Healthcare of Elderly
http://epaper.mailtoday.in/c/13658477
Neetu Chandra Sharma | Posted
by Arpan Rai
New Delhi, October 3, 2016
Despite earnest efforts by the Narendra Modi government to bring
about a transition in healthcare facilities with special focus on the elderly,
senior citizens in India, it seems, are not getting enough medical facilities.
The government is coming out with a
special health insurance for the elderly, but according to a study released by Agewell
Foundation, more than 83 percent of them have major problems related to
healthcare.
THE 'NUCLEAR FAMILY' FACTOR
The study was conducted on over 15,000
elderly, which found that those with good net worth value are in search of
short-term financial planning to earn a better income from their finances. With
the nuclear family system getting popular, many older people live alone, and
therefore, they want to utilise their net worth value to the maximum throughout
their life.
"Unlike the financially weaker
section among the elderly, those in a sound financial position do not want to
depend on government medical facilities and instead prefer private
institutions.
WHAT DO ELDERLY WITH GOOD NET WORTH
EXPECT?
Elderly with good net worth value also
expect elderly-friendly measures like life insurance and medical insurance,
elderly friendly investment plans, pension plans, etc," said the study
findings.
The study found that around 65 percent
of the elderly undergo financial crisis and are totally dependent on others for
their financial requirements.
The rest are financially secure because
they have earned, saved or inherited well. While pension is the main source of
income for 38 percent elderly respondents, 46.4 percent claimed their net worth
value has increased remarkably in old age. More than four-fifth of the
respondents said their major problems are related to medical and healthcare,
and financial status plays a major role in healthcare conditions.
WHAT DO FINANCIALLY INSECURE ELDERLY
EXPECT?
"Financially insecure old people
expect social security, free healthcare and subsidies so that they can lead a
comfortable and respectable life in old age.
At the same time, older people with
sound financial health look forward to risk-free investment schemes so that
they can earn good returns to meet financial needs in old age," Agewell
Foundation founder-chairman Himanshu Rath said.
"Most of the elderly, particularly
in rural areas, suffer from financial problems. It is a major factor
responsible for their miserable situation in old age.
With high net worth value, older people
have higher purchasing power, but it is the younger family members who often
manipulate their decisions," he said.
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