Key facts
- Kerala, India's fastest-ageing state, has launched a new department for elderly welfare.
- The department aims to address challenges faced by elderly residents, many of whom live alone due to migration.
- Key strategies include expanding community and home-based care, and introducing 'social prescribing'.
- The state plans to develop a professional care workforce and create facilities like elderly parks and day-care centres.
- A statewide survey will inform a long-term 'Silver Economy' roadmap.
- The government has allocated 100 million rupees for elderly welfare this year.
Kerala, India's fastest-ageing state, is establishing a dedicated department for elderly welfare to address the growing challenges of an ageing population, many of whom live alone due to migration for employment. The state government announced the initiative, described as the first of its kind in India, to support seniors and combat loneliness.
The new department, headed by Dr. Rathan Kelkar, will focus on 'ageing in place,' aiming to help older individuals remain in their homes and communities. Strategies include expanding community and home-based care, introducing 'social prescribing' to connect seniors with meaningful activities, and developing a certified caregiver training program. The state also plans to create elderly parks, day-care centres, and fitness facilities, informed by a statewide survey of senior citizens to create a long-term Silver Economy roadmap.
Kerala's demographic shift is attributed to improved healthcare leading to longer life expectancy, falling birth rates, and significant migration of younger generations to the Middle East, Europe, and elsewhere for work. While remittances have boosted incomes, they have also resulted in more elderly parents being left behind, often separated from their children by vast distances.
Doctors and experts highlight the increasing prevalence of loneliness and social isolation among the elderly. Dr. Prasun Chatterjee from Apollo Hospital notes that patients frequently ask about care during dependency and medical emergencies. He also points to a broader gap in India's healthcare system, with a shortage of geriatric specialists and services not always tailored to the needs of older individuals. Srinivasan Govindaraj, CEO of Athulya Seniorcare, emphasizes the need for a regulated market for senior care with uniform standards.
The Kerala government has allocated 100 million rupees for elderly welfare this year, viewing ageing as a long-term development priority. The department aims to create a comprehensive system to coordinate existing welfare schemes and identify future needs, with a vision that no elderly person feels invisible or abandoned.