Pain is just the visible part of the suffering but what is ignored is the part below the surface - feeling of hopelessness and despair and worries said Dr. NS Raju, Managing Trustee of Age Care Foundation (ACF), which serve elderly and critically ill, two of the most vulnerable segments in society, by providing Geriatric and Palliative health Care.

Addressing the gathering of doctors, volunteers, staff and board of trustees on the eve of ACF’s 11th anniversary of service to the community here on Sunday, Dr. Raju said we all wish for a pain-free, dignified death and to achieve it one should show empathy, compassion, and the ability to listen with open heart and mind towards a terminally sick patients to make them empower to regain confidence to live life peacefully till their last breath. 

Since inception in 2012, we have been able to serve more than 10000 people in geriatric care through outreach clinics and in several old age homes. Apart from 1500 home care visits to the patient’s doorsteps, we are providing palliative care in the hospice to 1500 people suffering from serious illness, added Dr. Raju

The Chairman of the ACF G Sambasiva Rao, lauded the initiatives taken up by the entire ACF team and expressed thanks to the individual, institutional and corporate entities for their valuable donations for the upcoming 100 bedded integrated Geriatric and Palliative Care center, at Gambheeram, Visakhapatnam. He also said 50 percent of the project completed and it will be operational by the end of April 2024. It will be a first of kind in AP and the care provided in the facility will set a benchmark for the practice of healthcare.

Slowly it will expand the foundation’s services manifold with related health care services like Respite Care, Transitional Care, Rehabilitative Care, Long Term Care, Dementia Care also provided at the center.

CEO of Symbiosis Technologies   and chairman of Fund-Raising Committee of ACF, O Naresh Kumar spoke on the Foundation’s objectives and future prospects to provide services to a wider population, and highlighted ACF’s plans to tie up with organizations that already have expertise in their respective fields. 

Participating as guest of honour, Ragam Kishore, Wholetime director & CEO of Vizag Seaport Pvt Ltd and Chairman of Pinnacle hospitals India Pvt Ltd highlighted how palliative care can preserve the bonhomie of life while living, and at the end of life as well. 

Sharing his experience of physical, psychological, and social problems faced by elderly people, Sanjoy K Guha, Managing Director of South Asia LPG Co. Pvt Ltd said ACF services aim to help patients maximize independence, minimize the effects of the disability or illness, move smoothly through caregiving modalities and remain in their homes in spite of multiple chronic illnesses. ACF provides attention to personal preferences and values, assure pain and symptom management, and emotional support. 

Vizag’s renowned Architect Sri Narasimha Rao explained that the healthcare facility is specially designed to meet the foundation’s goals of Care. Family members of patients narrated heart touching experience of care provided to their loved ones at foundation’s Hospice. Visakha Container Terminal (VCT) donated Rs. 25 lakhs for the upcoming integrated Geriatric and Palliative Care center, at Gambheeram, Visakhapatnam.