Kerala's Ernakulam to build first government-run geriatric centre with inpatient physiotherapy

The Ernakulam district panchayat has initiated steps to establish a government-run geriatric centre at the district hospital in Aluva, a first-of-its-kind facility in Kerala's government sector. The centre will include an inpatient physiotherapy unit and a modernised dialysis centre, aimed at addressing the caregiving needs of the elderly in the district.

District panchayat president K.G. Radhakrishnan said the facility was conceived to cater to the growing demand for affordable, long-term physiotherapy care for elderly patients. 'A major concern we have is addressing the caregiving needs of the elderly in the district. We are placing much emphasis on formulating programmes for the elderly. The geriatric centre, with an inpatient physiotherapy facility, has been envisaged as part of this,' he said.

Construction of a new building at the district hospital is already underway. The first floor will house a modernised 28-bed dialysis centre, while the other two floors will be dedicated to inpatient physiotherapy for patients receiving palliative care. Mr. Radhakrishnan noted that currently there is no government-run inpatient physiotherapy facility in Kerala. 'Private facilities are available, but they are expensive. The panchayat has envisaged the centre as a low-cost inpatient facility,' he added.

The centre is expected to become operational within a year. It will serve elderly patients who require extended physiotherapy treatment or dialysis, providing affordable care in a government setting.