Training Community health workers in geriatric mental health: Process of manual development and pilot testing findings.

The rising population of elderly possibly indicates an improvement in the quality of health care in the country at the same time it also point out the responsibility of ensuring quality care. Amidst this, unlike the physical health, mental health in the elderly has not received much attention. Strengthening the capacity of primary health care to deliver effective elder care services is recommended for a developing country like India. In this context, addressing the mental health needs of elderly would be successful if task shifting method is strategically used. The current paper shares the process of manual development for health workers and presents findings of pilot testing in rural Bangalore. The pilot experience observes that this is a useful method of ensuring mental health help to the elderly in the community.