Resources for dementia care: Chennai, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)

Resources for dementia and care > City-wise/ Region-wise Dementia Care Information > Resources for dementia care: Chennai, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)
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This page contains information specific for dementia care in Chennai and Coimbatore, for the convenience of caregivers of patients of Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. [read disclaimer.]

While this page includes several possible dementia care resources and some contact information on these, please note that:
1) You will need to evaluate them for suitability and reliability.
2) Entities keep changing their activities, so please contact them for updated information.
3) Though many entities have websites and social media profiles, they may not update them for changes in contact information. If the contact information does not work, try to locate which social media platform they posted recently on and post your query there.
4) Many organizations do not respond promptly to emails, or even queries on social media accounts. If you don’t get a response, call their phone numbers or try WhatsApp. Also, many organizations now use mobile numbers for their main contact even if their sites/ social media profiles show landlines.
5) Information on the web about the entity may be helpful, but different web sources will have different data for the same entity, and you will still need to find out what is correct now.

Facilities for patients of Alzheimer’s/ other dementias.

Helplines.

  • National Helpline for Senior Citizens: Toll-free helpline number 14567 Project of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the National Institute of Social Defence.
  • Helpage helpline: All-India toll-free number: 1800 180 1253 .Contact them for help and also to reach any local numbers.
  • Tele counselling helpline for mental health, Tele-MANAS: Toll-free, 24/7 helpline number 14416 or 1-800-91-4416, also usable for dementia, by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, available in many languages.
  • Dignity helpline: Senior citizen helpline at 1800 267 8780 run by Dignity Foundation, working days, working hours only.

ARDSI Chennai Chapter and Madras Memory Clinic.

Dr. R. Sathianathen, Secretary, The Madras Memory Clinic, D-89, III Cross Street, Anna Nagar East, Chennai – 600 102, TAMIL NADU.
Phone: (044) 4262 9209, Mobile: (0)98 4101 9910.
Website:madrasmemoryclinic.com Opens in new window
You can also contact Dr. Priscilla. Emails: sathianathen6@yahoo.com, madrasmemoryclinic@gmail.com, sprisci@yahoo.com.
Ph: 044 4262 9209, +91 98402 72060, +91 98410 19910, 93429 05226.

DEMCARES, Dementia Care in SCARF.

DEMCARES is an initiative of SCARF, and provides support for dementia diagnosis and care, through activities like diagnosis support, training programmes for caregivers and professional carers, support activities. There is also an active ageing centre. They may also have caregiver support through online meetings and/ or Whatsapp groups. Various services and support may be available in Tamil and English.

To know about the current status of various initiatives, and for appointment, contact them at:
R/7A, North Main Road, Anna Nagar West Extension, Kailash Colony Sector A, Near Anna Nagar West bus depot, Chennai 600 101, Phone: +91.73585.88822 (M), Email: dementia@scarfindia.org, Skype: dementiaindia
Website: dementia.scarfindia.org Opens in new window. You can also contact Dr. Sridhar Vaitheswaran, Consultant Psychiatrist, at sridhar.v@scarfindia.org.

24 x 7 Care Home. 20-bed residential center, Sri T S Santhanam Centre for elderly care, for persons with Dementia (Tambaram) was inaugurated on Sep 21, 2021. Contact: 74/35, ERIKKARI STREET, Sundaram Colony, Selaiyur, Chennai- 600 059, Phone 91 73585 88822.

DEMCARES created a Chennai resource directory for dementia (listing professionals, agencies, care centres, services, etc.) in Feb 2016. Download it by clicking on “Dementia Resource Directory” on the page: (PDF file): Health Care and Resource Directory Opens in new window.

Dignity Foundation Dementia Day Care.

Dignity Foundation has a dementia day care centre. Contact them for current status and other details.
Contact Dignity Foundation – Dementia Day Care Centre, 132(old number 52A), AK block,7th main road, Anna Nagar, Chennai-600040, Ph: +91 63800 80496, +91 98403 95943 (Felista Jose) / +91 44 7966 1728. Email: chennaidignity@rediffmail.com.
Dignity Foundation’s website page listing their day cares is here Opens in new window.

Geriatric Care Clinic (GCC), Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre.

Geriatric Care Clinic (GCC) is part of Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre (SRMC) and aims to provide comprehensive care for persons above 50 years. It offers screening and support for problems such as age-related decline, disability, psycho-social issues, dementia, etc. GCC also does functional assessments, gives guidance on issues that affect elders, and provides caregiver support. Contact them for timings and details.
Geriatric Care Clinic (GCC) [Holistic Elder Care], Room No: 15, A1 Private Clinic, Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre, Porur, Chennai – 600 116.
Contact Person : Social Welfare Officer, GCC Direct No : 044-2476 3137, SRMC Board No : 044-4592 8500 / Extn: 3419, Mobile Contact : +91-94442 20962, GCC Email ID : gcc.srmc@gmail.com, Website page: Geriatric Care Clinic Opens in new window and more details Opens in new window.

Other dementia/ memory clinics in Chennai.

Dr. V S Natrajan, Adhiparasakth Clinic / Memory Clinic, Old No.18 A, New No. 50, Flowers Road, Kilpauk, Chennai – 600 010., Phone No: +91 – 44 – 2641 2030 / 4850 7443, Email : dr_v_s_natarajan@yahoo.com,  Site: www.geriatricsdrvsn.com Opens in new window.
An alternate contact: Ph: 044 – 2626.7282.
Dr. Natrajan has also written a Tamil book on dementia.

Dr. Ravi Samuel, 26/1 Hariharan Apartment, Arcot Street, T Nagar, Chennai 600 017, Phone 91-44-2433 7439, +91-99417 79300, +91-94440 22054, E-mail: rsam_67@yahoo.co.uk, ravisamuel@urclinic.com, Site: urclinic.com Opens in new window .
Dr. Samuel’s Dementia Pictorial Book, which depicts the real story of a teacher developed Alzheimer’s after retirement, is available in both Tamil and English.

Kauvery Hospital’s Memory Clinic: As per the hospital’s website, Memory ClinicOpens in new window, the memory clinic timings are 3pm – 5pm and a support group meeting is done on the second Wednesday of every month between 2pm – 5pm. Contact 044 4000 6000.

Other dementia and related care support resources.

Some organizations working for seniors/ dementia that may be very useful for families living with dementia are listed below (alphabetic order).

Buddhi Clinic: This initiative of Dr Ennapadam S Krishnamoorthy offers integrative healthcare that uses modern and traditional medicine for seniors, including persons with dementia. They may even have services supporting home care. Check the Buddhi Clinic site Opens in new window and neurokrish.com Opens in new window.

Dementia Care Foundation: They offer various awareness talks, has a support forum, conducts caregiver training programs and may also have day care. Please check with them for details. 
Contact 91 63839 14884, +91 44 4016 5000, Email thedementiacarefoundation@gmail.com, Address: CURI Hospital (Chennai Urology & Robotics Institute) No: 148, 3rd floor, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, OMR, Chennai – 600096. Also, Check their website Opens in new window. Facebook presence at www.facebook.com/dementiacarefoundation/ Opens in new window.

Geri Care: Launched in Nov 2020 (see report here Opens in new window), they offer a range of services for seniors using a team of geriatricians and others, including a hospital, assisted living facility, consulting and a range of home care services. The website indicates that they support dementia care, for example, their assisted living page here Opens in new window. 24 x 7 Care Home. Site to see details of various offerings: gericare.in Opens in new window, Contact page here Opens in new window. Main contact: 21, 1st Avenue, Indira Nagar, Adyar, Chennai – 600 020, Email: enquiry@gericare.in / Phone +91 44 4061 4061.

Pain and Stroke Rehabilitation: A physiotherapy clinic in Chennai offers various rehabilitation programs, including Neurological rehabilitation program with special emphasis on Stroke Rehabilitation. View the Pain and Stroke Rehabilitation website Opens in new window.

Unified Brain Health Care (UBHC) was founded in February 2020 by Dr. Porrselvi A.P.,Ph.D, and provides integrated multi-specialty care for brain health and emotional well-being. They aim to provide affordable evidence-based disease management, assessments, therapy and support for children, adults and older adults, including persons with dementia. Contact them to know about their bespoke home-based rehab services and their online and face to face consultations . Services include neuropsychology, clinical psychology, psychiatry, physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, medical nutrition, etc.
Contact them for information and appointments- +91 99406 65767 , +91 90474 52258. Address- 3-1, Sathya Garden, M.G. Chakrapani Street, Saligramam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600093, India. Email address: contact@ubhcare.com Website: ubhcare.com Opens in new window.

Others: One resource that may offer rehabilitation (especially in case of stroke, and maybe dementia) is VHS Opens in new window (check their Neurology dept).

Vazhikatti Mental Health Centre & Research Institute Coimbatore and ARDSI – Coimbatore Chapter.

Dr. K. Selvaraj, Psychiatrist (MD, DPM, DNB), Vazhikatti Mental Health Centre & Research Institute, 25, Nehru Street, Opp Tirupur Textile Bus Stop, Avinashi Road, Behind Fun Mall, Lane Adjacent to Cheenu Weigh Bridge, Peelamedu, Coimbatore – 641 004, TAMIL NADU.
Phone: 0422-439 7671/ 73, Mobile: +91-984-225-3053, 984-225-9062
Website: vazhikatti.com Opens in new window, E-mail: (try all) jeevaselva@yahoo.co.in, vazhikatti@gmail.com.

Additional Listings: Other possible resources for dementia information/ diagnosis/ care.

Based on newsreports of dementia-related events. Contact for possible 24 x 7 Care Home. and/ or Day Care.

Grandworld Elder Care  is one organization operating in Chennai and Coimbatore that may be providing dementia care support through day care/ assisted living/ home consultations  (website: grandworldeldercare.com Opens in new window, Phone/ whatsapp: 76677 11111, email info@grandworldeldercare.com, Facebook page here Opens in new window. Please contact them for details and evaluation.
Anandam Old Age Home (website: anandamoldagehome.org Opens in new window, Phone 98418 19889 / 98410 01925, email anandamtrust2003@gmail.com, Facebook page here Opens in new window) was set up to take care (free) of elders without any living children and no source of income or savings. They may accept persons with dementia.
Srimathi Sundaravalli Memorial Residency(SSML) (ssmhome.in Opens in new window): This residency provides dignified living for senior citizens and also has an hospice initiative. They seem to be fully occupied and feedback indicates they have cared for persons with dementia, but please contact them for details. Contact: Srimathi Sundaravalli Memorial residency Home for Senior Citizens, Moppedu (Puthur) Road, Alapakkam, New Perungalathur, Chennai – 600 063, Email : ssmresidency@gmail.com, Phone No. : 044 4333 5195, 044 4354 0986.
Dr Rahul Padamanabhan ‘s facilities: A message was received in June 2020 from Dr Rahul Padamanabhan about some dementia resources in Coimbatore, including day care, home care, and a residential care home. Please contact directly for data and their processes and protocols Email: rahul@drrahulseldercare.com info@drrahulseldercare.com Sites: drrahulseldercare.com kalyanimemorycare.com. Phone: 78711 11247.

Additional Listings: Organizations providing services to support home care.

Some names received for organizations that may provide home care services for seniors. More details not known. Please satisfy yourself about the suitability and reliability while using any such agency for home health helpers (alphabetically arranged list).
ANEW (Association for non-traditional employment for women: ANEW offers need based training programs in various areas, including nursing assistants. These may be available for home care. See the ANEW websiteOpens in new window and Facebook page Opens in new window. Contact ANEW (Association for Non-Traditional Employment of Women), BASIL SELLERS CENTRE, AH 107, New No. 16, 4th Street,Shanthi Colony, Annanagar, Chennai – 600 040. Ph: (91) 044 2620 0697, 044 2621 0492, Email: anew@anewindia.org.
Geriatric House Call project Helpline for doctors and nurses at the doorstep, Geriatric House call Opens in new window was set up by Dr. V S Natarajan) Phone numbers:044-264 12030, 98841 45189, 2823 1388. Phone for drug delivery service 99620 13178. A very valuable resource is a list of doctors (including specialists) who do house calls for seniors, compiled as part of this project and available at: List of Doctors Download (PDf file) Opens in new window.
Others: One name received (not checked) for medical care at home in Coimbatore is Inhouse Medicare (inhousemedicare.com/). Please contact for checking reliability and services.

Some multi-city organizations may be offering support in your city/ locality. Multi-city organizations keep adding and removing locations and services, but usually have more presence in their home state, metros and larger cities. A service that is good in one city may not be good in another. Quality changes over time, if management/ funding changes, or there is a takeover / merger. Please evaluate before use. Typical services to ask about are home nursing (attendants, nurses, wound care and nursing procedures), physiotherapy, doctor visits, speech therapy, stroke rehab, home dental care, sample collections, equipment hire, pharmacy at home, ICU at home, etc. Also, ask about dementia care. List below is alphabetically ordered. If they claim to provide emergency support, please find out the particulars to see if dependable.

Additional Listings: Important organizations working for seniors.

Prominent organizations working for seniors are (alphabetic order)
Dignity Foundation, Chennai: This Mumbai-based organization works for senior citizens through initiatives in some large cities. Contact the Chennai branch at 044-2621-0363, working days, working hours only. Email: felista.jose@dignityfoundation.com Website: dignityfoundation.com Opens in new window.
Helpage helpline: This all-India organization with local branches supports senior citizens in multiple ways. They may also offer geriatric physiotherapy. Contact them at 1800 180 1253 (All-India tollfree number). Email headoffice@helpageindia.org . Website: helpageindia.org.

Palliative Care.

Organizations active in palliative care in Chennai include Lakshmi Pain and Palliative Care Trust Opens in new window, Dean Foundation hospice Opens in new window, and RMD Pain and Palliative Care Trust Opens in new window).Palliative care is also available in organizations working in cancer, such as Jeevodaya hospice for advanced cancer Opens in new window and Raksha hospice for cancer, Coimbatore.

When getting palliative care, please ensure the doctors advising you are familiar with applying palliative care for dementia. Palliative resources in Tamil Nadu are listed by Pallium Opens in new window.

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Dementia-related material in various Indian languages (including Tamil).

See:Dementia/ Alzheimer’s Resources in Tamil.

The full list of dementia/ care resources in various Indian languages (currently Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu) is at Dementia/ Alzheimer’s Resources in Indian Languages.

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General tips for locating relevant resources.

Please contact the resources above for dementia/ care support. For resources in other Indian cities/ regions, or across India, check City-wise/ Region-wise resources and Resources across multiple Indian cities. Some tips for locating additional resources:

  • Surf the Internet for local services using the name of the city and types of services. For example, look for home care, home health, old age homes, nursing agencies, etc.
  • For diagnosis, look at reliable larger hospitals of the city. Check their neurology, psychiatry, and geriatrics departments or special clinics like memory clinics, geriatric clinics, or geriatric psychiatry clinics.
  • For better search results, try using the state name, locality name, other names of your city or nearby cities.
  • When using online data to identify a possible service provider, check how recent the data is. For this, see events, pictures, social media posts. Try to understand whether the entity seems operational.
  • Contact the various dementia organizations and elder care organizations listed above and ask them for names of more resources.
  • Ask the reception/ nurses at local hospitals. They often know about home health care agencies.
  • For minor procedures, like IV, neighborhood path labs and small clinics may be able to send nurses home. They may even have contacts of doctors who make home visits.
  • Of course, in all cases, you must satisfy yourself about the quality and reliability.

For information and suggestions for handling care situations, some useful links are: Quick access to a Caregiving Essential Toolkit and Using Trained Attendants for Dementia Home Care. Please note that Dementia Care Notes does NOT provide any services or any medical consultation.

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Note: This page includes all the information available with us for this city/ region. Please note that the data is provided for information and convenience, and is not an endorsement for any person/ organization/ service/ resource. We make no claims that the contents of this page are either accurate or complete, or that the persons/ organizations listed are reliable or that they are suitable for you. No fitment for purpose is intended or implied.

Dementia Care Notes