Dementia India Alliance launches online course to help health workers, caregivers

Bengaluru: Aimed at filling gaps in dementia care training, the Dementia India Alliance (DIA), an NGO dedicated to dementia awareness, launched a self-paced Dementia Orientation Certificate Course on Thursday.

In collaboration with Renaissance e-Services Private Limited, this course is designed to provide accessible, high-quality training tailored to the Indian context.

The online course aims to equip healthcare workers — including nurses, nursing assistants, physiotherapists, and allied healthcare professionals — with the skills needed to deliver compassionate and effective dementia care, while also addressing the mental health needs of caregivers.

Currently, an estimated 88 lakh people live with dementia in India, a number projected to reach 1.7 crore by 2036.

Organisations working in dementia care and awareness recognise the significant physical and emotional toll it takes on caregivers and healthcare professionals, underscoring the need for training to manage the complex demands of dementia care and to prioritise self-care.

Dr Radha S Murthy, President of Dementia India Alliance, said, “Through these self-paced courses, we hope to empower healthcare professionals and caregivers with the necessary knowledge and support systems to manage people with dementia effectively, while also taking care of their mental health.”

DIA also announced plans to launch two additional self-paced online courses soon: one tailored for doctors and medical students, and another on creating dementia-friendly hospitals.

Course details

For more information about the course and to enroll, visit Psychology World websites.

Support for families of mental health patients

Sumana Trust is developing a gated community, ‘Saksham Sumana Inclusive Living’, to support families caring for people with mental illnesses.

The community, constructed by Shanders Properties in Electronics City Phase 2, aims to provide assisted care services, including psychotherapy and rehabilitation.

“This project addresses the question of ‘who after us?’ for many families, ensuring access to essential services within a supportive community,” said Guruprasad SV, trustee of Sumana Trust.

“Construction is underway, with completion expected within nine months. The builder will provide 40 homes available for purchase,” he said. 

“We have also signed an MoU with Oxford Medical College, Attibele, to offer subsidised treatment and ambulance services to residents in the community,” Guruprasad added.