Professional course to look after the aged

by S.M. Wijayaratne, Kurunegala Cor.

The Ministry of Social Services has introduced a Diploma Course on looking after the aged for those who need to be professionally qualified in the field said Minister of Social Services Felix Perera.

Accordingly, those who follow this Diploma Course would get job opportunities on looking after the aged, in state and private sectors. "Looking after the aged would be a national problem in the future. Therefore, steps were taken to train professionals on this particular subject.

At present, 16 percent of the population of our country comprises senior citizens. Compared to the other countries in the South Asian region, Sri Lanka has the highest percentage of the aged at present.

By 2030, the aged population of our country would represent 22 percent of the population. Due to unavoidable circumstances, and rapid changes of mental attitudes of the present day society, the responsibility of looking after the aged would be a serious national problem in due course. Consequently, the Ministry of Social Services decided to introduce this Diploma course to train professionals to look after the aged", said the at a meeting of Representatives of Elders' Associations addressing the Kurunegala District held recently in Kurunegala.