Bridging the Care Gap: India’s Urgent Need for Professional Elderly Caregivers
At India's National Conference on Ageing, experts urged professionalising the caregiver workforce and enhancing mental health services for the elderly. With India's senior population growing, addressing the caregiver shortage and improving geriatric mental health care were emphasized as crucial steps, supported by various national bodies.
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During the National Conference on Ageing in India, held on Friday, experts emphasized the urgent need to professionalize the caregiver sector and enhance mental health services for the elderly. This event, backed by the Sankala Foundation along with the support of NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Social Justice, and the National Human Rights Commission, stressed a critical care gap in both formal and family-based settings.
In a pivotal session on "Health and Mental Wellbeing of the Elderly," chaired by Preeti Sudan, former UPSC Chairperson, discussions spotlighted the informal nature of caregiving. According to Dr. Manohar Agnani of Azim Premji University, despite India's vast elderly population, only 5,000-6,000 individuals are trained caregivers. He accentuated the necessity for both formal and informal caregivers to be adequately trained and dignified.
Highlighting a similar concern, Dr. Sanjay Wadhwa from AIIMS stressed that rehabilitation services are integral, especially since few conditions are entirely reversible at an advanced age. Prof. Sivakumar Thangaraju from NIMHANS noted a staggering 90 percent treatment gap in elderly mental health. A call for health service realignment covering comprehensive care including dementia was emphasized. The conversation underlined the importance of continuous training for caregivers, facilitated by digital tools, and the involvement of trained volunteers to address India's expanding needs.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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