Elder-care initiative focuses on easier hospital navigation, preventive healthcare, caregiver support and active ageing for senior citizens
Visakhapatnam, August 20: CARE Hospitals has launched ‘Pranaam’, an elder-care initiative aimed at making the healthcare journey simpler, more comfortable and supportive for senior citizens in Visakhapatnam.
The programme was launched on Thursday, ahead of World Senior Citizen Day on August 21, at CARE Hospitals, Visakhapatnam. Dr. Shankhabrata Bagchi, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Visakhapatnam, inaugurated the initiative in the presence of Shalabh Dang, President – Sales & Marketing, Aster DM Quality Care Limited; G. Sukesh Reddy, Hospital Chief Operating Officer, CARE Hospitals, Visakhapatnam; senior doctors, hospital leadership, healthcare professionals, staff and senior citizens.
The initiative comes amid a growing need for healthcare systems to respond to the specific requirements of India’s ageing population. With the country’s senior citizen population now exceeding 150 million, hospitals are increasingly looking beyond clinical treatment to address issues such as accessibility, patient navigation, continuity of care and caregiver involvement.
For older adults, particularly those living alone or dependent on family members, a hospital visit can involve multiple consultations, diagnostic tests, medication instructions and follow-up appointments. Pranaam has been designed to provide support across this entire healthcare journey.
According to CARE Hospitals, the programme goes beyond a conventional healthcare membership model. It includes dedicated elder-support assistance, priority care pathways, caregiver-inclusive consultations, simplified communication, post-visit follow-up support and a dedicated Pranaam Helpline.
The programme also has a preventive and community-health component aimed at encouraging active ageing. Activities planned under Pranaam include chair yoga, walking groups, hobby and creativity clubs, reading circles, health-awareness sessions and other community engagement programmes.
Members will also have access to benefits on preventive health checks, outpatient consultations, inpatient services and pharmacy services, with the objective of encouraging regular screening and timely medical attention.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Shankhabrata Bagchi, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Visakhapatnam, said senior citizens have contributed immensely to families and society and deserve care, dignity and respect.
“As people grow older, they may need greater support, particularly when it comes to their health and day-to-day needs. I am happy to see CARE Hospitals introducing Pranaam in Visakhapatnam to provide dedicated support to senior citizens. Such initiatives can give elderly people and their families greater confidence and reassurance,” he said.
Shalabh Dang, President – Sales & Marketing, Aster DM Quality Care Limited, said healthcare for senior citizens needs to extend beyond a doctor consultation or treatment.
“For senior citizens, healthcare is not only about seeing a doctor or receiving treatment. They often need someone to guide them, help them navigate the hospital and stay connected with them even after the visit. That is the thinking behind Pranaam,” he said.
Dang added that the objective is to make every interaction with hospitals simpler and more reassuring for elderly patients and their families, while embedding respect and support for senior citizens into the organisation’s care culture.
G. Sukesh Reddy, Hospital Chief Operating Officer, CARE Hospitals, Visakhapatnam, said the initiative is intended to ensure that senior citizens and their families have someone to guide them at different stages of their healthcare journey.
He said Pranaam would also place greater emphasis on preventive healthcare and active ageing, helping older adults remain healthier and more independent.
The Visakhapatnam launch is part of a broader rollout of Pranaam across CARE Hospitals and Aster Hospitals in the India II network.
Through a combination of personalised healthcare assistance, preventive care, caregiver participation and community engagement, the programme aims to address both the medical and practical challenges that senior citizens can encounter while accessing healthcare.
For an ageing population, initiatives such as Pranaam also reflect a wider shift in healthcare — from treating individual episodes of illness to supporting continuity of care, healthy ageing and dignity throughout the patient journey.