The healthcare system, the report says, is ill-equipped to meet the needs of a rapidly ageing population. Nearly half of India’s elderly suffer from hypertension, 43% from diabetes, and over one-third from arthritis. Despite the chronic conditions, India has only 270 trained geriatricians to serve over 14 crore older adults. Palliative care remains either unavailable or prohibitively expensive, and public insurance schemes like PMJAY currently reach just 25% of seniors.Women, who are more likely to live longer, face compounded vulnerabilities—making up 71% of reported elder abuse victims. Social isolation is another concern, exacerbated by digital exclusion: 59% of seniors lack access to digital devices and fewer than 20% are digitally literate, limiting their access to information.Infrastructure for elder care remains minimal. India has just 1,000 old-age homes—mainly in urban areas, with many offering substandard care.Private sector innovations such as luxury retirement homes and high-end assistive technologies serve the wealthiest 1%. Public welfare programs like the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme and PMJAY offer some support, but the report finds their impact limited by poor coordination and reach.
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