N. Raghuraman’s column Caring for the elderly is not just a good deed, it’s also big business | एन. रघुरामन का कॉलम: बुजुर्गों की देखभाल अच्छे कर्म ही नहीं, बड़ा बिजनेस भी है

N. Raghuraman, Management Guru

Khategaon is an agricultural-producing area of ​​Madhya Pradesh. It is 120 km from Indore and 145 km from Bhopal. The assembly constituency, with a population of around 35,900, celebrated the International Day for Older Persons earlier this month by providing free treatment to over 200 elderly people and helping a 100-year-old woman.

Don’t dismiss it by saying that what does this small number from an unknown place have to do with us. In the 1951 census, the percentage of elderly population in the country was only 5.5%, which increased to 8.6% by the 2011 census and is likely to increase to 13.1% in 2031. The number of elderly people, which were 10.38 crore in 2011, will increase to 19.38 crore in 2031 and UNFPA estimates that this number may increase to 34.7 crore by 2050. This will be a very large population.

Why is this important? On the one hand, specific diseases and conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, immobility etc. are associated with aging and require attention. On the other hand, revenue officials in many states are being burdened with cases filed under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

For example, the All-Goa Senior Citizens Federation has requested the government to train revenue officers so that they can advise the social-welfare and law departments to improve maintenance cases by appointing officers with legal expertise Can. This reflects increasing family disputes.

Who is able to understand these figures? Three things have happened and the Centre, states and government agencies are gradually becoming aware of these increasing figures. These are:

1. This year, the Central Government has given the cover of Ayushman Bharat Scheme to all people above the age of 70, irrespective of their financial status. Who knows, in the coming years, in the next phase it may be extended to those above 65 years of age also.

2. At the state level, the Center has urged states to implement a pan-India helpline to address the needs of the elderly. It is in the process of being implemented. Toll-free number – ElderLine 14567 – operational 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week, will provide free information, guidance, emotional support and direct intervention to homeless elders in cases of abuse, their rescue and their re-union with families. .

3. Tamil Nadu Health Department on Tuesday launched a three-month certification course for ‘Elderly Health Assistants’ in all government medical college hospitals on the occasion of International Day of Older Persons. Under this, 975 people will be trained in major institutions in three months. Students who have passed 10th can enroll for this. The National Institute of Geriatrics under Madras Medical College will conduct the course. NIA will encourage students from every district to become trained assistants. Taking cue from here, private colleges will also enter into it.

It is not just about taking care of the elderly, able-bodied senior citizens living alone or away from their children can visit Chandrika Devi Temple and Badi Kaliji Temple in Lucknow, Chamunda Devi Temple in Dharamshala or other places across the country during this Navratri. Looking for travel assistance to visit Shaktipeeths. Apart from turning to relatives, banks, financial knowledge and many other areas, this population is silently seeking help. But they are not finding honest, polite but trained people for this.

The bottom line is that Managing the healthcare of the elderly, their financial and other needs is going to be a business that will provide a large number of jobs. Get involved before it gets too crowded.