Old Age and Palliative Care in Indian Scenario

Old age and palliative care go hand-in-hand. World Health Organization and Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance estimate suggest that among adults in need of palliative care, 66% to 69% are elderly over 60 years of age.¹ Among conditions requiring palliative care¹ Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer are common amongst the elderly. Old age related weakness in absence of any other medically diagnosed condition though not listed anywhere in the literature available as requiring palliative care will constitute a major proportion of the need of palliative care services in India. In a study done in urban areas of Puducherry to estimate the need of palliative care in the general population, it was found that 9 out of 22 people (44%) in need of palliative care were suffering from only old age related weakness.² The assessment was based on three questions. First, is there anyone in your family who is bedridden? Second, is there anyone in your family who is unable to go to work because of a physical illness? And third, is there anyone in your family who is not well and needs help to look after his/her activity of daily living? On an average, at 60 years of age, people in India are expected to live for another 18 years.³ So, whether or not, elderly are suffering from any of the conditions requiring palliative care, they will be in need of palliative care services as they are living longer with frailty and problems, which are psychosocial and also spiritual. But in the health programme for the elderly, NPHCE (National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly), which was launched in 2010-11, there is no mention of palliative care.⁴ Read More...