[Answered] The UN World Population Ageing Report notes that India’s ageing population is projected to increase significantly by 2050. In this context, highlight the need for a robust public policy to support homes for the elderlies in India.

• Introduction: Context of India’s ageing population with some facts
• Body: Highlight the issues linked to old age homes at present, to justify the need for a robust policy framework for old age homes.
• Conclusion: Conclude with a way forward

The UN World Population Ageing Report notes that India’s ageing population is projected to increase from 8 per cent to nearly 20 per cent in 2050. Keeping in view the emerging trend, India has a lot to do to catch up economically as well as socially.

Government enacted the ‘Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act’ (MWPSCA) in 2007. The act makes it mandatory for legal heirs (child/ relative) to provide care to their older parents or relatives after they attained the age of 60 years or above. Also, it is a statutory obligation on states for establishing old-age homes.

However, there is a need for strong public policy to support homes for the elderlies in India, due to the following reasons.

Need for a robust public policy for old age homes in India

As India is becoming increasingly urbanised and families break up into smaller units, demand for homes for the elderly have risen. Due to lack of policy framework, there is no clearly established standard operating procedures (SOP) for these homes. All these factors are leading to following issues faced by elderlies:

• Food served in these homes is often low in quality and deficient in quantity.
• Lack of any formal mechanisms for feedback, appraisal, complaints, or grievance redressal.
• As per a survey conducted by Tata Trusts, no mechanism is available for evaluating the quality and appropriateness of the services in old age homes. It is leaving the elderly inmates vulnerable and providing no incentive for improvement of services to the facility owners and managers.
• Many old age homes are not elderly-friendly leading to choking, wandering, injuries
• A sufficient number of old age homes are not available in India. As per Tata trust study, the need for old age homes may rise to around 8 to 10 lakh beds in the next 10 years, which is a to-10-fold increase over the current base.
• The rise in age related chronic illness like Dementia and Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular diseases, cancers in addition to other infectious diseases is serious problem being faced by the elderlies.
• Nearly half the elderly felt isolated and a burden to the family thereby reducing their sociability and sense of independence and well-being. Thus, Community based social programs and skill development programs must be a part of these homes.

Way forward:

India remains committed to taking all possible steps towards improving quality of life of older persons and protecting their rights and dignity through full implementation of Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the 2030 Agenda.

Kerala government has prepared a manual for old age homes which describes in detail the procedure for designing and maintenance of old age home, admission procedures etc. This initiative must be replicated in other states as well.