Ageing country : Challenges ahead

Our ‘ageing country’ !

Let me invite your attention to an article in the Magazine section of ‘The Hindu’ last Sunday (21 Sept, 2008). A very thought provoking article on the urgent need for a 'safety net' , an accurate public health policy in the senior care field. The author HENDI LINGIAH (a clinical psychologist, France) points out that, as we become an “ageing country”, senior health care becomes more critical. Though the article is particularly with reference to the Alzheimer’s Disease and its issues, it’s relevant in its global sense. I shall quote from the article :

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The percentage of persons aged above 60 in India has been rising steadily over the last decades. In fact, in 2001, its proportion exceeded 7.5%, defining a country as an ‘ageing country’ according to the UN definition and is expected to reach 8.9% by 1016. But the increase of life expectancy goes with the increase of age-related diseases and developing countries are not spared. The number of people above the age of 60, suffering for and searching for care, domiciliary services, specific treatments, and specific answers to their needs will increase. Consecutively, the lack of specific structures would lead to discontent. Hence the need to implement a sound public health policy in the field of senior care.

Today, it is estimated that more than 50% of people with Alzheimer’s disease live in developing countries. Meanwhile, when developed countries have more care alternatives available for a less number of elderly people, they are also trying to improve the current public health system with the aim of anticipating their growing ageing population.

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Properly planning and the implementation of a public health policy regarding support for the elderly has today become a necessity : the recognition of the early symptoms of dementia, patterns of interventions, research on the diseases, drug and non-drug therapies, infrastructures, professional practices, home care giver’s trainings, ..etc..

This is a challenge for the developing countries, if they want to avoid, in the coming years, the increase in the number of sick elderly persons and severe cases due to insufficient early detection and solutions provided at an affordable cost.

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Are we prepared to face these challenges, personally and as a society ? Are we concerned about this ? Is our Government listening and doing something ? What best can we do about the whole issue ? Please think over, and put your views.

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