The elderly are assets not dependents

Context

  • Proof of a truly developed country lies in the way it not only nurtures its young but also cares for its elders, equally.

Key Data

  • Life expectancy in India has risen from 50 (1970-75) to 70 years (2014-18); as a result, the number of elders (those over 60 years) is already 137 million, and expected to increase by 40% to 195 million in 2031, and 300 million by 2050.
  • As per the first ever Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), 11% of the elderly suffer from at least one form of impairment (locomotor, mental, visual and hearing).

    The elderly are assets not dependents
    Credit; TH
  • It is estimated that 58 lakh Indians die from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in India annually, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence is estimated to be 34% amongst 60-74 year olds, rising to 37% in those above 75 years.
  • As per the 2016 Healthcare Access and Quality Index (HAQ), India improved its HAQ score from 24.7 in 1990 to 41.2 in 2016. However, we still are significantly below the global average of 54 points, ranking at the spot of 145 out of 195 countries. The low HAQ worsens even further in smaller cities and rural areas where basic quality health-care services are very inadequate.
  • Despite Ayushman Bharat, the Government’s health insurance scheme for the deprived, and private health insurance, a NITI Aayog report indicates that 400 million Indians do not have any financial cover for health expenses. 
  • Presently, India has a major deficit in infrastructure and skilled medical care resources, with 1.3 hospital beds, 0.65 physicians, and 1.3 nurses for every 1,000 people. Over the next decade, we have the potential to add more than 3 million beds, 1.54 million doctors and 2.4 million nurses.

Associated Challenges

  • The biggest challenge that the country would face is to provide a range of quality, affordable, and accessible health and care services to the elderly. 
  • Factors such as familial neglect, low education levels, socio-cultural beliefs and stigma, low trust on institutionalised health-care services and affordability exacerbate the situation for the elders.
  • Inequity in health-care access compounds the problems for the elderly, who are already, physically, financially and at times psychologically restricted in understanding, responding to, and seeking medical care for various ailments.
  • Consequently, most of them live their years in neglect.
  • Inadequate schemes: Health care of the elderly has, sadly, been greatly neglected. An overwhelming proportion of the elders are from the lower socio-economic strata (including many who are destitute).
    • They are unable to afford the cost of health care and slip into ever poorer health. 
    • The Government does have schemes that cover the elderly and seeks to take care of these issues, but they are completely inadequate.
  • Both the Centre and States have pension schemes for the elders, but these provide but a pittance — as low as ₹350 to ₹400 a month in some States. Even this is not universal.
  • A 2007 law requires States to ensure earmarked facilities for elders in every district hospital, headed by a doctor with experience in geriatric care.
    • Yet, a status report filed by the Government in the Supreme Court of India in 2019 stated that 16 States and Union Territories (‘of 35’) did not have a single ward/bed dedicated to elders.

Way Forward

  • Converting them from dependents to productive members of society depends on two primary factors: their health and their capabilities.
  • They require an array of specialised medical services at home including tele or home consultations, physiotherapy and rehabilitation services, mental health counselling and treatment, as well as pharmaceutical and diagnostic services. These needs are particularly evident now, with elders being advised to stay indoor as a precaution against the novel coronavirus epidemic.
  • Generally, the elderly population needs more medical attention of a diverse range. 
    • The success of the COVID-19 vaccination strategy gives hope: a seniors-first approach led to over 73% of elderly population receiving at least one dose and around 40% being doubly vaccinated by October 2021.
  • India should reimagine its entire health-care policy for the next few decades, with an elderly prioritised approach. 
  • India needs to rapidly increase its public health-care spending, and invest heavily in the creation of well-equipped and staffed medical care facilities and home health-care and rehabilitation services.
  • We need to accelerate implementation of programmes such as the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE). The Ayushman Bharat and PM-JAY ecosystems need to be further expanded and similar, special health-care coverage schemes and services need to be created for senior citizens from the lower economic strata.
  • The National Digital Health Mission has tremendous potential to expand medical consultations into the interiors of the country. However, this requires a digital literacy campaign for senior citizens.

Conclusion

  • The proof of a truly evolved and caring nation lies in the way it not only nurtures its young but also how it cares for its aging population.

Source: TH

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