Source: This post on the Challenges of the Elderly has been created based on the article “Caring for the elderly – Longevity dividend can be both a burden and an opportunity” published in “Business Standard” on 21st February 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 1 Indian Society – Population and associated issues.
News: The article discusses the projections of ageing of Indian population. It highlights the challenges faced by the elderly, and the steps that should be taken in this regard.
Countries such as Italy and China are dealing with the challenge of unfavorable demographics. In India too, an ageing population, coupled with a decreasing fertility rate and increased life expectancy, will replace the country’s demographic dividend in the years to come.
What are the projections for India?
Currently, senior citizens (people aged 60 years and above), comprise nearly 10% of the population (about 104 million).
By 2050, the elderly population is projected to rise to 319 million, approximately 19.5% of the total.
In this context, NITI Aayog has released a paper on senior care reforms in India. It highlights the needs of the senior population, and identifies the deficiencies in regulatory provisions, accessibility, and poor implementation of services in senior care.
What will be the impact?
- Shifting disease burden.
- Rising dependency ratios.
- Evolving family structures.
- Altered consumption patterns.
- Structural changes in labour markets.
What are the challenges faced by the elderly?
- a) Disease Burden: 75% of the elderly suffer from one or more chronic diseases, while 1 in 3 have depressive symptoms and complain of low life satisfaction.
- b) Lack of proper geriatric illness management.
- c) Increased medical expenditure.
- d) Inaccessible physical infrastructure.
- e) Deficient financial planning.
- f) Food insecurity.
- g) Loneliness: This has increased due to a rise of nuclear family systems. For instance, 54% of the elderly women are widows, and 9% of them reside alone.
- h) Fragmented Social Safety Nets: 78% of the elderly live without a pension while only 18% are covered by health insurance.
What should be done?
Healthcare Improvements: Better wellness and therapeutic interventions to strengthen physical and mental health services and emergency response infrastructure.
Use of Technology: Integrating technology with health care through wearable devices, AI-based smart housing, and a well-developed telemedicine market have huge potential to transform senior lives.
Social Security: Increasing the coverage of pensions, geriatric health insurance plans, GST reforms on senior care products can bring the elderly within the ambit of a social safety net.
Role of Private Sector: Private-sector and non-profit voluntary organisations need to step in to fulfil the needs of the elderly. In most countries, the care economy is run by private agents.
Changes in Employment Models: Increased life expectancies also call for a transition to more flexible working models. Employers should rethink the retirement age to unlock the longevity dividend.
Question for practice:
What are the challenges faced by the elderly in India? What steps should be undertaken to tackle these challenges?
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