As the elderly population continues to rise in Bangladesh, especially in urban areas like Dhaka, many working families are struggling to balance their professional lives while ensuring proper care for their aging parents. In this scenario, Day Care Centers for the elderly are becoming a much-needed solution. These centers offer a safe, social, and caring environment for seniors during the day while their family members are at work.
✅ Why Elderly Day Care Centers Are Important:
- Social Engagement: Elderly people can meet and interact with others of similar age, reducing loneliness and depression.
- Basic Healthcare Support: Some centers provide basic medical checkups and medication support.
- Nutritious Meals: Many offer healthy, balanced meals throughout the day.
- Supervised Environment: Seniors are kept safe and supervised by trained caregivers.
- Recreational Activities: Music, games, storytelling, and exercise keep them mentally and physically active.
🏥 Existing Centers in Dhaka:
- BIRDEM Geriatric Day Care Centre – Bangladesh’s first hospital-based elderly day care.
- Aged Care Centre, Mohammadpur – Offers personalized elderly care services.
- Priyojon Nibas, Mirpur – A home-like day care facility for the elderly providing daily, weekly, and monthly care options at affordable rates.
🔄 Social Mindset and Challenges:
In Bangladesh, some people still hesitate to send their elderly parents to day care due to social stigma. But in reality, such centers improve the quality of life for seniors and help families provide better support. It’s time to create more awareness and remove the stigma.
📌 Final Thought:
Elderly day care is not about avoiding responsibilities; it’s about giving our seniors a safe and enriching environment while we handle our daily work. With growing urbanization, this service is becoming essential for a balanced family life.
