346 Million Elderly in India by 2050: Need for Urgent Policy Framework on Elderly Needs

HYDERABAD: The population of elderly people above 60 years of age in India is expected to reach 346 million by 2050. This population accounts for 17 percent of the World‘s elderly population, calling for preparations for special care facilities for the elderly.

People in this category require psychological and medical facilities including physiotherapy, counselling, nursing and care centers for daily needs. Policy intervention and budgetary allocations by respective governments are essential to meet the needs of the elderly.

Experts suggest educating children about the arrangement and availability of day care homes, dedicated play and walking areas, dealing with the elderly and routine vaccination schedules.

The growing needs of the elderly population

The current Indian population is very young, with an average age of 28.4 years, making it one of the countries with the lowest average age. However, the elderly population is growing and is expected to double from 153 million to 346 million by 2050.

“Over the past decade or so, the amenities of the elderly population have improved marginally. A few years ago, we named care centers as orphanages and now, ‘nursing homes’ are being set up,” said Dr Srikrishna R Boddu, consultant physician, Kamineni Hospitals, LB Nagar.

Basic and essential care for the elderly population includes physiotherapy, nursing and other daily needs.

Challenges faced by the elderly

The aging population is at risk of developing systemic and pathological complications, resulting in diseases including coagulopathy and vascular complications. The incidence is higher in those with comorbidities due to sedentary lifestyle, dietary habits and obesity.

“With advances in medical technology, the age requirement for special needs has increased from 60 to 65 or 70 years. Those with comorbidities may require early care,” says Dr Srikrishna.

A major challenge affecting older adults is loneliness, dementia and anxiety, which can lead to incidents that lead to broken bones and other physical harm.

Dr. Srikrishna said, “Thorough medical evaluation and care for the rest of life is important and is slowly gaining importance. The pension and insurance schemes implemented by governments are not enough to achieve this.”

Awareness is needed in youth and adults

With the growing needs of the elderly, awareness of the issues and the need for long-term solutions has gained importance among all age groups.

“Even those who need the facilities are not aware of the existence of care homes. Advances in rehabilitation machinery and equipment should be properly utilised,” said Dr Srikrishna.

Screening for non-communicable diseases, including cancer, is essential to save lives and ensure the mental and physical well-being of the elderly population.

“Other measures that need to be implemented include timely and scheduled administration of adult vaccinations, teaching children how to behave with adults and allocating special walking and playing areas,” said Dr Srikrishna.

The role of the respective governments is crucial in formulating a policy to address the concerns and challenges of the aging population, although some private companies have started investing in setting up such facilities.