Experts flag gaps in India’s elder care

With India’s elderly population rising rapidly, health experts and policymakers at the Illness to Wellness Conference on “The Role of Geriatric Care in Promoting Healthy and Graceful Ageing” cautioned that the country is not adequately prepared to meet the medical, social and infrastructural needs of its senior citizens.

A recurring theme at the conference was the digital divide. Experts noted that while healthcare and welfare services are increasingly moving online, many elderly people lack access, skills or support to use digital platforms, which cuts them off from the benefits of these services.

Former Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said geriatric care needed to be treated as a mainstream public health priority rather than a niche concern. “Care for the elderly cannot be restricted to a few big hospitals. In a country as diverse as India, solutions must reach homes and districts through trained caregivers, local health workers and community networks,” he said.

Bhushan said India could learn from countries like Japan and South Korea, which have integrated medical and social care for seniors under unified systems. Anil Rajput of the Illness to Wellness Foundation noted that with more nuclear families and migration for jobs, traditional support systems for elders were weakening, making institutional care crucial.

Mental health specialist from IHBAS, Dr Rajinder Dhamija, argued that elder care must be continuous rather than episodic, saying emotional well-being was as important as physical health. “Ageing is about adding life to years, not just years to life,” he said.