The government will soon introduce a new policy for seniors. Giving this information, Amit Yadav, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, said that the Ministry has held discussions with all stakeholders. Last Thursday he addressed a program organized by the Association of Senior Living India (ASLI). The association will organize the fifth ASLI Aging Fest in Bengaluru on December 6, 2024.
The population of older people will be this in 2050
According to the news, the Secretary highlighted the government’s decision to provide health cover to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their income, under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. According to PTI News, ASLI Chairman and Antara Senior Care MD & CEO Rajit Mehta said that the elderly population in India is estimated to cross 30 crore by 2050, which is approximately 20 percent of the total population.
Less than 0.7 hospital beds per 1,000 elderly
With this in mind, the demand for comprehensive senior care solutions will increase tremendously. Mehta said currently only 5 percent of India’s elderly have access to institutional care and more than half live without social security. There are also significant gaps in healthcare services for older people: less than 0.7 hospital beds per 1,000 older people. In such a situation, it is important that we create an inclusive, accessible and sustainable model of care for older people.
Affordable senior housing project difficult to achieve
The ASLI president said health and healthcare must be a key focus, seamlessly integrated with housing solutions that prioritize safety, comfort and community support. Ankur Gupta, co-founder of ASLI and deputy managing director of Ashiana Housing, said it is difficult to achieve an affordable senior housing project due to the cost of services, including healthcare, in addition to civil construction.
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