Many senior citizens suffering from disability, mobility restraints and other old age deceases require special supervision, care and assistance which the family members find difficult to provide. HelpAge conducts voluntary training programmes for volunteers in community home care and in professional Elder’s Home care services.

Voluntary home care training consists of training volunteers for a period of 14 days on providing services for senior citizens who are living with their families or on their own but with little capacity to care for their needs. These volunteers help bring a smile on the faces of these marginalized senior citizens by helping them do their daily activities or simply providing companionship. The volunteers assist senior citizens

in visiting local hospitals and helps prevent abuse and neglect.

Around 6000 senior citizens receive care in about 150 Elders’ Homes throughout Sri Lanka. In an effort to provide trained and professional services for senior citizens, the voluntary age care training, which is for a period of 3 months, trains volunteers on all aspects of nursing and managing of elder’s homes. The course covers basic needs of senior citizens, basic nursing, income generation for senior citizens, health care,

counseling, social changes etc...