A field study in Lomanthang, Upper Mustang, Nepal
A review of current literature highlights the growing challenges associated with Nepal’s ageing population, which now represents 6,9% of the total demographic (Census 2021). In Lomanthang, the prevelance of senior citizens is significantly higher, at13,1%, underscoring an urgent need for tailored elderly care solutions in Himalayan region.
The Senior Citizen Care (SCC) project introduces an innovative approach to improving the health and well-being of older adults in Nepal.
The project is based on a collaborative agreement between Kalasha Foundation Switzerland and the Nexus Institute of Research and Innovation (NIRI), a non-profit organization in Kathmandu Nepal.
- A central component of this initiative is the engagement of Female Health Community Volunteers (FCHV’s), a globally unique workforce of minimally trained yet higly dedicated women who serve as unpaid health volunteers within Nepal’s national health system.
- In this field study we will assess the quality of life of senior citizen (>65 y) in Lomanthang Rural Municipality (Upper Mustang, elevation 3800 m). Through household visits and structured questionnare, we aim to evaluate the level of care required («Need for care») by elders living in this high-altitude region.
- As part of the project, FCHVs will participate in a specialized elderly care training program and will be formally authorized to provide basic caregiving support to seniors. All relevant events and observations will be recorded for systematic data collection.
- The collected data will be analyzed and the final results published in the medical literature. Stakeholders and policy makers at both local and national levels will be invited to contribute to further dissemination and possible scale-up. The long-term goal is to integrate FCHV’s into a structured national elderly care framework in Nepal.
The project has recieved the official approval from the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) as the Social Welfare Council (SWC). Regional authorities in the Lomanthang Rural Minicipality are closely involved to ensure culturally sensitive and effective implementation.
Caring for the elderly through human compassion and community service
The project operates under the patronge of the Kalasha Foundation Switzerland (medical investigator Dr. Serena Hartmann), in collaboration with Nexus Institute of Research and Innovation (NIRI) Kathmandu, Nepal.
Principle investigator: Tulasi Acharya, PhD, Director of Social Science NIRI Nepal and USA.