Do you remember the last time you visited your grandparents or elderly parents? Did you notice the sparkle in their eyes, the wrinkles on their face, and the stories they shared with you? As we grow older, our priorities shift, and we often forget to check in on those who have given us so much. But what happens when we neglect the very people who have shaped our lives?
Statistics reveal India too is facing a growth in the senior citizen group or the elderly but unfortunately a silent calamity is hiding behind. The following effects are evident—our elders deny themselves care, companionship, and inclusion. Looking at the challenges that India’s senior citizens face, the need for turning searchlights is now desired in this regard.
The Demographic Shift
India has the demographic crack at present in the sense that it has a young population currently. The United Nations has revealed that the senior citizens in the country, aged 60 years and above, are expected to rise from 8 percent in the current year. from 6% in 2011 to 19, while receivables’ turnover has dropped from 16 times in 2011 to approximately 5 times in 2013. 5% by 2050.
This signifies that by 2050, one in five Indians will be of the retired age group, which consists of people above 60 years. Although this change is potentially beneficial with technological exchange between generations, this change increases pressure on elders and caregivers.
The Struggle is Real
India’s seniors face a multitude of challenges, including: India’s seniors face a multitude of challenges, including:
1. Social Isolation: Children in a close-knit family look for employment in urban areas leaving behind their parents especially the grandparents with a hard feeling of loneliness.
2. Healthcare: The availability of healthcare is scarce and for those that exist, most are located in urban centres and thus can barely cater for the needs of elderly people who are suffering from chronic diseases.
3. Financial Insecurity: Child Ignore Case Many elderly require financial assistance from their children since such support is often erratic and partial.
4. Lack of Purpose: Senior citizens, once they retire, face a lot of issues as to what they will do next, a major problem being loss of purpose in their lives.
The Retirement Living Conundrum
Older people living in India thus have a limited number of choices and retirement living is still a growing concept in the country. The communities specifically designed for the elderly known as the senior living community and are prevalent in the West countries are gradually picking up in India.
These communities are equipped with a variety of facilities, such as health care centres, activity programs and recreational amenities intended for the elderly. However, there is a lack of sufficient mobility, and sufficient provision of such communities, which means that most seniors cannot afford to join such communities.
Breaking the Silence
The issue of senior citizens has never been a hot one in India; it is high time the society heard the struggles seniors go through. Here are some ways to create a more supportive environment for them:
1.Intergenerational Connections: Proper care should be given to adopted children and the elderly parents by encouraging children to take a close and responsible attitude towards the last.
2.Senior-Friendly Infrastructure: Adopt an age-friendly environment to allow the provision of a livable environment that promotes seniors to live independently especially in aspects such as accessible public facilities, transport, and housing.
3.Healthcare Access: Expand quality healthcare coverage with focus on elderly care as well as ensure that elderly people have a decent health cover at reasonable cost.
4.Purpose-Driven Living: Help the elderly to indulge themselves in hobbies, volunteering or take up employment to ensure such individuals have something that will keep them occupied and resultantly gain some meaning in life.
Introducing Another New Vision for Elders
The concept of senior living in India is gradually specialising in the offering of communities that are designed to meet seniors’ requirements. These communities offer a range of services, including:
1.Assisted Living: Assist with personal care needs including feeding, dressing, and administering throughout the day medicines.
2.Memory Care: By: Unique Needs Elderly Caregiving Services Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease patient care.
3.Recreational Activities: Arranging visits to restaurants or cafes, meetings for aerobic exercise, or doing crosswords and jigsaw puzzles to enhance their social participation.
To some extent, failure in relationships and isolation always remain apparent, while dementia and depression are often concealed among Indian seniors. This way, we can create a conducive environment that allows elderly citizens to live meaningful lives free from the despised perception.