New Delhi: Strengthening healthcare access and improving awareness of support services for older persons will be critical to building resilience in the face of increasing climate-related challenges, according to the latest report “Climate Resilient Ageing – Ensuring Care, Dignity and Agency”.
The national study by HelpAge India, based on responses from 2,224 older persons across 20 districts in 10 states, examined how health, care, livelihoods, social support and climate risks intersect in the lives of older persons living in rural India.
The study found that while healthcare services are available to many older persons, regular and reliable access remains an important area of focus. Although 88 per cent reported at least some access to healthcare, 35 per cent said they can always access healthcare when needed. Nearly two-thirds experience inconsistent access, creating challenges for managing chronic health conditions.
For many older persons, particularly those living in rural areas, practical barriers often make healthcare access difficult. Nearly half (49 per cent) reported difficulty travelling to healthcare facilities, 41 per cent cited treatment costs as a challenge while 38 per cent said health facilities were located far away.
At the same time, government healthcare infrastructure continues to play an important role, with Primary Health Centres (51 per cent) and government hospitals (49 per cent) emerging as the most accessed healthcare services.
“Older persons are among those most at risk from rising climate shocks, particularly those living alone or with impairments, and yet they remain largely invisible in climate response efforts. While government schemes provide a critical safety net, a more multi-pronged approach is needed with targeted interventions at household, community and institutional levels, alongside improving access to welfare schemes.
“Integrating ageing into climate adaptation, climate financing, elder-centric disaster risk reduction and social protection policies is essential,” said Rohit Prasad, CEO, HelpAge India.
The report also highlighted the importance of awareness in helping older persons access available support.
Awareness of government schemes is highest for the Public Distribution System (93 per cent), followed by old-age pensions or financial support (71 per cent), free or subsidised healthcare (67 per cent) and housing support schemes (62 per cent). Awareness is much lower for National Programme for the Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) (20 per cent), digital training for older persons (17 per cent) and elder helplines (11 per cent).
According to the study, strengthening awareness of such age-specific services, especially elder helplines, can complement existing welfare initiatives and help older persons access timely support, particularly during emergencies and periods of vulnerability.
“This report highlights the intersection of ageing and climate change. Repeated climate hazards disproportionately impact older persons, especially women, widows, those living alone, the impaired, and the oldest old. A large segment, already disadvantaged by low education, savings, and poor health, relies heavily on welfare and family support. Older women shoulder multiple burdens, from caregiving to securing water and income. In such contexts, accessible essential services are not just critical – they are vital for survival,” says Anupama Datta, Head – Policy Research & Advocacy, HelpAge India.
The findings gain added significance against the backdrop of increasing climate-related risks.
The report found that 78 per cent of respondents experienced at least one climate-related hazard in the last three years. Heatwaves (45 per cent), floods (27 per cent) and droughts (20per cent) were the most commonly reported hazards.
More than one-third of those exposed reported moderate to severe impacts on their lives.
It said that resilience cannot be built solely through climate action. It calls for strengthening the capacities and agency of older persons, ensuring their voices are included in climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction efforts and prioritising support for those facing the greatest disadvantage.
It is important to invest in the family, community and institutional systems that older persons rely on, while strengthening health services, care networks and social protection. Together, these measures will be critical to ensuring that older persons can age with dignity, security and resilience in an ever-changing climate.
Source link
#Study #highlights #boost #healthcare #access #awareness #climateresilient #ageing
