The elderly: vulnerability and programmes

In India, senior citizens are people aged 60 and above (65 in many countries). People now live much longer than at Independence, and India has the second largest number of elderly people in the world, after China.

Some features of India's elderly:

• most live in rural areas;
• the elderly population is becoming more female;
• the 'older-old' (above 80) are increasing;
• many are poor.

Their concerns:

• health: the body has less reserve strength; cataract, deafness, arthritis;
• loneliness and isolation, as children move away;
• financial dependence;
• weaker family support in cities: small nuclear families, little time and space, high costs.

Yet many elderly people live full, respected lives and stay economically active. They are a human resource, and their experience should be used. India adopted the National Policy for Older Persons in 1999.

Programmes: food, shelter and health care for the destitute; intergenerational bonding (bringing young and old together); active ageing; old age homes, respite and continuous care homes; day care centres (including for Alzheimer's and dementia); mobile medicare; helplines; physiotherapy and hearing aids; training for caregivers; sensitising schoolchildren; and the National Old Age Pension Scheme for destitute older people. Care for elders, and let them keep contributing.