Background:

• India’s rising population of older people is getting less focus due to the hype surrounding the demographic dividend.
• The number of persons above 60 years is set to more than double from 100 million in 2011 to 230 million in 2036, making up nearly 15 percent of the total population. 
• This is projected to further rise to 319 million by 2050, nearly one-fifth of the total population.
• Declining fertility rates and increasing life span are driving this change. The average household size in India has reduced from 5.94 in 2011 to 3.54 in 2021.

Difficulties faced by Senior Citizens:

• Chronic Illnesses and Healthcare Needs: Many older adults suffer from chronic illnesses, requiring ongoing care that is often not adequately addressed by the current healthcare system.
  • This puts economic strain on the senior citizens and the family which supports them.
• Gender Disparities: Women, who typically outlive men and are often younger than their husbands, face particular challenges, including widowhood and vulnerability in old age. The policy needs to address the specific needs of older single women to ensure they can live independently and with dignity.
• High Cost of Care: The cost of hiring caregivers for home-based care is substantial, making it inaccessible for many senior citizens, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds.
• Shortage of Trained Caregivers: There is a shortage of well-trained and empathetic caregivers, which affects the quality of care provided to senior citizens.
• Lack of Standardization in Home Care: Home care practices are not well-defined or standardised, leading to variability in the quality of care that older adults receive.
  • Caregivers often report mistreatment by families, highlighting the need for better working conditions and protections for those providing home-based care.
• Dependency on Private Sector: The bulk of home-based care services is provided by the private, for-profit sector, which prioritises profit over the quality of care.
• Delayed Legislative Action: The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which seeks to regulate home-based care, has not yet been passed, delaying necessary reforms that could improve the situation for senior citizens.

Recommendations to improve Senior Citizen care:

• • Affordable Insurance mechanisms accessible to lower middle class people, who do not come under Government poverty net but can be pushed into poverty in case of serious health disorder. 
    • This should also ensure insurance coverage for home-based care, making it more accessible and affordable for senior citizens.
  • A Comprehensive Policy on Senior citizen care: Formulate and implement a comprehensive policy that defines standards for home-based care services, including the registration of care providers, establishing transparency and accountability measures, and creating grievance redressal mechanisms. 
  • Strengthen Training and Support for Caregivers: Streamline and enhance vocational training programs for caregivers to ensure they are well-equipped to meet the needs of senior citizens. 
  • Targeted Support for Vulnerable Older Women: Develop specific programs aimed at supporting older single women, who are particularly vulnerable due to longer life expectancy and the likelihood of widowhood. 

• Adopt Best Practices from East Asian Countries, who have developed proper mechanisms to protect their ageing population.

Conclusion:

• While the focus on making India’s youth population “future ready” is welcome, it should not overshadow an equally critical group that needs attention. 
• The experience of countries like Japan shows that systems to care for older people are essential for the younger population to contribute to the country’s economy. 
• Besides, it is a society’s moral and ethical responsibility to care for its people beyond their prime, reciprocating their lifetime of physical, social, emotional, and economic investment in the society.