Saveetha Medical College & Hospital, under the aegis of the Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), commemorated World Geriatric Day with great enthusiasm, reaffirming its commitment to promoting the health, dignity, and holistic well-being of the elderly.
World Geriatric Day, serves as a global reminder of the invaluable contributions of senior citizens and the importance of fostering healthy aging and quality geriatric care.
The celebration at SIMATS featured the Inauguration of the Outpatient Department for the Elderly by Thiru. Lakshmikanthan Bharathi, IAS (Retd), and the release of the book “Keeping Teeth Healthy in Old Age” by Dr. N. M. Veeraiyan, Founder and Chancellor, SIMATS. The highlight of the event was a special lecture on “Is Old Age a Pleasure or a Burden?” delivered by Padma Dr. V. S. Natarajan, a pioneer in geriatric medicine. Prof.Dr. Kumutha J., Dean of Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, welcomed the gathering and emphasised the institution’s commitment to excellence.
The event saw active participation from faculty members, consultants, and students. As part of the initiative, more than 100 elderly patients received free comprehensive health check-ups, reinforcing SIMATS’s mission of preventive healthcare and community outreach.
Addressing the gathering, Thiru. Lakshmikanthan Bharathi, IAS (Retd) — who is 100 years old — inspired the audience with his insightful words, encouraging the elderly to embrace aging with optimism and purpose.
Speakers emphasized the need to address the physical, mental, and emotional dimensions of geriatric health through compassionate care, awareness programs, and research-driven interventions.
The event concluded with a collective pledge to create an age-inclusive society where every elder is valued and supported to live with health, dignity, and fulfillment — celebrating aging as a testament to experience, resilience, and wisdom.
