Department of Geriatric Medicine

"Globally, life expectancy has increased by 25 year since 1950, Healthy older people contribute to society in many positive ways, WHO focuses on helping people continue doing what they enjoy for as long as possible"-WHO
India is witnessing a rapid change in population structure with rising number of senior citizens. The life expectancy of Indians has increased from 32 years in 1947 at the time of independence to 68 years now. This phenomenon of population ageing has impacted every institution of civil society including the health system. Older people need financial security, emotional and social support. With failing health and functional capability senior citizens need of regular access to effective and affordable health care.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences responded to the challenges of population ageing in India by starting a weekly clinical service in 1993, later upgraded to daily service in August 2010, with focus on establishment of service, human resource development and research. It was the vision and efforts of Prof. (Dr.) A B Dey which led to the establishment of a separate academic department in January 2012. The first batch of MD students was admitted in January 2012 and the Geriatric Medicine Ward opened in July 2012. He then became first Head of the Department and expanded its clinical services to provide holistic care with physiotherapy, counselling and dietary services and started a weekly Memory clinic for dementia patients. Similarly, he oversaw the growth of the research activities with the opening of a separate departmental research lab and multiple research projects including its partnership in India's largest longitudinal study - LASI (Longitudinal Ageing Study of India).

The strength of the department has been research, human resource development and state of the art clinical care. The Department provides comprehensive patient care, imparts under-graduate and post-graduate education, doctoral courses, carries out in-service training and conducts basic and clinical research in the field of Geriatrics and Gerontology.

The Department of Geriatric Medicine in coming years will be upgraded to a National Center for Ageing.