Pune: One of the fastest growing populations in the world, senior citizens in India would be a staggering 240 million by 2050. This can be an asset and not a burden.
The digital revolution which India saw in last few years is enormous, but it created a void for seniors. International Longevity Centre (ILC) President Raghunath Mashelkar said, “In what way can digital revolution help the elderly? First, the social connect through video chat and social media can keep the seniors in touch with friends and family. Second is safety. Any senior living alone can have a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS), which allows the wearer to call for help with the simple push of a button.”
Safety is also a paramount concern for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, especially those prone to wandering. Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices can monitor a senior citizen’s location and accordingly send alerts.
Medication management
Smartphone apps can help prevent medication errors. Many seniors find it challenging to keep track of their medications. Also important is health tracking. Smartphone apps and cloud-based tracking systems can help seniors and their family caregivers keep information such as medical history, physician contact, medication schedules and health conditions handy. “India lacks basic infrastructure and thus fails to address problems of these people,” said International Longevity Centre (ILC) Executive Director Anjali Raje.
Emphasising on physical infrastructure, Raje said, “When we talk about Pune being the smart city, have we provided attention to needs of the elderly while making roads or creating infrastructure? The incessant traffic does not pay heed to these seniors who have to step out to carry out their work during daytime.”
“Besides digital challenges, health (both mental and physical), safety and security, finances too are a few of the challenges,” said Federation of Senior Citizens Organisation of Maharashtra (FESCOM) President Arun Rode.
He said, “Health issues are becoming grim day by day as with no earnings and rising hospital bills the seniors become more weak. The cost of angioplasty, dialysis etc are ever rising. Secondly, safety and security too have become a serious issue for them. With nuclear families or children living abroad, many seniors are left alone making them vulnerable to safety and security concerns.”
Raje said the rising number of women senior citizens too has become a cause of concern in society.
Although, these women mostly live with their families, dependency for various needs including finance causes friction in the family.
