What is the St John’s Geriatric Centre?
The St John’s Geriatric Centre (SJGC) is a standalone facility located within the campus of St John’s Medical College Hospital dedicated to the care of the elderly and those needing palliative and hospice care. Built with the support of the St John’s management and through the generous contributions of individuals and organizations passionate about eldercare, this 150-bedded centre is designed to meet the growing needs of the elderly and those needing hospice care. With a focus on chronic care and compassion, it serves as a haven of comfort and confidence for the elderly and their caregivers—a true 'Ray of Hope'.

This Centre is built on the experiences gained over two decades since St. John’s began caring for the elderly through the ‘Senior Citizen Health Service’. Over the years, this programme has reached hundreds of seniors in both rural and urban Bengaluru—offering care through community geriatric clinics, home health services, old-age home support and the establishment of Village Senior Centres (grama hiriyara kendras).

Where is the SJGC located?
The SJGC is located opposite “Accident and Emergency” on the campus of St John’s Medical College Hospital. The road behind the tree opposite Accident and Emergency leads straight to the SJGC.

Another Old Age home?
The St. John’s Geriatric centre is NOT an old age home, it is NOT intended for permanent stay. It is a healthcare facility for elders (aged 60 years and above) with chronic health problems and those needing palliative/ hospice care, offering them a space for healing, rest, and rehabilitation.

What does the SJGC offer?
The St John’s Geriatric Centre delivers services in FOUR areas:

1. CARE Services
The centre provides a range of healthcare services tailored for the elderly and those needing hospice care, including:
▪ Out-patient Services – a daily outpatient clinic functions between 9am and 1 pm, Monday to Saturday.
▪ In-patient Services

- Daycare – Patients who need a day’s stay for a medical/ health related condition –to receive a medication or have a procedure which is offered at the centre – can stay from 9 am to 5 pm for this purpose.

- Short-term and Transitional Care – Patients who are in hospital or other health settings, who have received acute care, and are now ready for discharge, but require a period of rest and rehab before they go home can be admitted at the SJGC for periods of upto 3-4 weeks.

- Respite care – Caregivers of elderly patients who need to take a respite break for any purpose can leave their elder with the centre for the duration of their break, from 1-4 weeks.

- Palliative and Hospice Care – Along with the Department of Palliative Medicine at St Johns Medical College Hospital, the palliative and hospice care service will be available for those who need it. They will be evaluated at the Department of Palliative medicine at St Johns Medical College Hospital and admitted at the SJGC if deemed appropriate.

All admissions at the SJGC will be following a consultation with the doctors at the SJGC, who will deem the patient fit for admission to the SJGC.

Patients will be accommodated in common wards, semi-private (2 sharing) rooms, and private (single) rooms – A/c or non A/c – similar to the facility at at St John’s Medical College Hospital, with a similar schedule of charges. A small senior citizen discount will be made available as a mark of respect to our senior guests. The centre also has in-house sample receiving facility, pharmacy, physiotherapy and counselling service.

To further its reach, a telemedicine facility will soon be established, enabling remote consultations and support for elderly patients in underserved areas across the country.

Other services at the St Johns Geriatric Centre which will be developed once the care functions begin are:

2. Training & Capacity Building
The centre, in line with the ‘training’ mission of St John’s, will serve as a hub for training:
▪ Physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals
▪ Home nursing aides and healthcare assistants
▪ Family caregivers and community volunteers
And other programs aiming to train the workforce to look after older people. These programs aim to strengthen the capacity for delivering compassionate and skilled geriatric/ palliative care.

3. Community Engagement & Empowerment
The Geriatric Centre will serve as a vibrant community hub, offering:
▪ Physical activity sessions and wellness programs
▪ Mental health support, recreation, and yoga
▪ Education and awareness-sessions for elderly and their families
Beyond individual well-being, the centre will engage in advocacy, networking, and collaboration with like-minded organizations, and will host seminars and conferences to promote awareness and advance the cause of eldercare and palliative care in India.

4. Centre for Research in Geriatrics and Aging
The centre will be a base for carrying out need-based research, in areas such as cognitive decline, depression, mobility, nutrition, frailty/sarcopenia and cardiovascular disease among others. This service will be in collaboration with the already-established St John’s Research Institute.

Would YOU like to help us?
The St John’s Geriatric Centre is a community-funded initiative, brought to life by the vision of St John’s leadership and the generosity of donors. We continue to seek support to fully realize this much-needed mission.

How you can contribute:
▪ Cheque: Made to CBCI SOCIETY FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION, with your name and address included for 80G tax exemption receipt. Write to to the address below for more details.
▪ Wire Transfer: Contact us for bank details. (All contributions are tax-exempt under Sections 80G/12A. CBCI Society is FCRA-registered.)

To support or learn more, contact:

Inquiries
St John’s Geriatric Centre,
St John’s Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore – 560034
Email: inquiry.sjgc@stjohns.in
Call: 9380262683 between 9am and 5pm with your inquiry.