“Stakeholder Meet” Under the ICMR-funded “ELDER – AID” Project: Empowering Learning for Dignified Elder Responses – Action in Integrated Delivery of Care

The Centre for Elderly Care Education and Research, Manipal College of Nursing, MAHE, organized a stakeholder meeting under the ICMR-funded ELDER–AID project (Empowering Learning for Dignified Elder Responses – Action in Integrated Delivery of Care). The project aims to develop, implement, and evaluate a multidisciplinary training program to enhance nurses’ competencies in delivering dignified, integrated, and person-centered geriatric care.

The program commenced with a welcome address by Ms. Mitchelle Lewis, followed by a comprehensive project overview by Dr. Anil Raj, Principal Investigator. The inaugural address was delivered by the Chief Guest, Dr. Naveen Salins, Director–Research, MAHE, who emphasized the importance of geriatric and palliative care and the need for structured capacity building. Dr. Judith Noronha, Dean, Manipal College of Nursing, addressed the gathering, highlighting the significance of the initiative. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms. Ananya Bekal.

The meeting brought together experts from diverse fields, including geriatric medicine, nursing education, palliative care, and senior care services, to share their insights, key challenges, and areas of improvement in geriatric care. Major discussion points included the increasing healthcare needs of the elderly, gaps in nursing practices, challenges in delivering comprehensive care, and the need for affordable, and accessible services.

A key component of the meeting was the module development activity, in which participants collaborated to develop Training of Trainers (ToT) modules, working in groups to refine content, define competencies, and suggest modifications and new modules based on practical experiences, ensuring contextual relevance. The module outlines were presented and discussed in detail, and inputs from all participants were consolidated to create a comprehensive, practical, and multidisciplinary set of modules aligned with real-world geriatric care needs.

The meeting concluded with key reflections and the way forward presented by Dr. Anil Raj. The stakeholder meeting provided valuable insights into existing gaps and priorities, laying a strong foundation for the development and implementation of the ELDER–AID training program. Overall, the meeting successfully facilitated collaborative learning and module development, thereby strengthening geriatric care capacity and improving the quality of care for the elderly. The event also contributed to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 4: Quality Education through its focus on capacity building, knowledge enhancement, and improving healthcare practices.