India's Geriatric Care Crisis: A Call to Action for Healthy Ageing

As India’s population ages at an unprecedented pace, experts at theIllness to Wellness Conferenceon “The Role of Geriatric Care in Promoting Healthy and Graceful Ageing” discussed the growing challenges confronting the country’s elderly population and the urgent need for more responsive and inclusive approaches to geriatric care. Speakers highlighted that these challenges are multi-dimensional in nature. They include rising disabilities and age-related health conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, significant gaps in geriatric healthcare infrastructure coupled with a sharp urban–rural divide in access to medical services, and mounting economic pressures driven by inadequate social security and rising healthcare costs. Participants also pointed to a widening digital divide, with many seniors struggling to adopt technology due to limited access and lack of age-friendly training, as well as physical infrastructure—public spaces, transport systems and emergency response mechanisms—that remains largely ill-equipped to support the safety, mobility and independence of older persons. Against this backdrop, the conference brought together senior government leaders, medical experts and public health practitioners to deliberate on preventive care, mental and neurological health, assistive technologies, nutrition and lifestyle interventions, while calling for integrated, community-based and home-led geriatric care models that address both the medical and social dimensions of ageing. Delivering the keynote address,Mr. Rajesh Bhushan,Former Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India and Chairperson, Governing Council, Illness to Wellness Foundation, underscored that geriatric care must be recognised as a core public health priority, on par with mental health and non-communicable diseases.