HelpAge India's releases report 'Bridge the Gap: Understanding Elder Needs' on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

• 'Elders break the retirement barrier, with 40% of them nationally wanting to be employed for 'as long as possible' reveals HelpAge India report

Chennai, June 14, 2022. HelpAge India, today on the eve of UN recognized 'World Elder Abuse Awareness Day' (June 15) released its national report 'Bridge the Gap: Understanding Elder Needs'. The report was released by chief guest, Tmt. D. Rathna, I.A.S. Director, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment - Tamilnadu, copies received by Dr. E. Theranirajan Dean - Madras Medical College & Rajiv Gandhi Govt. General Hospital, Chennai Tmt. R. Tamilselvi, Senior Civil Judge and Secretary - District Legal Services Authority, Chennai. Tmt. C. Shyamala Devi, Deputy Commissioner of Police - Crime Against Women and Children Wing, Chennai & Tmt. I.L. Florence Senior General Manager (HR & Admin) and Executive Secretary, K.C.P Sugar and Industries Corporation Ltd. Students from school and college have taken pledge of the day.

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India is home to approximately 138 million elderly, forming nearly 10 percent of its population. The impact of COVID 19 was unprecedented and its impact on the elderly forced governments, institutions and society world over to change the frame from which the elderly are viewed. Elders were identified as the most vulnerable during the pandemic and the hardest hit. In the last two years, HelpAge has been researching the impact of the pandemic on the elderly with Covid 19 being the silent tormentor, but this year is significant, from the point of view of the time-lapse post the devastation of the pandemic and seeing early signs of recovery.

(L to R) C. Shyamala Devi, Deputy Commissioner of Police - Crime Against Women and Children Wing, Chennai; I.L. Florence Senior General Manager (HR & Admin) and Executive Secretary, K.C.P Sugar and Industries Corporation Ltd; R. Tamilselvi, Senior Civil Judge and Secretary - District Legal Services Authority, Chennai; D. Rathna, I.A.S. Director, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment - Tamilnadu; Dr. E. Theranirajan Dean - Madras Medical College & Rajiv Gandhi Govt. General Hospital, Chennai; Siva Kumar V, State Head - Tamil Nadu

The report therefore, focuses not just on the core existential issues that elderly deal with on a day-to-day basis, but also takes stock of the entirety of their experience. Based on the UN Principles on Ageing of self-fulfilment, participation, independence, dignity and care, the aim of this report is to understand the overarching gaps, which prevent the elderly from living, happy, healthy and productive lives.

"The report, looks at the gaps in various areas of healthcare, agecare, financial security and inclusion. That why we kept the theme this year as 'Bridge the Gap'. It starkly brings out the importance of the family structure for elders to live healthy and happy lives. It also makes one question the barrier of ageism, which prevents our elders from leading productive lives. The report brings out their aspirations for gainful employment, volunteering and a need for an income source other than family. We need to create an enabling environment for senior citizens this can be done both at a societal and policy level, but the time to act is now,' says Siva Kumar V, State Head - Tamil Nadu.

The report is dip-stick study to understand the overarching gaps in income & employment at old age, health and wellbeing, elder abuse & safety and social & digital inclusion of elderly. It is based on a sample size of 4,399 elder respondents and2,200 Young Adult Caregivers, largely across SEC A,B,C categories, across 22 cities in India.

It is interestingly to note that nationally 47% elders are dependent on family for source of income while 34% are dependent on pension & cash transfers. Meanwhile in Chennai, 49% of elderly are dependent on family, while 17% depend upon pensions and cash transfers. This means that the majority of elders in Chennai do not have both family as well as pension support.

However, when asked about the adequacy of income, nationally 52% elders reported it was inadequate. Meanwhile, a substantial 40% elders said they do not feel financially secure, citing their incurred expenses are more than savings/income' (57%) and Pension not being enough (45%) as the top reasons. This suggests both financial planning for later years and social security needs much greater attention.

However, in Chennai, 68% of elderly say that their income is inadequate, while 32% say it is adequate, which is lower than then national average. Overall, only about 47% elders in Chennai say they have financial security.

While this survey report largely reports the situation amongst the urban middle class, it only makes one question the plight of the poor urban and rural elderly, many who have no support system or adequate income or pension. HelpAge has been advocating for a Universal Pension of Rs. 3000 a month, so that every elder can live life with dignity. The need to close this gap is more urgent now than ever, post the pandemic.

A sharp 71% elders are not working. 36% elders are willing to work and 40% of them want to work as long as possible'. 61% elders feel they aren't 'adequate and accessible employment opportunities' for elderly available. in Chennai, 67% of elders are not working, even as 41% say they have access to employment opportunities. The study further finds out that 27% of Chennai elders are willing to work after their retirement.

On the volunteering front, around 30% of the elderly are willing to volunteer and contribute to society. HelpAge's pioneering initiative of Elder Self-Help-Groups (ESHGS) successfully demonstrates elder's desire to stay meaningfully engaged and contribute. In Chennai, around 16% of the elderly are willing to volunteer and contribute to society, whereas only 14% are currently involved in volunteering work.

The key aspirations elderly have cited that are needed to create an enabling environment for employment opportunities are - 45 % elderly suggested 'Work from Home' as the best means, 34% have asked 'more respect be given to working elderly' and 29% have asked for 'increase in retirement age' and 'jobs exclusively for elderly' each. A national consensus appears between caregivers for 'work from home (WFH)' as the best way to employ senior citizens. In Chennai, 57% of care givers (which include family members) and 54% elderly says that WFH is best for them.

Role of family once again was critical in elder well-being, with 52% elders attributing feeling 'love & cared for' by family members, 78% elders stating that their family feeds them well & provides good food and 41% saying their family takes care of their medical costs.

One good news is that 87% elders reported there is availability of healthcare facilities nearby, however 78% elders mentioned unavailability of App-based/Online healthcare facilities and a significant 67% elderly reported, they do not have any health insurance at this critical stage in their lives and only 13% are covered under government insurance schemes. In Chennai, a whopping 84% elderly says that there are health facilities around, while 79% caregivers (including family members) confirm about some health facility around for senior citizens.

Post-Covid the need for better health protection has strongly emerged with 49%belderly expressing their aspiration for improved health, through better health Insurance and better health facilities each and 42% stating there should be more support from home. There needs to be an inherent systemic investment in elder healthcare, with more elder friendly facilities and healthcare schemes for elders.

"The report findings indicate that now is the time for implementation, for the Government to take the requisite measures and strengthen the family structure. It is encouraging to see elders wanting to be employed again post retirement. Therefore, systemic changes need to be made to ensure Digital Literacy for elders is easily accessible, so they can lead empowered lives. It is apparent that elders want to lear nnew things, as the report has clearly pointed out," says Siva Kumar V, State Head - Tamil Nadu, HelpAge India.

Elder abuse is a sensitive subject amongst most Indian families and the report throws up sharp contrast on the perception of the existence of abuse to admitting the experience of abuse personally. Nationally 59% elders feel that elder abuse is prevalent in society, while only 10% elders admitted to being a victim of elder abuse, with relatives (36%), Son (35%) & Daughter-in-law (21%) being the top 3 perpetrators. Disrespect (57%), verbal abuse (38 %), neglect (33%), economic exploitation (24%) and an alarming 13% elders experienced physical abuse, in the form of beating and slapping. In Chennai, 34% elderly feel that such abuse is prevalent in society while 14% were themselves victims. Elders attribute the abuse to their sons' (32%) and daughters' in law (14%) as the biggest perpetrators of abuse.

Nationally 47% of those abused stated they 'stopped talking to family' as a response to the abused faced. Again family here becomes a key role player. In Chennai, 54% of elderly stated they 'stopped talking to family'.

With regard to prevention of abuse, 58% of elderly nationally opined that 'counselling to family members' is required, while 56% of elderly said to deal with abuse 'time bound decisions and an age friendly response system needs to be put in place at a policy level.

Sadly, 46% of the elders are not aware of any abuse redressal mechanism, with only 13 % aware of the 'Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007'. This throws up a stark need to have more robust awareness mechanisms put in place at a systemic level across the country, through extensive campaigns, media outreach etc. In Chennai, 60% elderly say that they are not aware of redressal mechanism for abuse, even as this goes to a high of 80% for Bengaluru, and 84% for Raipur.

Again, personal well-being and happiness fall around expectations from family members, with 79% elders feeling that their family does not spend enough time with them. Although, the majority (82%) of elders are living with their families, 59% want their family members to spend more time with them. This shows that even after staying with family, larger percentage of elderly feel lonely.

Social inclusion brought out mixed responses with 78% elders feeling involved in family decision-making by their caregivers at home, yet 43.1% elders felt neglected by younger generations and feel left out.

With a huge boost being giving to digital India across the board, and the constant evolvement of new digital technology, our elders are still far behind with 71% elders not having access to smart phones. Those who do, have not yet optimized its benefits and use it primarily for calling purposes (49%), social media (30%) and banking transactions (17%). 34% of users of smart phones meanwhile stated, they need someone to teach them. In Chennai, 13.5% elderly say they use smartphone, 59% mainly using for only calling purposes and 11% to access social media.

Lack of access to digital technology also impacts access various online facilities in areas of health, especially at an era where tele-health is gaining ground, access to daily need goods which the pandemic has shown made it very difficult for elders to access during the lockdowns, communication among a host of others. In Chennai, 25% of elderly feel that they should be given training for digital inclusion so that it becomes easier for them them to operate bank accounts, do UPI payments, and access social media.

These gaps need to be closely looked at and addressed. Today, the lifespan of the elderly are far longer and many live well into their 80s and 90s, it is there imperative that they lead their second innings with dignity and are given equal & adequate opportunities and access, to fulfil their basic needs, improving their quality of life.

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