New Delhi, Speaking on the importance of geriatric care, experts in the national capital on Tuesday called for a more responsive and inclusive model for the country’s senior citizens, keeping in mind the growing challenges posed by age-related health problems like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Delhi conference experts explore inclusive geriatric care to address aging challenges in IndiaSpeakers at the Illness to Wellness Conference on ‘Role of Geriatric Care in Promoting Health and Graceful Ageing’ highlighted that many of the country’s senior citizens are struggling to adopt technology due to limited access and lack of age-friendly training, a government statement said.
“Older people struggle to adapt to the physical infrastructure, public spaces, transport systems and emergency response systems needed to support their safety, mobility and independence,” it said.
Addressing the event, Rajesh Bhushan, former secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Chairperson of the Governing Council of the Illness to Wellness Foundation, said that geriatric care, on par with mental health and non-communicable diseases, should be recognized as a major public health priority.
“Geriatric care cannot be confined to a few tertiary hospitals or centers of excellence. Care must start at home and be strengthened through district-level systems. Many geriatric health problems do not require hospitalization and can be managed through trained caregivers, home-based services and integrated community support. The real challenge is scale, integration and last-mile delivery,” he added.
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Welcoming this year’s Union Budget, Foundation Advisory Council Chairperson Anil Rajput said the budget’s emphasis on strengthening healthcare systems, expanding geriatric and psychiatric healthcare and building caregiver capacity was a timely recognition of emerging needs.
“India is going through a significant demographic transition, and ensuring that people live long lives with dignity, independence and good health is becoming increasingly important,” he said.
Talking about the evolution of geriatric medicine, Dr AB Dey, founder and former head of the department of geriatric medicine at AIIMS, New Delhi and chairperson of geriatric medicine at Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, said the discipline has moved from the fringes to the mainstream of clinical practice.
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“Three decades ago, geriatrics was barely understood as a discipline. Today, we are witnessing an overwhelming and growing demand for skilled geriatric care, which far exceeds the training and provision currently available,” he said, according to the statement.
Focusing on neurological and mental health, Dr Rajinder K Dhamija, Director, Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Sciences, NCT Government, Delhi, said aging is not just about adding years to life, but adding life to those years, and emphasized that geriatric care must be integrated, continuous, community-based and compassionate.
The conference highlighted healthy aging by discussing the importance of nutrition, mental well-being and fitness with an emphasis on early detection of cognitive decline, use of assistive AI technology to support senior independence and yoga for overall health and safety, the statement added.
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