rehman, Founder & Chairman Kashmir Clinics Group said that in Kashmir there are distressing experiences of elderly patients, many of whom face severe neglect and humiliation, even from well-off families.
“This often leads to feelings of hopelessness, some considering extreme steps. Many elderly people suffer due to lack of proper care, and most deaths in this group are preventable with adequate attention,” Dr Rehman said.
“Although my colleagues and I run three medical facilities, none are exclusively dedicated to the comprehensive and affordable care of the elderly.”
“Witnessing their plight, especially those below the poverty line, we feel compelled to address this issue. I urge society to recognize and respond to the needs of our elders, who have spent caring for us. As doctors, we commit to providing affordable care for the elderly. I discussed this mission with my colleagues, and they are willing to offer their service to make medical care accessible to this vulnerable group.”
Dr Rehman further said that addressing this issue requires a collective effort from society. Religious organization community groups must raise awareness about the importance of caring for our dignity and respect in their later years.
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