Elderly women in India are largely dependent on their families for economic and social well-being. The small proportion of elderly women in care homes are often cut off from their families. Irrespective of the virus, elderly women tend to suffer from a host of medical problems ranging from diabetes, hypertension, pulmonary disorders, heart disease, most of which require lifelong medication. There is also the National Programme for Health Care of Elderly which speaks, among other things, about capacity-building for medical and paramedical professionals and caregivers. Elderly women need easy access to home health care, access to essentials preferably through home delivery, and above all compassion and care from their families and State systems.

Source: Hindustan Times May 29, 2021 14:03 UTC