Services for Senior Citizens

TELEPHONE
Telephone connection is given on priority to senior citizens aged 65 years and above.They are entitled to registrer their demand for one telephone connection in their names.The telephones thus provided is transferable only in the name of spouse, if alive after death of the subscriber as a general category telephone and subsequent transfers is governed by prevailing telephone transfer rules.
HELPLINES
    Helpage India, Chennai: HelpAge India has a helpline for elders in Chennai city, with the association of Chennai Police.This helpline is operating from the office of the City Police Commissioner.
    Agewell Helpline, Delhi: Agewell Foundation has set up a helpline for senior citizens in Delhi.The volunteers are constantly available to attend to matters of medical or psychological nature, as well as legal and financial advice. Help line numbers are: 2983 6484, 2983 0484.
    Heritage Helpline, Hyderabad: Elders can access this helpline (No. 23390000) daily from 8am to 8pm, except on Sundays and national holidays.Trained volunteers provide counselling, health assistance and referral services.
    Nightingale Helpline, Bangalore: The Nightingale Medical Trust, Bangalore runs a 24-hour, toll-free Elder's helpline (no.1090) that counsels elders, reconciles family disputes, provides information and renders advocacy services.
EXPEDITIOUS DISPOSAL OF COURT CASES
    The Hon'ble Chief Justice of India has advised Chief Justice of all High Courts in the country to accord priority to cases involving older persons and ensure their expededitious disposal.
    Mumbai High Court has announced that it would give out-of-turn priority to hearing and disposal of petitions wherein litigants have crossed 65 years of age.The High Court decision would also be applicable to its benches at Goa,Aurangabad and Nagpur besides the subordinate courts in the State. It would extend to all the matters including civil or criminal pending in any court of law.
MOBILE MEDICARE UNIT PROGRAMME
The Mobile Medicare Unit (MMU) Programme is the only programme directly implemented by HelpAge India to provide basic essential medicare at the door steps of needy and underprivileged elderly in India. Presently, HelpAge India has a fleet of 55 directly-controlled MMUs.These are at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad,Ahmedabad, Pune, Nagpur, Lucknow, Jammu, Faridabad, Chandigarh, Bhadohi, Bhubaneshwar, Paradeep and Bikaner.
BANKING
Post Offices, Banks offer a higher interest for investments.
MAGAZINES FOR THE ELDERLY
There are two magazines specifically for elderly Dignity Dialogue brought out by Dignity Foundation and Senior Heritage Selections by Heritage Medical Centre.The publications deal with a wide spectrum of issues, starting from the indignity of elder abuse to alternative medicine, to some philosophy and some inspirational material. Moreover, they provide a forum for the elderly to express their opinions and creativity.
DELHI POLICE AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Delhi police has introduced some special schemes for the safety of senior citizens under which the beat officers in the area have been directed to make a list of senior citizens and help ensure a secure environment for them. Under the plan, the local SHO will visit them every first Saturday of the month and the beat constable will visit once a week on Sunday. In Delhi, senior citizens can mail to the Commissioner of Police on the following address about any sort of crime/ harassment: 'Commissioner of Police, P B No.171, GPO, New Delhi'
    Courtesy: www.helpageindia.org