At 76, Venkatamma has spent a lifetime caring for her family. Even today, she helps at her son’s pooja material shop in Nagashetty Halli, Bengaluru, greeting customers and keeping herself engaged. But living with diabetes, hypertension and joint pain made daily life increasingly difficult. Like many older women, she often put her own health needs aside. Managing chronic illnesses required regular treatment and medicines, yet accessing care consistently was not always easy.
About a year ago, she learnt about HelpAge India’s Mobile Healthcare Unit (MHU), which visits her locality every Monday and parks just opposite her shop. The proximity and predictability of the service made all the difference. Without having to travel far or navigate the anxiety and inconvenience that often accompany hospital visits, Venkatamma was able to access care close to home and begin taking her medicines regularly.
Since then, regular check-ups, medicines and guidance from the MHU team have helped her manage her diabetes and hypertension more effectively. Her blood sugar and blood pressure are now under control, her knee pain has reduced and she follows the doctor’s advice diligently, attending awareness sessions and taking her medicines on time.
For older women, access to healthcare is often shaped by more than illness alone. Dependence on others for mobility, competing family responsibilities and the tendency to prioritise everyone else’s needs can delay or interrupt treatment. By bringing healthcare closer to communities, Mobile Healthcare Units help ensure that older persons—especially women—can receive timely and sustained support, enabling them to age with better health, dignity and peace of mind.
In her words: “I am happy and thankful for the Mobile Healthcare Unit. For those who have little but need care the most, these services are a blessing. I share this with my neighbours and customers, hoping that others too can find the support that I have received.”
