An increasingly alarming trend in the country is that many elderly persons are now living alone, and this could soon be termed epidemic-like. A recent Agewell Foundation study, 'Study on Solo Aging with a Special Focus on the Status of Older People Living Alone', interviewed 10,000 elderly respondents across rural and urban locations. The study found that 14.3% were elderly respondents who reported living alone. Urban areas tend towards a >1.5% higher prevalence, with 1.5% living alone in rural areas as compared to 13,4% of rural areas.
Out of all persons who are currently coresiding independently, a huge 41.9%-or about 46.5% of the elderly women-has lived alone for more than five years. In spite of the adversities attached to solo aging, nearly 47% of such people have happy lives. However, 41.5% confessed feeling unhappy, which indicates the mixed experiences of aging alone.
A bunch of changes in society, not the least of which are economic independence among the working classes in India, have created this kind of demographic shift. It is increasingly common for people to go in search of both personal and financial freedom in order to spend their twilight years alone, made possible by increased access to education and evolving market trends. Privacy and personal space are factors for 21.5% of respondents in favor of independent living in later years.
In addition to extending retirement age in the healthcare sector, this has allowed many senior citizens to remain long years in workforce. But it also brings a problem: increasing number of older people failing to cope with their position in society.
Another cause of increasing importance is migration for the young generation. One in every three urban Indians is a migrant, and with the increase in international mobility, the elderly often get left behind in intercity or international migrations undertaken by their children. Last year, the floodgates of renouncing Indian citizenship opened with a deluge, as more than 225,000 people went abroad-the highest for the last more than a decade. Dubai has become a haven for high-net-worth individuals, with tax-friendly policies and business environments luring them into the country.
The issue of loneliness and social isolation among the elderly is fast turning into a public health concern. Loneliness is now acknowledged by the National Council on Aging as a severe public health risk. NASEM further notes that more than one-third of adults aged 45 and above report feelings of loneliness, while nearly a quarter of adults aged 65 and older are considered socially isolated.
VridhCare, Agewell Foundation, HelpAge India, and several other NGOs are into a huge raging crisis and revisiting it with social reforms and community outreach programs for reducing loneliness among the elderly.
The new and emerging dimensions of a greying population, along with an increasing social vacuum among individuals, demand increasingly comprehensive strategies to address the issues of elderly citizens. The governments must, therefore, work in unison with the NGOs to fulfill the elderly population's needs in ensuring that the citizens age with dignity and care as well as connected to one another.