Q. “India must transform elderly care from an informal family responsibility into a professional, accessible and gender-equitable care economy.” Discuss the need, challenges and policy measures required to achieve this transition. (15 marks, 250 words)
Direction: Intro----- Need, challenges and policy measures required------Conclusion.
Introduction:
Brief about India’s ageing population.
Main Body
Need for transforming elderly care
- Demographic transition – Increase in the elderly population will raise demand for long-term care, rehabilitation and geriatric healthcare.
- Changing family structures – Nuclear households, migration and smaller families.
- Professional care requirements – Age-related illnesses, dementia, mobility limitations, etc require specialised skills beyond informal experience.
- Gender equality – According to the NSO figures, women spend an average of 299 minutes daily on unpaid domestic work and caregiving.
- Employment generation – Professional caregiving can create formal employment opportunities.
Challenges
- Inadequate trained workforce
- Gendered burden of unpaid care
- Affordability and accessibility
- Institutional and regulatory gaps
- Limited recognition and standardisation.
Measures required for transition
- Professionalize caregiving
- Establish national framework for caregiving
- Recognize informal caregiving
- Make caregiving gender-equitable
- Build accessible care infrastructure.
Conclusion:
Give a positive and balanced conclusion.
India must move from a family-only model to a shared-care model involving families, the state, communities and professional service providers.
