Integrating Vision, Wellness, and Dignity in Healthy Ageing
The L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) continues to spearhead innovation in elderly health care through its dedicated Centres for Elderly Eye Care, located at the Kallam Anji Reddy (KAR) Campus, Hyderabad, and its four tertiary centres — GMR Varalakshmi Campus, Visakhapatnam; Mithu Tulsi Chanrai (MTC) Campus, Bhubaneswar; Kode Venkatadri Chowdary (KVC) Campus, Vijayawada; and Raja Sekhara Reddy (RSR) Campus, Kadapa. These centres go beyond conventional vision care to provide integrated health services that promote healthy ageing and independence among older adults.
Integrating WHO’s ICOPE Framework into Eye Care
In a landmark step towards holistic elderly care, LVPEI has aligned its services with the World Health Organization’s Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) framework, developed as part of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. This integration bridges the gap between vision care and overall well-being.
In January 2025, LVPEI launched ICOPE screening across its network, conducted by specially trained Ophthalmic Nursing Assistants (ONAs). Using simple, structured assessment tools, ONAs screen for cognition, mobility, nutrition, vision, hearing, and depression. This proactive approach enables early identification of risks such as memory decline, malnutrition, hearing loss, and balance problems, ensuring timely referrals and multidisciplinary support for older patients.
Fall Prevention Experience Centres: Empowering Safety and Independence
Recognizing that falls are among the leading causes of injury in the elderly, LVPEI established Fall Prevention Experience Centres across all its Elderly Eye Care Centres. These interactive spaces demonstrate practical safety modifications and adaptive equipment to promote safer living environments.
The exhibits include shower chairs and hand showers for safer bathing, grab bars and dual stair railings for stability, LED lighting for visibility, anti-skid flooring options, contrast tape on steps for depth perception, and mobility aids like walking sticks and reacher-grabbers. These centres educate both seniors and caregivers about simple yet effective measures—such as regular eye and hearing checks, home modifications, and exercise—that can dramatically reduce fall risks and enhance independence.
Fall Prevention Week 2025: Promoting Awareness and Action
During Falls Prevention Week 2025, LVPEI organized a week-long awareness campaign for staff, patients, and families. Educational sessions were held in elderly waiting lounges to promote safe living and active ageing. Key activities included:
- Sessions on regular exercise and balanced nutrition for strength and balance
- Physiotherapy workshops on mobility and posture improvement
- Awareness talks on common eye diseases and the importance of regular check-ups
- Interactive games to identify home fall hazards and encourage clutter-free spaces
- A puppet show highlighting LVPEI@Home services, showcasing at-home eye care solutions for seniors with mobility challenges
These engaging activities not only raised awareness but also empowered participants to apply preventive practices in their homes, reinforcing LVPEI’s commitment to community-based care.
Celebrating the International Day for Older Persons
On October 1, LVPEI celebrated the International Day for Older Persons, themed “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being, Our Rights.” The celebrations, held across all Centres for Elderly Eye Care, emphasized appreciation, social engagement, and active ageing. Elderly patients were welcomed with bouquets, enjoyed tea and snacks in a social setting, and participated in fun games, a selfie booth, and a cake-cutting ceremony. Each centre also organized planting of small potted plants, symbolizing growth, vitality, and continuity.
Advancing the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing
LVPEI’s Elderly Eye Care Centres are designed to advance the four pillars of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing — Combating Ageism, Creating Age-friendly Environments, Providing Integrated Care, and Ensuring Long-term Support.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Avinash Pathengay, Head – Elderly Eye Care, LVPEI Network, stated, “Embedding WHO’s ICOPE framework into routine eye care has helped us take a whole-person approach to elderly well-being. Through initiatives like our Fall Prevention Centres and celebrations that value the lives and experiences of older adults, we aim to redefine how ageing is perceived and supported in India.”
By integrating holistic health assessments, environmental safety, and emotional well-being into vision care, LVPEI continues to redefine elderly healthcare—ensuring that older adults not only see better but also live better, safer, and healthier lives.