Highlights
- 10,000 senior citizens across 27 states/UTs were covered under the survey
- Pandemic has affected the health and social life of elderlies: Survey
- In urban areas, health condition of elderly people is better: Survey
New Delhi: The COVID-19 situation affected the health condition of 26 per cent of the elderly population in the country, who ranked it as their premier cause of concern, while 24.95 per cent said the pandemic has caused psychological issues to them, according to a new study. For the study, NGO Agewell Foundation interacted with 10,000 senior citizens across 27 states and Union territories. During the survey, in addition to ascertaining the changing needs of the elderly people, it was also attempted to assess the impact of the pandemic on them.
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The study revealed that the pandemic has not just hit the health condition of the elderly population, but has also marred their social lives and affected their psychosocial and financial well-being. About 29.5 per cent of the respondents said COVID-19 and the resultant lockdowns affected their social lives and this was their primary concern as regards the impact of the pandemic.
About 26 per cent of the respondents said the COVID-19 situation has affected their health condition the most and ranked it as their premier cause of concern while according to 24.95 per cent, the pandemic has caused psychological issues, which was their primary concern, the study said.
According to the study, 64.6 per cent of the respondents said their health condition is poor or very poor in the old age while 23.9 per cent said their health condition is average and almost 11 per cent said it is better.
In urban areas, the health condition of elderly people is slightly improved as more than a half i.e. 51.2 per cent respondents claimed that their current health condition is good or better. Whereas in rural areas, only 19.8 per cent elderly reportedly accepted that their current health condition can be termed as good or better, the study said.
It also found that elderly women are living a healthier life in the old age compared to their male counterparts.
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About 37.8 per cent elderly women in comparison to 33.2 per cent elderly men were reportedly found enjoying better health and less than one-fourth elderly (23.6 per cent) confirmed that they are being benefitted under one or more government-sponsored healthcare schemes, the study said.
R Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, said elderly care requires not only financial investment and probably more important than the financial investment is the emotional investment and inter-generational bonding.
With the changing nature of the family structure, this relationship has also come under strain. There is a need to recognise this social reality and find a solution — both for strengthening family structures and at the same time, providing for viable alternatives for taking care of the elderly, he said.
Based on the survey findings and observations, Agewell Foundation recommended dedicated healthcare services for elderly people such as free medical counselling, home visits, healthcare awareness, hygiene and sanitation services, registration of all bed-ridden, differently-abled, critically-ill elderly people and doorstep medical assistance services for them at the local level and multi-activity centres and multi-skilling platforms for them.
The study also recommended dedicated helplines for elderly people for extending advisory services, grievance redressal and counselling for various issues, including on financial, legal, medical, social, safety and security matters, and a review of the old-age pension and other social benefit distribution schemes and laid a special emphasis on timely and fast delivery of benefits.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.
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