India’s Policy on Elderly: Challenges Ahead

Abstract

This article aims at the importance of medical and associated needs of the elderly/old peoples in India and the problems faced by them with the onset of old age among these elderly peoples. The challenges that elderly/ older person face in areas such as prevention and protection against abuse, violence, food ,and housing, long-term and palliative care, access to justice, health are the major concern of the Resolution 24/20 “The human rights of older persons.” The focus of the article is to provide the suggestion for enabling social policy "Ageing in place" and reach out to people living in rural areas who are dependent on family bonds and intergenerational understanding and support. Institutional care should be considered as last resort. The routine care clinics cannot handle the burden of the geriatric population. The government must support non- governmental organizations and other agencies which provide day care, home care, and the palliative care so that these services become affordable to all the elderly. NPHCE forms a part of Non-communicable Division in the Ministry. The introduction of physical exercise to neutralize the sedentary lifestyle will add to life expectancy yielding normal BP and controlled hormonal secretions.