Nimisha Lakhia laments needs of senior citizens are not on the policymakers’ radar. More and more seniors are shifting into old age homes, retirement homes, hospice, etc. With a growing population, their needs are not prioritised enough. According to her, a lot more has to be done in terms of social and financial inclusion and healthcare needs so they can live with dignity.
A fast-growing nation in terms of economic development or population growth is mostly incompatible, highly fast-paced for the needs of the elderly. A new India which is a young India must not overlook its seniors. Their needs and aspirations must be taken into consideration as they form a significant demographic component.
India’s population dynamics are changing fast. A young nation, today there are more ‘young’ people in the country than ever before. According to the Census 2011, over 58.3 per cent of the country’s population is aged 29 years or below. And, people with age 30 years and above form 41.4 per cent of the total population of the country. As per the data provided by the last three censuses, the young in India have outnumbered those with ages 30 years and above.
Today, most of the policies aim at the ‘youth’ or the country’s young as they form the largest percentage of the population. It will be today’s young who will become future leaders and change-makers.
In the scheme of things, the needs of senior citizens such as old age homes, healthcare, mental health care and financial inclusion are not at the forefront of the policymakers. The priorities are different.
Ever-changing demographics
India’s social landscape is changing very fast. More and more members of the younger population are now migrating from rural area to cities for jobs and better employment opportunities. Even the urban youth with higher aspirations are migrating overseas to make a career and a living. This means the family structures are changing. The elderly who were earlier dependent on their children for their needs in old age now have to look outside.
More and more seniors are shifting into old age homes, retirement homes, hospice, etc. But, with a growing population their needs are not prioritised enough. A lot more has to be done in terms of social and financial inclusion, healthcare needs and ensuring the elderly have a decent quality of life and live with dignity.
As per a report titled Youth in India 2022 released by the Government of India’s Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) – by the year 2036 those above the age of 30 years will form the majority of the country’s population.
The same report further states that the share of senior citizens – that is those above the age of 60 years – was projected to be 10.1 per cent of the total population in 2021, and then up to 15 per cent by 2036.
According to the National Commission on Population, the share of the elderly in India’s population was about nine per cent in 2011. It is growing very fast and by 2036, it will reach 18 per cent.
With modernisation and advancements in science and technology, life expectancy of an average Indian has increased. In 2023, the life expectancy for an Indian stand at 70.42 years. This was 69.96 years in 2021 and in 1947 India’s life expectancy was a mere 32 years. In the meantime, fertility rate of women has reduced from six children per woman to two which has a positive side that it reduces the population burden of the country but also means there will be a larger ageing population.
The needs of the elderly
Ageing is a natural process and most societies understand and appreciate the role the older people play as a valuable resource of knowledge and experience. India’s 2011 Census reported there are 103.8 million older people (60+years) in the country, constituting 8.6 per cent of total population and of these – there were more females than males.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released a report in 2017 that stated that around 12.5 per cent of India’s population will be 60 years and above by the year 2030. Simultaneously, the report projected that the share of older persons or senior citizens in India, those aged 60 years or above will increase to nearly 20 per cent by 2050.
As people age, their needs and aspirations change. In the absence of a job post retirement and sometimes because of the loss of the ability to work, for many seniors, financial dependence is a major issue. In old age, people are dependent on pensions and family members for financial needs. Physical dependence of the elderly on their children or family members for basic necessities is also demoralising.
Joint family structures are now rare in urban areas. In rural India too, more families are opting to live in a nuclear fashion. The changing social fabric is not very conducive for physical and mental health of the elderly. More and more senior citizens are now facing neglect, loneliness and suffering from mental illnesses such as depression.
In old age, health is a major concern. Health issues not only affect quality of life, they also impose financial burden which can be dilapidating. Most prevalent health issues among the elderly include mobility issues arising from locomotor disabilities, deafness, blindness, senility, neurosis, etc.
Health issues compounded with loneliness are a major cause of depression for many. Geriatric care facilities in hospitals and healthcare facilities are still a new concept and confined to certain urban pockets and that too for those who can afford it. In rural areas, the concept doesn’t exist and with traditional support systems and social structures failing or vanishing, the situation is a cause of concern.
Support and inclusion
The Government of India’s National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) 1999, Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and National Policy for Senior Citizens 2011, among others, provide the legal framework for supporting the myriad needs of the seniors – adequate food, clean water, community help, social integration, access to healthcare for overall well-being and a dignified life. The older persons must be able to live in dignity with safety and security and free from any mental, physical, emotional or financial abuse or exploitation.
The National Programme for Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE) and the Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) provide dedicated healthcare to the elderly. The latter is an effort to move way from selective healthcare to a more comprehensive range of services ranging from preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care for all age groups.
NPHCE aims to – provide accessible, affordable and high-quality long-term, comprehensive and dedicated care services to the ageing population; create a new architecture for ageing; build a framework to create an enabling environment for a Society for all Ages; promote the concept of Active and Healthy Ageing; converge with National Rural Health Mission, AYUSH, etc.
There are several financial assistance schemes for the elderly. For example, the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) scheme provides non-contributory pensions or financial assistance for the elderly including widows and disabled persons and falling in the Below Poverty Line category. Then there is the Atal Pension Yojana focusing on those in the unorganised sector.
The National Policy on Older Persons ensures financial and food security, health care, shelter and other needs of older persons, etc. The overarching policy also focuses on social security, inter-generational bonding, role of NGOs, training of manpower, research and more towards the upliftment of the elderly.
Nimisha Lakhia is a trainee with DraftCraft Media Network – an initiative of DraftCraft International – a platform for media students, experts, and professionals to quash populist trends and help create unbiased and independent news