Public health programs in India since the early 20th century had concentrated mainly on pressing issues of population control, nutrition and maternal and child health. A steep fall in death rates and fertility rates has seen an increase in the percentage of elderly population. Current statistics project that by 2025, 12% of Indian population will be above the age of 60 years. Approximately one third of these are currently below the poverty line.
The National Program for the Health Care of Elderly was formulated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with an aim to provide easily accessible and dedicated health care facilities to the elderly. The components of the policy include identification of Regional Geriatric Centers and setting up of dedicated Geriatric Departments through the different levels of health care system. PROBLEMS OF ELDERLY Economic dependency: A situation…
