Source from -- http://www.deccanherald.com/content/244843/caring-aged.html
Caring for aged
India will soon have to face one of the more serious consequences of population growth which has received scant attention till recently. The number of the aged is increasing rapidly as a result of higher longevity of life. This may be a result of better health care than was available in the past but it also brings in its trail the need to create a better environment and more facilities to take care of the needs of older people. According to the latest census figures the number of people over 60 years of age will touch the 100 million mark by next year and will double by the year 2030. India will soon have the second largest population in the 60-plus age group. The country will have to plan how it can cope with the challenge of providing medical and other requirements of the burgeoning number of senior citizens most of whom will be past their productive age.
Since the number of nuclear families are on the rise parents will find it difficult to get support from their earning children. Unfortunately there are increasing number of cases of indifference, callousness and cruelty to elderly parents. Many children are not in a position to provide succour and help to parents even if they want to because compulsions of job and increased mobility make them unable to do so. Social welfare schemes for the aged are very inadequate and most old age homes do not give the best service to their inmates. Though geriatrics is an important medical discipline in many other countries it has not received attention in India's medical colleges. The national programme for the health care of the elderly had two years ago suggested the starting of geriatric courses in regional medical institutes and two MD seats in geriatrics in all medical colleges. But the programme has not taken off. Hospitals do not have geriatric wards and trained personnel, both doctors and nurses, who can take care the special needs of the elderly.
The country will have to start paying more attention to this in the months and years to come. The ministry of human resource development has recently taken an initiative to train professionals in geriatric care. The government should create more infrastructural facilities for the care of the aged. Social organisations will also have a major role.
V.RAGHAVENDRA RAO,
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