Aastha Foundation, Aurangabad

Aastha Foundation, established in 2008 in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, aims to provide a home for 100 senior citizens where they can enjoy dignity, care, comfort, and self-expression. The NGO keeps residents connected to nature and encourages them to contribute to society with their rich knowledge and experience, while also promoting technology use among seniors.

Major Interventions:

Aastha Ghar is an old age home offering a nurturing environment where seniors engage in activities like carom, local sightseeing, and brain games such as chess. Supported by trained caregivers and volunteers, it provides respite to family caregivers of dementia patients, ensuring personalized attention for each patient. Aastha Foundation is dedicated to dementia care, focusing on awareness, diagnosis, care, and caregiver training, and organizes public programs to educate the community about dementia.

Basant Prabha Visawa is a long-term residential facility for seniors, set in a three-acre environment with lush trees and secure premises. It offers spacious rooms with safety features, comprehensive elder care including health and emotional assistance, and amenities like a garden, walking track, Miyawaki forest, library, entertainment zone, meditation hall, and physiotherapy services. Prominent doctors, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists hold sessions on memory-related issues and dementia, with ambulance services available for emergencies. The facility supports both long-term residents and short-term rehabilitation patients, enhancing their golden years with dignity and respect.

Geriatric Care: Aastha addresses the need for trained caregivers for seniors by offering a Certificate Course in Geriatric Care. Designed by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai and conducted with Savitribai Phule Mahila Ekatm Samaj Mandal, the course at Dr. Hedgewar Rugnalaya includes one month of theory and three months of practical training, with visits to old age homes for hands-on experience. Subjects include Geriatric Communication, Counselling and Guidance, Basic Geriatric Care, Geriatric Rehabilitation, and Issues and Concepts in Gerontology.