Ernakulam to get a government-run geriatric centre

Ernakulam district will soon have a government geriatric centre.

The district panchayat has initiated steps to set up a geriatric center which will include an inpatient physiotherapy center and a dialysis centre. A center that will be useful for patients who need long-term physiotherapy will be established in the district hospital in Aluva.

“The main problem we have is to address the care needs of the elderly in the district. We are putting a lot of emphasis on formulating programs for the elderly. Under this, a geriatric center with inpatient physiotherapy facility has been planned,” said district panchayat president KG Radhakrishnan.

As part of this, a new building is being built at the district hospital in Aluva. “Construction is going on in the hospital. Along with this, we are also planning to modernize the dialysis unit. Although we have a 28-bed dialysis center in the hospital, we intend to modernize and modernize the equipment. So there will be a modernized and well-equipped dialysis facility on the first floor of the geriatric center,” said Mr. Radhakrishnan.

An inpatient physiotherapy center for palliative care patients will be located on the next two floors. “There is no inpatient physiotherapy facility in the state sector. This is an urgent need that can be addressed through a centre. Private facilities are available but they are expensive,” the president said. The panchayat envisages the center as a low-cost bed facility.

“Many elderly people need physiotherapy but cannot access it due to limited facilities. A few elderly patients require longer treatment which may require hospitalization. The facility will be available to the general public,” the president said. The facility is expected to be operational within a year.

Published – 13 Jul 2026 0:23 IST