What the article is about:
- The article shows concern about jobless growth and increasing elderly population in country, and both the problems can be dealt with.
Relevance:
- GS2: Government policies and intervention, issues related to elderly, Human Resources.
- Paper1: Essay Analysis:
The recently published United Nations’ “world population prospects” has shown some projections about India’s population, among the many concerns arising out of it two are being discussed in the article i.e. phase of jobless growth and a staggering number of people who are no longer in the workforce and who are at a much greater risk of getting sick.
Health issues elderly people faces:
- A recent paper on the basis of 20 epidemiological studies, reported that about 8% of the population over 75 was afflicted by Dementia.
- One estimate from the reputed Alzheimer’s Association suggests that the country is already home to 4 million people with dementia .
Dementia: Dementia is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in cognitive function beyond what might be expected from the usual consequences of biological ageing.
Alzheimer’s disease: Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older adults.
What’s needed to be done to take care of ageing population:
- Integrated care is required, which encompasses primary health care, home based nursing, palliative care (specialised medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure) and rehabilitation.
How can it be achieved :
- Deployment of frontline workers to deliver promotive and preventive healthcare. ASHA( accredited social health activists) program is a template for building community- based workforce.
- India is rich with Human Resources who are young and looking for work, we could simultaneously address two population challenges by empowering working-age adults who are jobless in the service of elders.
Conclusion:
- India can leverage community resources to address her complex problems, which offers a hopeful future for both her elderly and her young people.
