Social and health issues among older adults in India

Abstract

With longevity and declining fertility rates, the population of older persons (60 years and above) is globally growing faster than the general population. The percentage of the elderly in India for example has been growing at an increasing rate in recent years and the trend is likely to continue in the coming decades. The share of population over the age of 60 years is projected to increase from 8 percent in 2015 to 19 percent in 2050. By the end of the century, the elderly will constitute nearly 34 percent of the total population in the country. In this book we aimed to identify trajectories of health and their associations with lifestyle factors in a nationally representative cohort study of middle-aged and older Indians. We discuss self-rated health status, age discrimination, major injuries, recurrent falls, perceived everyday discrimination, elder abuse, hypertension, diabetes, angina pectoris, stroke, arthritis, back pain or problems, oral health problems, cataract, edentulism, hearing loss, tobacco use, alcohol use, loneliness, health care discrimination, weight discrimination, religiosity and well-being. We hope that the findings may aid public policy and programmes for middle-aged and older adults in India.