See our recommended NGOs

HelpAge India was established with the aim to improve the quality of life of destitute elders in rural areas by providing free ration, medicines and offering free cataract surgeries.

It has now spread its work to include:

1. Long term sustainability options for elders across India through various livelihood projects and Elder Self-Help Groups.
2. Advocating for elders rights, engaging with the government on new legislation plans and pushing for the implementation of the National Policy of Older Persons.
3. Focusing on the concerns of urban elderly as even relatively economically advantaged elders face emotional and physical problems.

Some of their programmes in 2013-14 were as follows:

• Mobile Healthcare: HelpAge runs Mobile Medical Units (MMU) to provide basic healthcare support to elders living in remote areas. Each MMU provides approximately 30,000 treatments annually. In FY2014, 2.1 million free treatments were provided by 87 fully equipped MMUs in 20 states.
• Cataract Surgery: HelpAge conducted around 15,950 cataract surgeries on poor and needy elders with the help of nearly 400 organisations. This program was carried out in 9 states during FY14.
• Support a Gran: Earlier known as Adopt a Gran, Support a Gran is a program to help elders (having no family, financial or social support) with their basic needs. During 2014 around 45,237 elders in 20 states were supported with basic healthcare, rations and daily essentials.
• Other Programmes: Physiotherapy Services, Cancer Care, Livelihood Support, Old Age Homes, Health Camps, Elder Helplines, Disaster Management.