India is a country of vast physical and cultural diversity, where 72% of the world’s second-largest population resides in rural areas experiencing various levels of socio-economic change. The population segment over 60 years of age is expanding, introducing distinct challenges. Often perceived as frail, the elderly depend on younger family members for support, with elderly women especially reliant on their male offspring. Key issues affecting the elderly include inadequate physical infrastructure, insufficient companionship, mental health concerns, lack of financial resources, and limited emergency services. Common health ailments among the elderly are cardiovascular diseases and problems with mobility. The family, community, and stakeholders has to take necessary measures to minimize the problems. Awareness to the younger generation regarding elder care has a vital role.

Keywords: elderly, problems, health issues, dependent, challenges.

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1. 1. World Population Prospects: The 2002 Revision, Highlights. New York: United Nations Population Division; 2003. (ESA/P/WP. 180). Available online at: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/files/documents/2020/Jan/un_2002_world_population_prospects-2002_revision_volume-ii.pdf
   2. Dhar HL. Emerging geriatric challenge. J Assoc Physicians India. 2005; 53: 867–872p.
   3. I Rajan SI, Sarma PS, Mishra US. Demography of Indian aging, 2001–2051. J Aging Soc Policy. 2003; 15(2–3): 11–30p. doi: 10.1300/J031v15n02_02.
   4. Joshi K, Kumar R, Avasthi A. Morbidity profile and its relationship with disability and psychological distress among elderly people in Northern India. Int J Epidemiol. 2003; 32(6): 978–987p. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyg204. PMID: 14681260.
   5. Arora VK, Bedi RS. Geriatric Tuberculosis in Himachal Pradesh: A Clinical Radiological Profile. J Assoc Physicians India. 1989; 37(3):205–207
   6. Hassan SK. A Study of Morbidity Pattern among Geriatric Population in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt. J Am Sci. 2015; 11(4): 90–95p.
   7. Swami, H.M, Bhatia, V, Dutt, R, Bhatia SPS. A Community Based Study of the Morbidity Profile among the Elderly in Chandigarh, India, Bahrain Medical Bulletin, 2002; 24. Available online at: https://www.bahrainmedicalbulletin.com/march_2002/Community.pdf
   8. Tripathy JP. Geriatric care in India: A long way to go. J Midlife Health. 2014; 5(4): 205–206p. doi: 10.4103/0976-7800.145176.
   9. Beck JC, Butler RN. Physician recruitment into geriatrics–further insight into the black box. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004; 52(11): 1959–1961p. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52528.x.
   10. Gangadharan KR. Geriatric hospitals in India, today and in the future. J Aging Soc Policy. 2003; 15(2–3): 143–58p. doi: 10.1300/J031v15n02_09. PMID: 14696694.

India is a country of vast physical and cultural diversity, where 72% of the world’s second-largest population resides in rural areas experiencing various levels of socio-economic change. The population segment over 60 years of age is expanding, introducing distinct challenges. Often perceived as frail, the elderly depend on younger family members for support, with elderly women especially reliant on their male offspring. Key issues affecting the elderly include inadequate physical infrastructure, insufficient companionship, mental health concerns, lack of financial resources, and limited emergency services. Common health ailments among the elderly are cardiovascular diseases and problems with mobility. The family, community, and stakeholders has to take necessary measures to minimize the problems. Awareness to the younger generation regarding elder care has a vital role.

Keywords: elderly, problems, health issues, dependent, challenges.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. 1. World Population Prospects: The 2002 Revision, Highlights. New York: United Nations Population Division; 2003. (ESA/P/WP. 180). Available online at: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/files/documents/2020/Jan/un_2002_world_population_prospects-2002_revision_volume-ii.pdf
   2. Dhar HL. Emerging geriatric challenge. J Assoc Physicians India. 2005; 53: 867–872p.
   3. I Rajan SI, Sarma PS, Mishra US. Demography of Indian aging, 2001–2051. J Aging Soc Policy. 2003; 15(2–3): 11–30p. doi: 10.1300/J031v15n02_02.
   4. Joshi K, Kumar R, Avasthi A. Morbidity profile and its relationship with disability and psychological distress among elderly people in Northern India. Int J Epidemiol. 2003; 32(6): 978–987p. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyg204. PMID: 14681260.
   5. Arora VK, Bedi RS. Geriatric Tuberculosis in Himachal Pradesh: A Clinical Radiological Profile. J Assoc Physicians India. 1989; 37(3):205–207
   6. Hassan SK. A Study of Morbidity Pattern among Geriatric Population in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt. J Am Sci. 2015; 11(4): 90–95p.
   7. Swami, H.M, Bhatia, V, Dutt, R, Bhatia SPS. A Community Based Study of the Morbidity Profile among the Elderly in Chandigarh, India, Bahrain Medical Bulletin, 2002; 24. Available online at: https://www.bahrainmedicalbulletin.com/march_2002/Community.pdf
   8. Tripathy JP. Geriatric care in India: A long way to go. J Midlife Health. 2014; 5(4): 205–206p. doi: 10.4103/0976-7800.145176.
   9. Beck JC, Butler RN. Physician recruitment into geriatrics–further insight into the black box. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004; 52(11): 1959–1961p. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52528.x.
   10. Gangadharan KR. Geriatric hospitals in India, today and in the future. J Aging Soc Policy. 2003; 15(2–3): 143–58p. doi: 10.1300/J031v15n02_09. PMID: 14696694.