The Evolution of Aging Impact on India: An Insight by Malvika Kaul
India is currently experiencing a significant demographic shift, with the proportion of elderly citizens growing rapidly. In 2022, the number of senior citizens has increased to 149 million, a significant rise from 24.7 million in 1961. This trend is expected to continue, with projections suggesting that by 2050, nearly 20% of the Indian population will be over the age of 60, amounting to over 347 million individuals.
Recognising the challenges posed by this demographic transition, various initiatives have been launched to address the needs of the elderly population. In 2017, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), a population-based survey investigating health, economic, and social determinants of population ageing in India.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also been actively involved, focusing on monitoring and advocating the rights of senior citizens, ensuring all elderly prisoners are covered by health insurance schemes, and improving the functioning of old age homes.
A seminar titled "Ageing in India: Actionable Solutions" was held in December 2021 by the Sankala Foundation, an NGO that works in climate change, wildlife conservation, and public health. Experts from various sectors discussed potential solutions to the challenges faced by India's aging population.
Key Challenges and Solutions
The current challenges for India's aging population include inadequate healthcare infrastructure, economic dependency, mental health issues, insufficient social security and caregiving systems, and the rise of nuclear families, resulting in a greater number of elderly living alone.
Experts emphasize that increased life expectancy and declining fertility have led to a sharp rise in people aged over 60. To address these challenges, potential solutions span multiple sectors.
- Healthcare Innovations and Infrastructure: Expansion of healthcare access through affordable, technology-driven models such as home-based healthcare, telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and AI-driven personalized care is key to managing chronic diseases and reducing hospital burden.
- Policy Reforms: India is working on a new senior citizen policy to update the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act (2007) with better financial incentives like GST rationalisation and reverse mortgages to encourage private sector participation and senior living solutions.
- Social Protection Systems: Designing comprehensive social protection frameworks that address old-age dependency, disease burden, and economic participation of the elderly are critical priorities in India and the broader ASEAN region.
- Senior Care Facilities and Support: Increasing private participation to set up more elder care centers, improving caregiving services, and initiatives like Kauvery Hospital’s geriatric care at home illustrate the move towards better elderly care infrastructure.
- Economic and Labour Market Adjustments: Addressing shifts in labor market dynamics and consumption patterns resulting from aging populations through policy and economic planning to sustain development and GDP growth despite demographic changes.
Best Practices from Around the World
Models followed in places like Shanghai involve integrating old-age homes within local neighborhoods to enhance inclusion. In Hong Kong, there is a focus on training family members to care for elderly relatives. States like Kerala have already allocated five per cent of the budget to palliative care and evolved frameworks to safeguard the autonomy of senior citizens.
Kochi, a port city in India, became the first city in India to be a member of WHO's Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities in 2024. By 2050, India could learn from these examples to create age-friendly cities and communities.
The Way Forward
Experts have recommended the creation of an integrated National Plan on Elderly Care. Enforcement of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act has been difficult due to lack of awareness among senior citizens. Increased efforts are needed to educate the elderly about their rights and the resources available to them.
On August 1, a national conference on "Ageing in India: Emerging Realities, Evolving Responses" will be held, where experts will share their vision on how to respond to the current challenges. The elderly bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and cultural depth that can be harnessed to enrich communities and contribute to social and economic development.
As India navigates the challenges of an aging population, it is crucial to remember that the elderly are a valuable resource, not a burden. By addressing the needs of the elderly, we can ensure a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future for all.
- India's elderly population faces numerous challenges, such as inadequate healthcare infrastructure, mental health issues, and insufficient social security and caregiving systems.
- Chronic diseases like chronic kidney disease, type-2 diabetes, and cancer, as well as respiratory conditions and digestive health issues, pose significant health concerns for the elderly.
- Eye health, hearing, and skin conditions also affect the quality of life for many senior citizens.
- Alzheimer's disease, neurological disorders, and migraine are among the neurological disorders that contribute to the mental health challenges faced by the elderly.
- Autoimmune disorders and rheumatoid arthritis can also impact the physical health and mobility of senior citizens.
- Breast cancer is a major concern for women's health within the elderly population.
- To address these challenges, potential solutions encompass various sectors, including healthcare innovations, policy reforms, social protection systems, senior care facilities, and economic and labor market adjustments.
- Expansion of affordable, technology-driven healthcare models like home-based healthcare, telemedicine, and remote patient monitoring can help manage chronic diseases and reduce hospital burden.
- Policy reforms such as GST rationalization and reverse mortgages can encourage private sector participation in senior living solutions.
- Comprehensive social protection frameworks are essential to address old-age dependency, disease burden, and the economic participation of the elderly.
- Increased private participation in elder care centers, improved caregiving services, and models like Kauvery Hospital's geriatric care at home demonstrate a move towards better elderly care infrastructure.
- Addressing shifts in labor market dynamics and consumption patterns through policy and economic planning can sustain development and growth despite demographic changes.
- Best practices from around the world, such as integrating old-age homes within local neighborhoods (like in Shanghai) and training family members to care for elderly relatives (Hong Kong), can provide valuable insights for India.
- As India develops age-friendly cities and communities, the use of medicare, therapies, and treatments like CBD (a popular natural treatment for various health conditions) could play a significant role in addressing the needs of the elderly population, promoting health and wellness, and ensuring a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future for all.
