• UGI USER
  • Jan 05, 2023
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The increase in life expectancy in the country has led to newer health challenges in the community. What are those challenges and what steps need to be taken to meet them?

Introduction :

From 49.7 in the 1970s to 69.7 in the years after 2015, India’s life expectancy at birth grew by about 20 years over a 45-year span. Life expectancy has improved as a result of advancements in medical care, social conditions generally, and healthcare accessibility.

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India is now benefiting from the demographic dividend because to its average age of 28.4 years, but at the same time, the share of seniors is predicted to rise from 7.5% in 2001 to 12.5% in 2021.

Quality of life for elderly Index has observed an increasing trend of old age dependency ratio 2011 14.2% 2021 15.7%. This change presents complex health issues such as :

  • The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCD), whose burden is growing with age, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and eye disorders. For instance, India’s output losses from NCDs could total $4.3 trillion between 2012 and 2030. (WEF report).
  • Mental health problems: In India, one in five older people suffer from mental health problems. About 75% of them have a chronic illness. (Lasi, a longitudinal study on ageing in India, 2021). Elderly people are becoming more isolated and lonely.
  • Older people are more at risk for disasters: 33% of those at risk are old.
  • An increase in the expense of healthcare: Many older people do not have health insurance and are probably too old to be eligible for one. For instance, compared to non-elderly households, the cost of health care has climbed by 3.8 times more for older households. (NSSO survey)
  • India lacks the geriatric care speciality, which focuses on the medical requirements of the old. For instance, Indian Medical Science does not even provide geriatrics as a subject of study.

Ways to address them:

  • With the WHO identifying 2020 to 2030 as the “Decade of Healthy Ageing,” organisations like AIIMS must be at the forefront of the movement to promote healthy ageing.
  • Through Ayushman Bharat, the government must aggressively seek to improve health care accessibility, non-communicable disease management, vision and hearing problem management, and lifestyle change.
  • Healthcare: The PPP system and insurance can be used to provide free medical care for the elderly.
  • To direct contributions from corporate social responsibility programmes toward the needs of the elderly, a well-organized framework should be put in place.
  • Better facilities: allowing seniors to age in place while maintaining their physical and mental well-being and remaining engaged in their families and communities.
  • Old People’s Associations (OPAs) :They can establish their own agendas, decide which local causes to support, which old people require particular care, and divide up the tasks among themselves.
  • Proactive care: Since many children distance themselves from their parents for professional reasons, there is a constant worry and tension about their parents’ health. Therefore, it is essential and urgent that the emphasis be changed from reactive care to proactive and holistic care.
  • To interact with senior citizens and provide a comprehensive health support system, health insurance firms need to adopt a “Health First” strategy. In addition to paying for healthcare costs, the sector needs to play a role in influencing and enabling the decisions that consumers make on their health and healthcare.

 

Conclusion: Investing a little to engage the elderly in communities can improve their health and well-being of the elderly. It can also improve the health and well-being of communities.