Covid hit health of 26% elders in India

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New Delhi:  The COVID-19 situation affected the health condition of 26% of the elderly population in the country, who ranked it as their premier cause of concern, while 24.95% 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.

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% 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% 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%, the pandemic has caused psychological issues, which was their primary concern, the study said.

According to the study, 64.6% of the respondents said their health condition is poor or very poor in the old age while 23.9% said their health condition is average and almost 11% 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% respondents claimed that their current health condition is good or better. Whereas in rural areas, only 19.8% 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. “About 37.8% elderly women in comparison to 33.2% elderly men were reportedly found enjoying better health and less than one-fourth elderly (23.6%) 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.