Rehabilitation: Restoring Hope and Dignity for Ageing Gurkha Pensioners
World Physiotherapy Day reminds us that care is not just about medicine, but about restoring independence, dignity, and quality of life. For The Gurkha Welfare Trust, this day is especially meaningful as nearly 80% of our pensioners are now over the age of 70. With age comes increasing health challenges, and the need for rehabilitation support has never been greater.
Building Rehabilitation Services
GWT recognised this need in 2018 with its first rehabilitation case at Green Pastures Hospital. Since then, rehabilitation has grown into a core part of welfare support:
– Training for staff began in 2019.
– Cluster Rehabilitation Therapists (CRTs) were first recruited in January 2020.
– Today, GWT has a strong team of 15 CRTs working across all key clusters, with rehabilitation clinics and dedicated beds available at the two Residential Homes (Dharan and Kaski).
The demand continues to rise. In 2024/25 alone, GWT delivered 17,212 rehabilitation sessions to pensioners. These included nearly 10,000 outpatient visits and over 7,000 home visits, ensuring that even those confined to their homes are not left behind.
Rehabilitation in Action: Bal Bahadur Thapa
One story that captures the spirit of World Rehabilitation Day is that of Gurkha Veteran Bal Bahadur Thapa. After a severe fall, he spent 10 months bedridden, his health and independence slipping away.
In February 2025, he was admitted to the GWT’s Residential Home in Dharan. Over four months, he received intensive rehabilitation: strengthening exercises, gait training, balance therapy, nutrition, and social reintegration. His recovery was remarkable: from total dependence (scoring 10/100 on the Modified Barthel Index) to moderate independence (71/100). By July 2025, he was able to stand and walk with a walker.
Back home, improvements such as a ramp for wheelchair access and other modifications mean he can continue living with dignity.
A Message of Hope
Rehabilitation is more than medical treatment—it is the promise of a renewed life. As GWT Rehab Lead Abhinash Lamsal explains:
“Watching our pensioners like WP Bal Bahadur stand tall again after months of struggle is more than rehabilitation; it is hope restored, dignity regained, and life renewed through GWT’s unwavering support.”
On this World Physiotherapy Day, GWT reaffirms its commitment to helping Gurkha veterans and their families live with independence and pride, proving that even in later years, mobility can be restored.