Hyderabad: Twenty per cent of senior citizens require government support, 10 per cent are working till the age of 80 and 50 per cent of them are taken care of by their children.
The data came to light in an initial survey done by the Institute of Social and Economic Change in the seven states of South and West India. This data was presented at the seminar on Institutional Care for Senior Citizens in the city on Thursday.
Acting director Dr K.S. James said, “Society still believes that senior citizens must be taken care of by the family members, especially children. But there are instances in the changing scenario where there is no one at home to care for them. At that time, when they look for outside support, are there any options?”
Only 0.1 per cent of them are seeking institutional care and 0.5 per cent are living in institutions. But by 2050, with 300 million senior citizens, there is an estimate of 15 million who will seek institutional care.
Mr Y. Rama Padma, professor of demography with the Indian Institute of Health and Family Welfare, government of Andhra Pradesh said, “The government has to tabulate the number of homes in the private sector and their operational methods. Many of them do not have trained personnel.”
Centre, State tussle over care for aged
There is an ongoing tussle between the Central and state government on taking care of the elderly.
The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act was passed in 2007 but till date the state government pushes proposals for old age homes and grants for old age homes to the Centre.
Helpage India’s joint director Mohammed Raza said, “The state government is to make provision to build old-age homes. But there is nothing moving at the ground level.”
A senior government officer said, “Presently, most old-age homes are running on charity. But there is a minimal amount that the members have to pay. The Centre gives a 50 per cent grant to homes running for over three years. But who is monitoring these centres?”
