Advanced Age Homes in India
Who are we calling old?
People who are above 60 are referred to as “elderly,” “aged,” and “senior citizens,” among other terms. The majority of people leave the workforce at this age. Even under the Income Tax Act, those who are 60 years of age or older are regarded as “senior citizens” and are eligible for a number of benefits. These people are the ones who created the framework upon which we currently flourish, but they are frequently mistreated or abandoned.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 2021 study projects that by the end of the century, senior citizens would make up over 34% of the nation’s total population, up from 8% in 2015. Senior citizens’ percentage of the population will climb from 19% in 2050 to 19% in 2050. Between 2006 and 2050, India’s population is expected to have grown by approximately 40% overall, but the senior population is expected to have increased by 270%.
An ageing society is expected to replace India’s existing youth bulge as a result of this ageing phenomena. The relatively young India of today will turn into a rapidly ageing society in coming decades, the paper states.
This facility is an effort to help and provide for the elderly, showing them that they are valued and cared for.
Globally, both in rich and emerging nations, policy officials are growing increasingly concerned about the issue of population ageing. This demographic shift is not unheard of in our nation either. In India, the system of joint families has long been common, with offspring taking care of their elderly parents.
The conventional joint family system is, however, under decline as a result of a recent shift in family dynamics. The concept of the nuclear family was brought about by industrialization, urbanisation, and population mobility. As a result, some members of the family — especially the elders — are struggling to provide for one another financially and physically.
According to a 2015–16 All India Senior Citizens’ Confederation (AISCCON) poll, 39% of older individuals who live alone or have been abandoned experience abuse and harassment, and 60% of those who reside with their relatives experience poverty or are “very poor.” Therefore, it is imperative to provide care for older individuals, with a particular emphasis on their social and mental health, economic security, and prevention of elder abuse.
In light of all these variables, it would seem necessary to comprehend the experiences of senior citizens in order to implement sensible policies that will ensure their well-being, respect, and ability to lead dignified lives. As a result, elderly homes and community care have become more common in India.
State of India’s Elderly Homes
In 2007, the Indian government took action and passed the “Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act” (MWPSCA). According to the MWPSCA, if a person reaches the age of 60 or older, they are required to care for their elderly parents or relatives as their legal heirs (child or relative).
Free old age home in India are residential facilities or institutions designed to provide accommodation, care, and support to elderly individuals who may not have the means to support themselves or lack familial support.
Institutional care should be seen as the last resort for senior adults, according to the 2011 National Policy for Senior Citizens created by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE). The “Integrated Programme for Old Persons” (IPOP), which is carried out by the MoSJE in support of this policy, offers assistance for the creation and upkeep of Old Age Homes, daycare facilities, mobile medical units, regional resource & training centres, and formation
For the care of older residents, the states are required to build and operate “Old-Age Homes,” with a minimum of one old-age home capable of housing 150 people per district. However, because to varying socioeconomic conditions, the demand for old-age homes is not distributed equally throughout the States and UTs.
The Dispersion of Retirement Communities
In India, there are currently 728 old age homes, according to the website dadadadi.org. There is information available about 547 homes, 325 of which are free, 95 are pay and stay facilities for the elderly, 116 offer both free and pay and stay options, and 11 have no information. Across the nation, there are 278 old age homes available.
Kerala has the most senior housing units of any state at 124. Additionally, a study carried out by Tata Trusts calculated that there are currently 97,000 beds (rounded) available in senior living institutions. According to the report, in the next ten years, there may be a demand for eight to ten lakh beds for senior living, an eight to ten times increase over the current base and a compound annual growth rate of almost 25%.
We must take additional steps to guarantee the protection and security of senior people, even though some governments have senior citizen cells and helplines specifically for the elderly. The need for elder care is growing in India as more people lack access to social security and reasonably priced, acceptable-quality healthcare.
In my opinion, community-based day care centres for the elderly are necessary. These facilities should include activities like skill development, entertainment, financial and legal advice, exercise, and other forms of active ageing, and they should have strong connections to the public health system. Building capacity for elderly home and community-based care requires special attention. Greater participation and involvement of the elderly is crucial at the community level, while stronger intergenerational bonding is a priority within families.
This could be accomplished through different collaborations between the government and different NGOs that specialise in senior care. To accomplish comprehensive development in line with people’s expectations and local capabilities, the government should enhance funding allocated to this sector and foster convergence of commercial, voluntary, and public activities. Elderly issues will be lessened with increased cooperation and knowledge in this area.
How Can Community Development Benefit from CSR?
Companies, corporations, and other socially conscious segments of society must actively support government measures and initiatives aimed at addressing the massive need for elder care in India.
In India, the idea of corporate social responsibility, or CSR, is not new. For a considerable amount of time, a large number of Indian businesses have engaged in some kind of corporate social responsibility (CSR) with the overarching objective of improving the communities they impact and intending to return something positive to the environment and society that they rely on. CSR is the promise to assist with projects that, in accordance with one or more of the focus areas specified in Section 135 of the Companies Act 2013 and the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules 2014, significantly improve the lives of the impoverished.
India was the first major nation to pass a law requiring larger and more profitable corporations to spend 2% of their average net profit over the previous three fiscal years on corporate social responsibility (CSR) with the Indian corporations Act of 2013. The Companies Act 1956’s Schedule VII enumerates the CSR activities that a business required by Section 135 may engage in and that it is required to fund out of its net earnings. Establishing senior citizen facilities such as day care centres and old age homes is covered under the referenced Schedule’s clause.
