SAS Nagar, October 2: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Mohali, on Thursday joined the global observance of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons, celebrated this year under the theme “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights.”
The institute used the occasion to spotlight its pioneering Home Visiting Program for Elderly with Complex Needs, launched in December 2024 under the guidance of U.S.-based geriatrician Dr. Niharika Suchak. Since its inception, an interdisciplinary team led by Dr. Esha Arora has been visiting elderly patients every Saturday, offering integrated support that combines medical, nursing, and social care at the doorstep.
Dr. Amrit Virk, Professor and Head of Community Medicine, said the institute is developing an interprofessional module on geriatric care to train healthcare workers. “This effort is in alignment with the National Framework for Elderly Care, Government of India, and ensures AIMS Mohali is among the early adopters of structured community-based geriatric services,” Dr. Virk noted.
Senior faculty members also underscored the growing significance of specialized care for older adults. Dr. Ashish Goel, Professor and Head of Medicine and immediate past president of the Geriatric Society of India, reaffirmed the need to popularize geriatric medicine across the country.
Director Principal Dr. Bhavneet Bharti emphasized the institute’s unique “4M approach” — focusing on Mobility, Mentation, Medication, and “what Matters most” — as a framework to guarantee dignity and well-being for older persons. “Our vision is to make older persons not only recipients of care but also active partners and agents of change in society,” Dr. Bharti said.
Through these initiatives, AIMS Mohali seeks to position itself as a model for geriatric healthcare, blending medical innovation with community participation.
