Enhancing Quality of Life

Abstract

India is ageing rapidly. Being the most populous country in the world, India's ageing scenario is predicted to pose significant challenges, one of which is geriatric caregiving. The present chapter discusses the qualitative aspects of the role of a formal or trained caregivers in the delivery of geriatric palliative care (GPC) who are employed at professional care centres located in urban parts of Pune city, Maharashtra, India. Though palliative care is not a new concept, GPC is an emerging extension of palliative care that aims at maintaining the quality of life (QoL) of ailing older adults. Interestingly, GPC demands extra care and coordinated efforts with the older adults and their family members to reduce the suffering of both of them as GPC also includes end of life care. This is where the role of formal caregiver extends its duty from just being a medium to assist an older adult to also supporting him/her with so much empathy and compassion to understand their needs. The present chapter attempts to portray this extended role of formal caregivers and the contributions of their managers in making GPC a standard practice in geriatric care facilities.