As statistics go, Chennai has an ageing population problem and the number is exponentially rising. The overriding concerns are lack of facilities for the elderly, and rising costs, making it impossible to afford the equipment for improved quality of life, with the limited income the elderly have to contend with. Consequently, with reduced mobility which affects most in the seventies and above, the elders choose to stay in the comfort of their homes which spell security and the familiar zone syndrome. This morphs into an insular life without distractions, and gradually leads to depression – which, when left as it is, can quickly mutate into clinical depression which is harder to treat.
Bridging the gap between ownership and availability, stores like Old is Gold which stock accessories for the elderly, have opened Rent a Cure facility for their customers. This enables them to rent equipment rather than own an accessory which is prohibitively expensive.
Talking to Mr. Ganeshan one of the earliest users of this facility, and with personal experience one realizes the importance of simple but innovative aids which improve the quality of life for the elderly. Take the example of the Stair Climber which has been in use over the years. “It is estimated over 100 persons have used the Stair Climber from Rent-a-Cure Services,” say Prithvi and Jayashree, owners of Old is Gold store.
“Stair climbing need not be daunting any more,” says Ganeshan, who had used the Stair Climber to take his aged father who has impaired mobility to the registration office which was in the first floor of a building with no lift. In India where scant regard is shown for the physically challenged, one experiences a feeling of despair when your presence is needed at a venue where there is no access for the disabled.
The mandate required was to sign documents and register. You face this situation at every corner. You must personally put your thumb imprint if you want to collect your rations. You have to go to the office which arranges for delivery of gas cylinders to “connect your gas with your Adhaar card”. You face an impasse as the promise of sending a rep home does not materialise. Banking which has now gone online, still requires your presence. While private banks have a relationship manager who comes home at a call, nationalised banks are left far behind and instead of wasting time making calls which are seldom answered, you literally drag yourself to visit the local branch. The route is equally daunting. Broken sidewalks, uneven ground throughout the stretch and yes, sometimes a climb, and without a hand rail.
For Ganesh, what seemed like an impossible situation was solved with Rent-a-Cure using the motorised Stair Climber. The whole journey was smooth, comfortable and safe. The cost was a fraction of the choice of completing the formalities at his residence.
“Having started with an exclusive store for senior citizens there was a gap for those requiring short-term use of products such as patient beds, wheelchairs, etc. We also felt the need to find a solution for persons seeking solutions but who were unsure if a particular model would work. Rental offers the solution for both short-term requirement & checking out products in the most cost-effective way.” says Jayashree.
Other products available under the Rent-a-Cure Services, are Patient Care Furniture, such as medical beds, both manual and automatic, air beds, bubble and tubular mattresses, bed tables, patient cabinets, patient transfer chairs which move the patient from the bed to the washroom or elsewhere in a hammock-like attachment.
Other mobility products for hire include walking sticks, walkers, rollators, (an advanced version of the walker), wheelchairs both manual and motorized, and respiratory aids such as oxygen machines, nebulizers and suction apparatus. Exercisers like pedal exerciser and treadmills are also available on hire.
Unlike most companies Rent-a-Cure allows short duration hire and this is defined according to category. For instance, cots are available for a minimum period of 10 days and wheelchairs are available per day. Rentals for short term use are not expensive. A cot costing around 18,000/- will cost around Rs. 1600/- per month
Hiring companies are particular about maintenance and refurbish stock. When a product is beyond repair and worn out, it is discarded. A high level of hygiene is maintained without compromise even if it has to be built into the cost.
Air bed mattress and regular mattress are cleaned using steam cleaners that ensure sanitisation as well as removing all forms of dirt that can accumulate. Further such surfaces are cleaned with germicides to make them clean & hygienic. Mattresses are carefully checked and often discarded, replacing them with new.
The Adyar branch of the Old is Gold Store will service patients in R.A. Puram, Kottur, Mandavelli, Mylapore, Royapettah, Thiruvanmiyur, Guindy, Velachery, OMR and ECR.