Bengaluru gets dementia village offering free residential care to 100 elders

Bengaluru: According to experts, dementia care can cost anywhere between Rs 30,000 and Rs 1 lakh a month. Unable to afford these expenses, many families struggle to provide long-term care for elders with dementia, leaving some vulnerable to neglect and abandonment. In an effort to address this gap, Smriti Gram, an integrated dementia village offering free residential care to 100 elders, was inaugurated Friday at Thirumagondanahalli near Doddaballapur, on the outskirts of Bengaluru.The 100-bed facility has been established by Nightingales Medical Trust (NMT), a non-profit organisation that works for senior citizens. It will provide free residential care exclusively to elders with dementia from economically disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds.The campus brings together specialised residential care, caregiver training, research and innovation under one roof. It will also serve as a centre for caregiver training and capacity building, with the aim of developing a skilled workforce for dementia and eldercare.NMT representatives said the initiative would explore the appropriate integration of evidence-based Indian systems of medicine with contemporary medical care, in collaboration with the Central Ayurveda Research Institute under the ministry of Ayush.“Our aspiration is to develop Smriti Gram into a sustainable model of integrated dementia care that can be replicated in different parts of the country,” said S Premkumar Raja, secretary, NMT. The long-term vision is to develop the campus into a 300-bed facility.The first phase, supported by donors, including the Azim Premji Foundation, will accommodate 100 elders.Besides residential wards, the campus has a memory wall featuring photographs depicting different stages of life, a prayer hall, a gaming area for cognitive activities and green spaces for walking. Residents will follow a structured daily schedule that will also include a “family-style social time.”Priority will be given to elders aged 55 years and above with a confirmed diagnosis of dementia, who require round-the-clock care and have little or no caregiver support. The free facility is intended for families whose annual income is below Rs 5 lakh.Dr Radha S Murthy, managing trustee, NMT, said, “There are many elders with dementia who are vulnerable, neglected, living alone or unable to receive the care they need because of financial and family circumstances. We want every elder who comes to Smriti Gram to feel safe, cared for and respected, and to live with dignity and security.”The facility was inaugurated by Lakshmi, one of the first residents of the facility.For admission enquiries: 080 4242 6565You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in BengaluruStay updated with the latest Bengaluru news. Download the TOI App.