At 68, Rati Mala’s* arthritis got so bad that she couldn’t walk; she was homebound. Her husband, though he could move about, had Elephant’s Foot caused by filariasis. The couple lived with their married son who was the only earning member in the family.
Rati’s daughter-in-law and husband helped with the daily chores around the house. However, having a bed-ridden Rati didn’t help. While hers wasn’t an emergency case, timely intervention could get her back on her feet. She was referred to Shield by the department of preventive and social medicine at the Urban Health Centre (UCH) at Dharavi. As part of the intervention, home based care was given to her considering her restricted mobility. Doctors from the PSM department made house calls and instructed her in basic health care.
Due to rigidity, initially actions were difficult. When she could move with some difficulty, she was referred to the department of physiotherapy of the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General (LTMG) Hospital (aka Sion Hospital). More than anything else, it was her will to follow through with her physiotherapy that helped her. She was eager to get better and practised religiously. A paraprofessional dropped in on her from time to time to make sure she was doing her exercises right.
Both Rati and her husband received medicines and nutritional supplements. At the behest of Shield, Sion Hospital began a physiotherapy class at the Dharavi UCH. The couple attend classes regularly. Rati can walk now with a walker that was provided to her. Her husband too was given a walking stick. With proper nutrition, medication and exercise, the couple is now fairly independent.
*Actual name withheld for privacy.
Rati’s daughter-in-law and husband helped with the daily chores around the house. However, having a bed-ridden Rati didn’t help. While hers wasn’t an emergency case, timely intervention could get her back on her feet. She was referred to Shield by the department of preventive and social medicine at the Urban Health Centre (UCH) at Dharavi. As part of the intervention, home based care was given to her considering her restricted mobility. Doctors from the PSM department made house calls and instructed her in basic health care.
Due to rigidity, initially actions were difficult. When she could move with some difficulty, she was referred to the department of physiotherapy of the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General (LTMG) Hospital (aka Sion Hospital). More than anything else, it was her will to follow through with her physiotherapy that helped her. She was eager to get better and practised religiously. A paraprofessional dropped in on her from time to time to make sure she was doing her exercises right.
Both Rati and her husband received medicines and nutritional supplements. At the behest of Shield, Sion Hospital began a physiotherapy class at the Dharavi UCH. The couple attend classes regularly. Rati can walk now with a walker that was provided to her. Her husband too was given a walking stick. With proper nutrition, medication and exercise, the couple is now fairly independent.
*Actual name withheld for privacy.
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