Elderly too can donate organs: Expert

Contrary to popular belief, senior citizens too can donate organs, a specialist said at a function in the national capital organised by Age Care India.

"Older people can also be good donors, as against popular belief," said A.B. Dey, head of the Department of Geriatric Medicine of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), speaking at the function Thursday.

The department was created at AIIMS under the National Programme for the Health Care of the Elderly, launched in 2011.

Dey, who is also a member of the organ donation committee of AIIMS, said: "Donating the body for the purpose of conducting anatomy is useless. Instead, one should donate organs, and particularly cornea."

Answering the questions of over 50 elderly people who attended the function, Dey said there was no real age bar when it came to treatment for cataract, as the surgical treatment procedure was low-risk.

Dey was speaking at the "Good Health Adds Years To Life" event organised by Age Care India, a charitable society.

"As the aged population is on the rise, the percentage of caregivers is decreasing due to shrinking families. So Age Care is working to cater to the recreational, social, cultural, emotional and spiritual needs of the aged. This event is also a part of that work," said R.N Grover, vice president of the charity.