Elderly Population

Elderly may account for 25% of India's pharma market in 2-3 decades

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

MakeMyTrip partners with Emoha to launch senior-friendly holiday packages

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.

Putin brings laws to grapple with Russia's shrinking, aging population

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

73% of seniors want to work after retirement, yet only 23% do: Survey

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

It's never too late: Study shows 1 in 4 older adults reclaim full health

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

Central govt staffers can now take 30-day leave to care for elderly parents

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.

Noida old-age home horror: 42 senior citizens found tied up, barely clad

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

2 Indian students sentenced in fraud schemes targeting elderly Americans

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

Japan's youth abandon tourism jobs amid low wages, harsh work culture

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

Kerala becomes first Indian state to establish senior citizens commission

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 to adopt policies for ageing population, aim to boost birth rates

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

China's marriage rate hits 40-year low in 2024, deepening population woes

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

China's population decline continues for third year in a row: Here's why

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

China turns to humanoid robots to address ageing population challenge

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

Silver lining: How technology is changing the landscape of elder care

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

Silver lining: FMCG firms roll out tailored offerings for golden years

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

India's ageing population at high risk of dementia, cases to double by 2030

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

Here's why older people are among the biggest users of social media

Facebook remains the most popular among this demographic, serving as a gateway to reconnect with family and long-lost friends

Elderly population in India likely to double by 2050: UNFPA India chief

India's elderly population is expected to double by 2050, UNFPA India chief Andrea Wojnar said, stressing that more investment in healthcare, housing and pensions is needed, especially for older women who are "more likely to live alone and face poverty". In an interview with PTI given days after the World Population Day on July 11, Resident Representative for UNFPA India, Wojnar, outlined key population trends that India is prioritising to accelerate sustainable development. These trends include the youthful population, ageing population, urbanisation, migration, and climate resilience, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities for the nation. She said as the number of individuals, aged 60 and above, is projected to double to 346 million by 2050, there is a pressing need for increased investment in healthcare, housing and pension schemes. "...especially for older women who are more likely to live alone and face poverty," she said. India boasts a substantial youthful ...

Half of elderly people skip doctor visits due to money constraints: Study

A new study that surveyed elderly people across India has found that nearly half of its respondents in urban areas do not visit doctors regularly due to financial constraints and logistical challenges and the corresponding figure for rural areas is over 62 per cent. The study conducted by NGO Agewell had a sample size of 10,000. The organisation recently shared examples of some of the responses it received in the course of the survey. It said Prabhkar Sharma, a 78-year-old resident of Agra who has been grappling with arthritis for a decade, found navigating hospitals for routine check-ups painful and difficult which often forces him to postpone essential medical visits. "If there were door-step or mobile health check-up services... it would be very helpful for people of my age group," he told the NGO. In Ludhiana, 72-year-old Rajesh Kumar faces a different predicament, according to the study. Dependent solely on his retirement pension, Kumar finds the exorbitant cost of healthcare