Loneliness is a critical issue affecting the health and well-being of older adults, despite living in an increasingly connected world. This silent epidemic impacts mental, emotional, and physical health, making it a pressing public health concern that requires immediate attention.
The world is experiencing an extraordinary revolution, driven by the relentless march of time itself. The aging convulsion is transforming the healthcare environment, notably in the discipline of elderly health. The United Nations Population Fund’s India Ageing Report 2023 anticipates that the number of people aged 60 or above will reach 3.47 million by 2050. This projection leads to the need for increased development of creative techniques and comprehensive approaches to meet the growing requirements of the elderly.
Dementia, a progressive decline in cognitive abilities, influences thinking, memory and the ability to perform regular activities. While dementia has no cure, a healthy, well-balanced diet plays a vital role in managing it. This goes beyond physical health; a balanced diet impacts cognitive function and by adopting a holistic care approach that addresses cognitive and emotional needs, caregivers can significantly improve the quality of life in elders with dementia.
It is not uncommon for people to witness a decline in their health as they age. While physical health becomes a prime topic of discussion on aging, mental health, significantly impacting overall well-being, can’t be ignored. As elders navigate various life changes, including retirement, loss of loved ones, and physical health challenges, their mental health can be significantly affected and we need to be prepared for that.
Exercise is vital for everyone, but it holds particular significance for the elderly. As we age, the likelihood of neurodegenerative disorders increases, making an active lifestyle even more crucial. Staying active not only enhances our physical well-being but also significantly boosts our mental health.
According to Statista, as of 2023, more than 10% of the Indian population is 60 years of age or older, and this proportion is expected to rise by 2025. However, while aging is a natural process, it can bring about a variety of changes that leave the elderly vulnerable and stressed about their health and wellness, one of the more serious of which is dementia.
Death is inevitable; as living beings, dying is a normal part of our life cycle. Most people at some point of their lives would have thought about ‘how they want to pass away’. It is always...
A progressive illness, dementia is actually a group of symptoms, or a syndrome, in which there is global deterioration of cognitive function accompanied by changes...
Ageing is not a disease but a biological universal phenomenon and is attributed to various factors including disease, environment, genetics, lifestyle, and the natural process itself. Today most people can expect longevity in their 60s and beyond. People worldwide...
India is at a crossroads when it comes to elder care. Still considered a young nation, caring for elderly historically (and culturally) has always been considered as an individual, familial responsibility rather than the responsibility of the state or community. One of the few silver linings...
In late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 was identified as a new type of coronavirus which quickly escalated into a global pandemic and from then, life changed for everyone, everywhere. One of the earliest conclusions about its severity arose from its effect on the ageing population and on people with underlying comorbidities. Within the ageing…
Dementia is a neurodegenerative condition that affects the cognitive functioning of the brain like thinking, reasoning, and remembering to such an extent that it hinders the day to day normal activities of an elderly individual. It affects...
Dementia is a complex disease, chronic and progressive in nature, in which cognitive functions such as thinking, remembering, reasoning and behavioural abilities deteriorate. Due to this loss, a person’s daily life and activities...
The importance of mental health is highly underrated globally, and India is not far behind. The first director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Brock Chisholm, in 1954, had rightly declared...
On this day of the #International Day of #Older Persons, the United Nations has released its statement on #digitalequity for all ages, especially those who are on the margin (elderly & women) and are compromised. The western world and #India view digitalisation from very different lenses...
People around the globe work to earn their meals. Food acts as an excellent motivator – people know that they have to work in order to “put food on the table”. Food or nutrition plays an essential role...
People were still coping and managing the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, when on Nov 26th, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of a new Covid-19 variant, Omicron. The 3rd wave is here and...
Visualise a situation where you suddenly open your eyes and can’t make any sense of where you are or what you are doing there. Your surroundings seem unfamiliar to you...and there is a person in your room, giving...
Caregiving for people with dementia is in many ways more challenging than looking after somebody with a physical condition. This is because when you look after someone with dementia, you end up...
Each individual is unique and so are his or her experiences, memories and feelings. There is a general apathy towards dementia especially when it comes to remembering the person they are, the rich history they hold...
Fronto-Temporal Dementia (FTD) is one of the lesser-known types of dementia and equally or more challenging to handle than others. It accounts for about 5-10% cases of...
Elder care in India is a slightly dichotomous term at the moment. On one hand, there is the looming statistics which suggests that this nation needs to gear up for a crisis (by 2050, the no. of elderly in India would...
“Let us try to enhance the capacity of the older people to support themselves for as long as possible. And, when they cannot do so any more, to care for them,” were Nelson Mandela’s poignant words.
There are around 115 million senior citizens...
Dementia is a chronic and debilitating neurodegenerative disease. It is characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive abilities that significantly interferes with an individual’s functioning; both physical and mental...
In India, around 115 million are senior citizens (60 years and above), and out of those, around 12 million are super senior citizens (80 years and above). In a few decades India will no longer..
Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. About 50 million people are suffering from this condition worldwide..
Ageing is mainly defined as ‘progressive physiological changes in an organism, and that leads to senescence, or a decline of biological functions and of the organism’s ability to adapt to metabolic stress,’ as...
Dementia is a complex disease often draining family members and stripping elders of their identity thus leaving many devastated. Contrary to popular opinion labeling it as a mental health issue, dementia actually occurs when...
Compared to the rest of the world, today, India is still a ‘young’ country. However, recently, India has been
With changing social structures, lifestyles becoming more individualistic and shrinking families, loneliness has become almost synonymous with ageing. One of the most dreaded notions about our end of life is the ‘feeling of being alone’. These notions...
“Music can heal the wound that medicine cannot touch.”
These words by author Debasish Mridha hold true in every possible way. Dementia is a complex and debilitating neurodegenerative disease. It occurs when parts of our...
Elders are an integral part of any society. The global population of elderly over 60 years of age has doubled since 1980, and is now around 100 crores, and it is expected to double again by 2050. As the average age life span...
With the global scenario inevitably racing towards an aging population, the demand for healthcare facilities will dramatically increase and the world will be forced to come up with creative solutions. Little can be done to control the upsurge in...
The World Health Organization reports on dementia show an exponential increase in the number of older people living with dementia. According to WHO, today there are around 55 million...
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