Geriatric conference focusses on dignity, community-based elder care

Geriatric conference in Bengaluru explores dignity and community-based care for older adults through expert discussions and workshops.

Frailty, nutrition, fall prevention, advanced care planning, geriatric emergencies, palliative care, immunisation and cancer screening in older adults were discussed at a three-day State-level conference on ageing and geriatrics that concluded at St. John’s Medical College in the city on Wednesday. 

The conference organised by St. John’s Geriatric Centre (SJGC) – A Ray of Hope, in association with Senior Citizen Health Service, brought together nearly 300 delegates and over 60 resource persons from leading institutions across India, reflecting the growing engagement with geriatric care in the State.

The event opened with pre-conference workshops spanning geriatric medicine, nursing and physiotherapy, along with a joint session on dementia care. Organisers said the multidisciplinary format was aimed at strengthening team-based approaches to elder care.

The main sessions featured expert lectures, five panel discussions and oral and poster presentations. A high-level panel discussion examined welfare measures for senior citizens in Karnataka, with senior State government officials participating in deliberations on policy and service delivery gaps.

Delivering the valedictory address, Arvind Kasthuri, head of SJGC, said the conference reflected a shift in how ageing is being viewed in India. “SJGC CON 2026 has demonstrated that the conversation around ageing in India is maturing — from clinical management to dignity, rights, and community-based care,” he said, and added, “We hope the connections forged and insights shared here translate into tangible improvements in how we care for our elders across Karnataka and the country.”