Healthy Ageing and Health of the Elderly
Supporting older persons to remain healthy, independent, active and cared for through integrated promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative services.
Programme Overview
A coordinated programme supporting older persons through integrated care, age-friendly services, prevention, rehabilitation and community-based support.
What Is The Programme?
The programme provides a framework for integrating and coordinating promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care needs of older persons. Healthy ageing is the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age.
Why Implement It?
- The elderly population in Seychelles is steadily increasing.
- Older persons are more likely to develop chronic diseases and complex health needs.
- It helps older people remain healthy, independent and active for as long as possible.
- It supports healthy lives and wellbeing at all ages.
Aims
- Improve the health and wellbeing of the elderly.
- Maintain functional ability within age-friendly environments.
- Contribute to national and global health targets.
Objectives
- Provide comprehensive, accessible, quality medical, mental and social care.
- Deliver tailored health promotion and disease prevention interventions.
- Promote patient-centred care.
- Postpone and/or restore functional limitations.
- Make PHC facilities more elderly-friendly.
- Promote a multisectoral approach to age-friendly environments and services.
- Strengthen data systems relating to older persons.
Key Interventions
The programme combines health promotion, preventive care, curative services, rehabilitation and community support to strengthen healthy ageing.
- Age-appropriate health education.
- Promotion of physical activity.
- Promotion of healthy nutrition.
- Community awareness and engagement to support healthy ageing.
- Comprehensive geriatric assessment at retirement age.
- Vaccination according to the National Immunisation Schedule.
- Prevention of social isolation and exclusion.
- Prevention of elder maltreatment, violence and neglect.
- Home safety assessments and modifications.
- Dementia prevention interventions.
- Promotion of age-friendly communities.
- Expansion of community integrated care for older persons.
- Development of individualised care plans.
- Seamless transition across the care continuum.
- Treatment of chronic conditions.
- Early detection, management and rehabilitation of stroke, heart disease, fractures, dementia and cancers.
- Medication reviews and dementia care.
- Long-term care services.
- Provision and promotion of assistive devices.
- Physical therapy and balance retraining.
- Integrated management of medical conditions affecting older persons.
Target Group
Older persons and elderly individuals in Seychelles.
Service Delivery
Services are delivered through Primary Health Care facilities and community-based services with support from multidisciplinary teams.
Focus
Age-friendly care that supports health, independence, dignity and wellbeing.