India, though a young country, is rapidly aging due to declining birth rates and increasing life expectancy, with Goa having the second-highest percentage of elderly in the country. However, despite this growing demographic, quality services for seniors remain scarce.
Launched in 2014, the COOJ Geriatric and Dementia Program aims to enhance seniors’ quality of life. It promotes health, well-being, and independence through therapeutic activities, counselling, recreation, and support services. This approach encourages and inspires elderly individuals, including those with mental health issues, fostering happiness and increasing life satisfaction.
AIMS
- Enhance the well-being of the senior population.
- Offer specialized rehabilitation services for dementia and other geriatric mental health conditions.
OBJECTIVES
- Raise awareness about geriatric mental health and dementia.
- Provide therapeutic interventions for dementia and related conditions.
- Foster social connectedness and combat isolation.
- Promote skill development and enhancement.
- Alleviate caregiver burden through support groups, domiciliary care, and training.
PROGRAMS / SERVICES
- Senior Therapy Center
- Therapeutic Activities
- Support Group
- Caregiver Weekend Training Workshop
- Geriatric Teletherapy Programme (online)
Additional Projects
2. Community Programs
A. Therapeutic Services
- Old Age Homes
- Geriatric Digital Intervention Program (completed)
- Community Outreach for Seniors with Mental Health Issues (COSMI) (upcoming)
- Right Brain Online Series
B. Social Programs
- Golden Stage Series
- Dhan Utsav
C. Awareness
- World Alzheimer’s Day
- World Elders Day
Senior Therapy Center (9:30am to 12:30pm and Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
Discover a vibrant community for Goa’s seniors at the COOJ Senior Therapy Center! Since 2017, we’ve provided more than care—we offer a dynamic environment that promotes well-being and a renewed love for life.
We specialize in mental health support, particularly for dementia, with personalized plans that include individual and group sessions tailored to each senior’s unique needs.
Our engaging program includes therapeutic activities, cognitive exercises, and expressive therapies like music, art, dance, and theatre. Join us Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm for a fulfilling experience filled with connection, creativity, and fun.
At COOJ Senior Therapy Center, it’s not just about care—it’s about community and thriving in every way!
Unleashing Potential: Therapeutic Activities at COOJ
Exercise:
Exercise is a powerful contributor to mental well-being. Research shows that regular physical activity can slow cognitive decline, enhance memory, and reduce challenging behaviours in dementia patients. Yoga and simple breathing exercises are integral to our daily routine.
Arts & Crafts
Art and crafts offer a meaningful way to enhance well-being and unlock potential, especially for those with dementia. As verbal skills decline, artistic expression becomes a vital form of communication. Simple activities like painting, cutting, and sticking engage retained abilities, offering multiple benefits:
– Slow Cognitive Decline: Regular practice can help delay mental deterioration.
– Boost Confidence: Completing tasks successfully fosters a sense of achievement.
– Stimulate Cognition: Selecting images and colours enhances focus and decision-making.
– Improve Dexterity: Art activities strengthen hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
– Reduce Stress: Creative expression promotes relaxation and calm.
The Power of Melody: Music and Dance at COOJ
It’s remarkable how many seniors can sing every word of “Que Sera Sera” even when they struggle with recalling names. Music taps into something profound:
- Memory Revival: Familiar songs can evoke emotions and bring back cherished memories, fostering positive interactions.
- Calming Influence: Uplifting music creates a soothing environment, reducing anxiety and agitation.
- Social Harmony: Group singing or playing instruments enhances social connections and alleviates isolation, particularly for those with dementia.
- Creative Stimulation: Creating songs or adapting familiar tunes stimulates cognitive skills and creativity.
COOJ’s music and dance program goes beyond entertainment—it’s a vital tool for unlocking memories, building connections, and enhancing overall well-being.
Dancing:
Music inspires movement and dance, from foot-tapping to lively waltzes and jives. For those with Alzheimer’s, dance/movement therapy is effective in boosting social interaction, mood, and self-expression, while reducing anxiety and depression. It can also help maintain or even enhance memory and cognitive function. As dementia impacts language and cognitive awareness, non-verbal communication and mindfulness become crucial.
At COOJ, our therapeutic activities offer more than just enjoyment—they’re a pathway to enhanced well-being and a renewed sense of purpose.
Games and Cognitive Remediation:
Cognitive Remediation:
We aim to support seniors in managing mental health challenges and dementia by addressing cognitive deficits through structured exercises. Our “repetition sessions” involve progressively challenging tasks to enhance cognitive function.
Activity Toolbox:
We offer a variety of engaging activities, including reading, card matching, jigsaw puzzles, and word/number games, to target and improve specific cognitive areas.
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Special Events:
We celebrate important days and festivals with a variety of activities, from cooking together to marking occasions like Diwali, Christmas, Independence Day, Teachers’ Day, and Friendship Day. Seniors are actively involved in planning and executing these events, making them enjoyable and empowering them to make decisions with minimal assistance.
Counseling:
As we age, we accumulate a range of experiences, both joyful and challenging. Our counseling sessions reveal that seniors with dementia have evolving needs as the condition progresses. In the early stages, counseling helps clients process their diagnosis and adapt to changes. In later stages, reassurance, validation, and calming techniques become more beneficial.
COOJ’s counseling empowers seniors with dementia to face the future with confidence, every step of the way.
COOJ Caregiver Support Groups: You’re Not Alone
Caring for someone with dementia is highly demanding and often more stressful than caring for someone with a physical disability. Caregivers frequently face social isolation, emotional strain, and financial challenges.
COOJ’s support groups offer a crucial lifeline, providing:
- Compassionate Support: A safe space to share experiences and receive empathy from those who understand.
- Empowering Knowledge: Evidence-based tools and information to manage dementia care challenges.
- Strength in Numbers: Connection with other caregivers to share strategies and navigate complexities.
Our support groups help you care with confidence, easing your burden and fostering a sense of community.
COOJ TeleSupport Services: Care That Connects, Wherever You Are
Distance shouldn’t limit access to essential support. COOJ’s TeleSupport Services offer flexible options to keep seniors engaged and well, no matter where they are:
- Video Calls (WhatsApp): For tech-savvy seniors with smartphones, hour-long sessions combine physical exercises with personalized therapeutic activities.
- Phone Calls: No smartphone? Connect with our team twice or three times a week for stimulating phone conversations and activities.
- Email Support: Access activity sheets via email, with follow-up phone calls to discuss progress and maximize the benefits.
COOJ TeleSupport Services ensures you stay connected, active, and thriving from the comfort of your home.
Community Programs:
COOJ envisions a Goa where seniors with dementia thrive through our inclusive Community Programs.
Reaching Every Senior: We extend our services beyond the center, offering therapeutic activities, social programs, and awareness initiatives throughout the community.
Empowering Senior Homes: To address gaps in care quality, COOJ provides:
- 8-Month Program: Comprehensive activities including physical exercises, expressive therapies, and cognitive stimulation.
- Staff & Volunteer Training: Training for caregivers to manage dementia effectively, plus support and shared experiences.
- Community Engagement: Encouraging volunteers to connect with seniors, reducing isolation and fostering social bonds.
COOJ’s Community Programs aim to empower seniors, support caregivers, and build a dementia-friendly Goa, one step at a time.
Social Programs:
Our events offer interactive entertainment for seniors, bringing together over 400 individuals from age homes and the community in North Goa each year. Each year features a new theme, with past programs including:
c. Golden Stage
d. Daan Utsav
Awareness Programs:
World Alzheimer’s Day:
Observed annually on September 21st, this day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s. We use various methods, including movie screenings, workshops, talks, and pamphlets, to educate the public.
Senior Medical Camp:
We host medical camps offering free check-ups for senior citizens, covering mental health and physical ailments, and providing treatment options. Held at our center, these camps also educate seniors about mental health and available services.
Community Awareness Programs:
We organize sessions with seniors and their families to educate them about dementia and its symptoms, while also raising awareness about our center and its services.
COOJ Collaborations:
Collaboration with various organizations is key for our geriatric program to achieve the best results. We partner with old age homes, senior associations, panchayats, primary health centers, social welfare departments, schools, and colleges.
Who needs it?
Older adults often face complex healthcare needs due to age-related issues, including:
- Immobility & Instability: Prolonged inactivity can cause muscle weakness, functional decline, arthritis, and slower reflexes, leading to physical instability.
- Impaired Vision and Hearing: Vision issues can result in falls, while hearing problems may cause social isolation, depression, and dependence due to difficulties in communication and daily interactions.
How will it help?
Feeling heard and engaged is crucial for seniors’ well-being. Our program offers:
- Enhanced Connection: Regular social and interactive activities reduce isolation and increase engagement.
- Memory Support: Assessment and treatment for memory issues.
- Holistic Care: Platforms for exercise to maintain cognitive, emotional, and physical health.
- Empowerment: Motivation to sustain self-worth and confidence.
- Caregiver Support: Services to alleviate caregiver burden.
Our Future Goals
- Develop innovative, cost-effective methods to reach more seniors across Goa.
- Expand support networks by engaging with caregivers.
- Collaborate with organizations with similar missions.
- Create a replicable model for elder care to be used by other groups.