No. PR- 112
September 28, 2021
New Delhi
“Life must be a Celebration and not of suffering for the elderly” said by Shri. R. Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India
The Health Committee, PHDCCI initiated a webinar series on Healthy Ageing and as part of the same, first webinar on Need and Requirement of Assisted Living for seniors organized on 27th September 2021.
Shri. R. Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India was the chief guest of the webinar while the other eminent dignitaries present were Mr. Pradeep Multani, Senior Vice President, PHD Chamber, Dr Subramanian, Chair health Committee, PHDCCI, Dr. Sameer Gupta, Co-Chair, Health Committee, PHDCCI, Prof. (Dr.) Harvinder Popli, Co-Chair, Health Committee, PHDCCI, Dr. Vishal Sehgal, President Medical Services, Portea Medical, Dr. O. P. Sharma, General Secretary, Geriatric Society Of India, Ms. Nanki L. Singh, CEO & MD, Protribe Senior Care Services PVT LTD, Dr. Sonia Lal Gupta, Sr. Consultant Neurologist, Metro Group of Hospitals, Mr. Sanjoy Pasricha, Chief Advisor, Aurum Senior and Assisted Living, Mr. Ipsito Chakravarty, Director of Gerontology Research Wing, Calcutta Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology and the session is moderated by Mr. Vivek Seigell, Assistant Secretary General, PHDCCI
While welcoming the dignitaries, Mr. Pradeep Multani mentioned that after a life of working and caring for others, the senior loved ones deserve the physical and mental well-being of a happy retirement. As elderly loved ones age, many of us try to take care of them as long as possible. Caring for them can be very rewarding yet exhausting! However, over time, it can become increasingly difficult and more than we’re equipped to handle. Finding a community that gives an aging loved one the care they need and deserve, and a chance to have a great quality of life, is invaluable. Assisted living communities provide privacy and independence, but they also provide care and safety for your loving family member.
Shri. R. Subrahmanyam thanked PHD Chamber to gather the entire stakeholder on one platform to discuss the very important aspect of senior care today. He said that in now a days people live longer but not live happily. The important aspect is life must be a celebration and not a suffering. We need to make them understand that seniors are the most important members of the society as 1/3rd of the seniors are in a position to contribute in a nation building.
Shri. Subrahmanyam said that we are focusing on recognizing elders as a great resource and not burdens for which the policy is in process. Highlighting some of the points in the policy, he mentioned that Economic independence, how to build livelihood among the seniors, promoting innovation for the sake of elders for their needs and need of great marketing efforts to look for their requirement and services are main parts of the policy. He also said that the Ministry has launched Senior Care Ageing Growth Engine Portal where the innovators can register their innovative products for seniors and the Government will recognize them.
He further mentioned that the Government constitutes a committee to bring the standards for assisted living and expect the industry to catching up with such initiatives.
Dr. N. Subramanyam said that we have more than 100mn seniors in our country where the ratio of elder women is more than the men and 13% by 2021 will be over the age of 60 years. The age brings certain concerns like the risk of fall is 7times higher in elders with dementia and vision problem. Around 24% of the seniors have some kind of problems where there loose the purpose in their life. The incidence of Alzheimer’s and dementia are increasing day by day and we need preventive, assistive and curative approach to cater the needs or challenges of the elders. We need to be sure that the NCDs in elders are addressed adequately & timely.
Dr. Sameer Gupta mentioned that India is not only the country of younger ones but also the ageing country too where 20% of India will be of seniors in 2050. Dr. Gupta also mentioned about the challenges of the seniors like financial, social, medication management, assistance in daily activities and peace of mind, where the assisted living or assistive community plays a major role.
Dr. O P Sharma thanked PHD Chamber for inviting Geriatric Society of India onto the platform and said that there are two sectors in India, which are organized and Unorganized and there is no reimbursement so the financial challenges are very much important. He further said that there are 5 signs to recognize the elder which are incontinence, incoordination, insomnia, insecurity and ill-health.
Dr. Sonia Lal Gupta said that there is a need to work in building the awareness among the society on elder care. There is a need to recognise that whom and where the assisted living is required and for that more programs on awareness are necessary at country level. Dr. Sonia further mentioned that recognizing the medical condition of the elder, start the treatment and give the support through assisted living or assistive community is very much important.
Mr. Sanjoy Pasricha said that seniors need from 60 to 90 Years, keep changing significantly every 3-5 years going from a “slowing process” to a “loosing confidence process” to “loosing physical abilities status” to a “dependency status” to finally a “surrender” status. For improving quality of life of seniors, there is a need for a Professional Wholistic Approach involving Physical, Mental, Spiritual and Emotional engagement to enhance and enrich the life of elders.
Ms. Nanki L. Singh highlighted various significant points about Healthy Ageing. She urged the government to provide some financial support and paid incentive for this rising sector for better quality assurance. She further requested for educating people and creating awareness about Healthy Ageing, she said this will certainly change the perception of every individual towards Healthy ageing.
Dr Vishal Sehgal said, “The population of elderly in India currently stands at 130-140 million today and is expected to reach to about 200 million when the next census takes place. This population also has immense health needs and other challenges which came to the fore more during the pandemic. According to study carried out by JNU to map the relationship between chronic diseases and disabilities for elderly, about 18% of the elderly men and 26% women are coping with some form of disability. This problem has got compounded due to the fact that most of their children live abroad or in other cities. It is important to understand whether the needs of all these senior citizens can be covered by senior care homes. In India, the acceptance for sending them to such homes is still evolving, culturally or otherwise. There is thus a need to look at home monitoring for them since there are two segments of elderly who need care: supportive care for chronic diseases and second is those who demand concierge, companionship and engagement related aspects. The need of the hour is a structured, multidisciplinary and even subscription model in this regard and public private partnership and insurance providers getting involved.’
Mr. Ipsito Chakravarty said that in this era of Digital Revolution, Technology has the potential to bring about a metamorphosis in the process of ageing. Gerontology has evolved in the last few years as a cross-fertilization domain between Gerontology & Technology and researchers in CMIG have derived a unique Quantum Meditation tool to guide an older adult to the doorsteps of Healthy Ageing. Today, science & technology don’t consider spirituality to be an abstract, esoteric domain, instead, a part of the same continuum.
Quantum Meditation acts at the level of mind & spirit, being grounded in the law of Vibration & Attraction & General Theory of Resonance. A stream of auditory and optic stimuli, being fed into the subject’s brain, which, in turn, synchronize and resonate with the subject’s own neural activation pattern to create a highlighted state of awareness. We hypothesize that this being reinforced every day for a particular period of time will help and assist the ability to live a graceful and healthy ageing. We want to make the software solutions simple and affordable so that they can be availed by Senior Citizen Homes and Day Care Centres for the elderly all throughout the country.
Prof. (Dr.) Harvinder Popli gave a formal Vote of Thanks to the Chief Guest and all the dignitaries for sharing their valuable time and said that we all know the world population is aging and there is an urgent need to look for the innovation and new ways for seniors to be in comfortable living. She further said that every person should have the opportunity to live a long healthy life.
The event summit also supported by Annual Sponsors such as DLF India; Multani Pharmaceuticals; UFLEX; JK Tyre & Industries; Marble City; Paramount Cables; SMC Investments and Advisors; Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic; Comtech Interio; DCM Shriram Industries; Radico Khaitan; R.E. Rogers India; Ajit Industries; Synergy Environics; EaseMy Trip; Continental Carriers; Timberworkz; Jindal Stainless; Modern Automobiles; P S Bedi & Co; IFFCO and Hindware.
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Media Division
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry