Elderly population of India is set to increase by almost 55% by 2050 and the population above 80 will go up by 326% in the same year.
Elderly population of India is set to increase by almost 55% by 2050 and the population above 80 will go up by 326% in the same year.
The estimates were shared by the honorary president of the International Longevity Centre (ILC), Dr Sharadchandra Gokhale, during a day-long workshop on age related disabilities organised by ILC at Bal Kalyan Sanstha, on Friday.
He said since the ageing population is on rise and is estimated to increase by many fold, there is a need to understand and address the profound consequences of the ageing population.
He told DNA that the increasing elderly population needs awareness about the rapidly increasing prevalence of dementia and age related disabilities.
“Also the prevention of disabilities act, which is in existence but is hardly implemented, has no reference to the elderly associated disabilities. For the same, the law needs to be amended, the policy and programmes on disabilities need to include age related disabilities in a major way,” he suggested.
He also said that in India every little disability is talked about but nothing specific has been done in the field of age related disabilities and most of them are related to bones, neck, knees, back, vision and hearing.
ILC has planned some changes in the current prevention of disabilities act in which people above 80 years of age will be included.
There are chances of a huge change in this policy in the next few years which will be also implemented, he added.
Sources in ILC said that the organisation is planning to demand a separate department for ageing in the union ministry for which meetings are planned with the concerned authorities in Delhi.
The unit will emphasis on health needs of the elderly. This will include the memory clinic, which will be established in the next one year by ILC, Gokhale said.
The workshop was attended by former director of the World Health Organisation, Dr Gurura Mutalik, Dr Kalyani Mandke, Dr Kalindi Mondak, Dr Sumit Bhatti and various other professionals.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}