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27/07/22 05:38 AM IST

ASHA for elderly

In News 
  • The UN World Population Ageing Report notes that India’s ageing population (those aged 60 and above) is projected to increase to nearly 20% by 2050 from about 8% now.
Status of Elderly in India 
  • By 2050, the percentage of elderly people will increase by 326%, with those aged 80 years and above set to increase by 700%, making them the fastest-growing age group in India.
  • A study suggests 8 per cent of the population over 75 was afflicted by dementia
  • Alzheimer’s Association suggests that the country is already home to 4 million people with this condition.
  • Dementia is a condition associated with ageing and resulting from progressive degeneration of the brain.
  • Lack of family support: Transition to a nuclear family means that an increasing proportion of the elderly will live only with their elderly spouse or alone.
Solutions 
  • Strengthening Primary health care which integrates care for diverse health conditions, home-based nursing, palliative care and rehabilitation.
  • NGOs/Civil Society help: E.g. Asha Deep Foundation provides Day Care Centre for the elderly members of our community who are either neglected, have no children or are abandoned by their families.
  • Community-based care system for elders
  • ASHA program could be used for building a community-based workforce to support the diverse health and social care needs of elders.
ASHA 
  • Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs): They have been singularly responsible not only for the dramatic reductions in maternal and infant mortality contributing to our increased life expectancy but also for achieving our impressive Covid vaccination coverage.
  • They were deservedly awarded the WHO Director-General’s Global Health Leaders Award in May.
Source- Indian Express 

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