Role of Department of Medical Services in Geriatric Medicine

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the expected roles of the Supreme Patriarch Nyanasanwara Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medical Services according to opinions of health experts (policy makers and providers), caregivers and the elderly living within the radius of 5 kms around the Ministry of Public Health. In-depth interviews with 10 issue-probing questions on 18 experts and a questionnaire survey among 500 caregivers and elderly were performed during February to March 2013 and June 2013 to March 2014 respectively. Based on the health experts’ opinions, the Department of Medical Services should acts as mainstay and center for research and development on comprehensive geriatric care; designing geriatric medical care systems for all levels of care; defining characteristics and competencies of caregivers; designing educational/training programs for all professions working on geriatric care to ensure sufficuent manpower serving the elderly; acting as an intelligent unit and knowledge management center including publishing and distributing national guidelines for for geriatric care; producing and issuing certificates for, as well as monitoring work of caregivers; assembling a network to develop and formulate national policies in geriatric care; establishing geriatric medical services models for outpatient and day care services; coordinating with medical profession organizations to define roles of physicians in geriatric care; and categorizing the elderly into different age groups, and designing appropriate services for each category. As for the questionnaire survey, responses were collected from 411 participants with 82.2 percent response rate. It was found that the elderly and caregivers expressed high level of requests on geriatric medical care, health promotion, participation in social activities, and learning and experience sharing services.