Elderly Population

Cold weather can be deadly for seniors, even indoors. Doctors explain why older adults are vulnerable to hypothermia and share practical winter safety tips for families and caregivers

Older adults who are frail and have depression could be at a higher risk of dementia, with the factors combined contributing to 17 per cent of the overall risk, according to a study. The findings, published in the journal General Psychiatry, suggests that while frailty and depression each increase dementia risk on their own, having both the conditions could make one more than three times as likely to develop dementia, compared with those in good health. According to researchers from Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China, frailty and depression should be routinely assessed in older people, as improving their physical and mental health could help reduce dementia risk. The previously published research has primarily focused on the individual associations between physical frailty or depression and dementia risk, they added. Data from more than two lakh people from the US and UK, including the UK Biobank dataset, were analysed. During a 13-year follow-up, 9,088 participants wer

Hip fracture among the elderly is a significant health crisis. Frequently resulting from a simple fall in individuals with weakened bones due to osteoporosis, the mortality rate after such a fracture is striking, according to experts. This serious injury, a break in the upper part of the thigh bone -- femur -- near the hip joint, almost always necessitates surgical intervention, followed by extensive physical therapy. According to doctors, one-year mortality rates after a hip fracture range from 14 per cent to 36 per cent. Dr Abhimanyu Kumar, a consultant orthopaedic at the Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research (SBISR) said the risk of hip fracture rises with age, with women being particularly susceptible due to accelerated bone loss after menopause. "Beyond osteoporosis, other risk factors include poor vision, balance problems, osteoarthritis of the knees, muscle weakness (sarcopenia), use of multiple medications, and underlying chronic conditions like Parkinson's disea

Seniors are 10% of India, but already 17% of its pharma market

NASDAQ-listed MakeMyTrip on Friday announced its collaboration with Emoha to launch holiday packages for travellers aged over 60 years. The packages include senior-friendly accommodations, pre-travel health screenings, 24/7 emergency coordination, and a nurse onboard. India's silver tourism market is growing, but concerns around health, mobility, and safety continue to hold many seniors back from travelling. On MakeMyTrip, travellers aged over 60 account for nearly 9 per cent of all holiday package bookings, with strong demand for group tours (20 per cent) and long-haul trips (13 per cent). Jasmeet Singh, Chief Commercial Officer - Holidays & Experiences, MakeMyTrip, said, "Travel is one of life's greatest joys, and our elders deserve to experience it without worry. Too often, health concerns become barriers that keep them from exploring the world. With these senior-friendly holidays, we want to give them the freedom to travel with confidence and reassurance to their families.

For a quarter century, President Vladimir Putin has faced the spectre of Russia's shrinking and aging population. In 1999, a year before he came to power, the number of babies born in Russia plunged to its lowest recorded level. In 2005, Putin said the demographic woes needed to be resolved by maintaining "social and economic stability. In 2019, he said the problem still haunted the country. As recently as Thursday, he told a Kremlin demographic conference that increasing births was crucial for Russia. Putin has launched initiatives to encourage people to have more children -- from free school meals for large families to awarding Soviet-style hero-mother medals to women with 10 or more children. Many of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers had seven, eight, and even more children, Putin said in 2023. Let's preserve and revive these wonderful traditions. Having many children and a large family must become the norm. At first, births in Russia grew with its economic prosperity, f

A survey finds only 23% of Indian seniors work after retirement despite 73% expressing willingness to stay active and earn

New research finds that nearly one in four adults over 60 bounce back to full well-being in just three years, proving resilience and recovery are possible at any age

The service rules allow 30 days' leave to Central government employees, which can be availed for any personal reason including that of taking care of elderly parents, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The minister was asked whether there is any provision for government employees to avail leave to take care of their elderly parents. "The Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 provides for 30 days of earned leave, 20 days of half pay leave, eight days of casual leave and two days of restricted holiday per annum, apart from other eligible leaves to a Central government employee, which can be availed for any personal reasons, including that of taking care of elderly parents," Singh said in a written reply.

During a raid conducted on Thursday, some residents were found tied up, while others were kept in 'basement-like' rooms

Two Indian nationals studying in the United States have been sentenced to federal prison in separate but similar fraud cases involving elaborate scams that targeted elderly Americans and resulted in millions of dollars in losses. Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel, 20, who entered the US on a student visa, was sentenced this week to 63 months (over five years) in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), Patel participated in an online phishing conspiracy that impersonated US government officials and used fear tactics to extract money and gold from senior citizens. The conspiracy used various online phishing methods and impersonated US government officials, while Patel fraudulently received the cash and gold from victims, conveying a portion to co-conspirators and keeping a percentage for his own benefit, the DOJ said. An investigation determined the scheme defrauded at least 25 elderly victims, with an intended los

According to a study, Japan's tourism boom is at risk as severe labour shortages hit the hospitality sector

Kerala has become the first state in India to pass a law creating a commission for senior citizens, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Thursday. Hailing the law enacted on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said this new commission would focus on protecting the rights, welfare, and rehabilitation of the elderly. "The LDF government is implementing policies that wholeheartedly embrace senior citizens. Kerala, which ranks first in the country in elderly welfare, is setting another example in this field. "To strengthen the initiatives launched for senior citizens since the previous government's tenure, the state is now establishing the country's first-ever Senior Citizens Commission. As a step towards this, the Kerala Legislative Assembly passed the Kerala State Senior Citizens Commission Bill yesterday (Wednesday)," Vijayan said in a Facebook post. He said that with the establishment of this commission, "we will be able to ensure the rehabilitation, security, and welfare" of senior .

China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, as marriages plummeted by one-fifth

Given that most births in China occur within marriage, this downward trend in marriage rates is expected to push birth figures even lower in 2025

Population decline is not unique to China, East Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, have also experienced decreases in birth rates

Guidelines issued by the Chinese govt state that the country will promote the development of humanoid robots, brain-computer interfaces, and AI tech specifically designed for elderly care

The concluding part of the silver economy series looks at innovative apps and wearables that are empowering seniors and their families

Affluent and health conscious, mature consumers are becoming selective about what they buy. Businesses are stepping up to meet their needs

By 2050, India will host 15% of the world's silver generation, facing a rising wave of dementia