Rise of Geriatric Population and Demand for Senior Care Professionals in the Industry

 

Humanity is starting to lose its grip on population control, which has been on a steady rise over the last decade. Consequently, the geriatric population increase, too, has left the entire senior healthcare industry in tatters.

To all the readers wondering ‘why’, the reason is quite simple. India has always been struggling to maintain one of the biggest norms set by the World Health Organisation. The WHO mandated that all countries maintain a 1000:3 population-to-nursing personnel ratio.

While a lot of countries have managed to accomplish this norm, India is a bit too far from attaining it anytime soon. Here are some interesting statistical data to prove this claim; as of 2023, India stands at 1.7 nurses per 1000 population, hence needing over 4 million more nurses to complete the tally.

Hence, considering the monumental demand, the biggest question is, how long is this pursuit going to take and until then, will this have a harsh effect on the geriatric population? While we don’t have an answer for the former, it’s a definite yes for the latter. There is already a visible demand for senior care professionals in the industry.

Now that we’ve elaborated on the statistics surrounding nursing personnel in India, let’s now completely shift the focus to senior citizens. There’s another storm brewing in geriatric care. In 2021, National Statistical Office (NSO) revealed that India had a senior citizen count of 138 million.

However, the count is all set to witness a massive spike in the following 10 years. By 2031, India is likely to witness a 41% senior population increase, taking the count to almost 194 million. Out of them, there will be 93 million males and 101 million females.

Hence, the following decade is going to be extremely crucial for the entire geriatric industry which is in desperate need of additional nursing personnel to be able to cope with the forthcoming demand. But, at the same time, it is high time that seniors begin opting for self-care to avoid any kind of medical scare or, worse, worrisome medical complications.

So, how does a senior accomplish this particular part of risk management?

• Safety-proof your home – Make sure that the hallways, restrooms, bedrooms and other rooms accessible to the elderly has anti-slip floorings. Also, insert handrails and bars along the walls where the probability of falls is high.
• Technology assistance for seniors – Install several smart features and detectors like smoke detectors, video intercom, emergency bell/alarm, etc.
• Opt for mobility assistance – For seniors struggling to move around, do not hesitate to buy them wheelchairs, which can minimise any kind of fall injuries.

At the same time, seniors must also maintain good physical and mental health, which are possibly crucial factors in preventing most of the illnesses that are giving seniors nightmares in recent years.

• Eat fruits and vegetables that play an immense role in maintaining incredible health in seniors.
• Make sure you are taking in the right amount of minerals and vitamins that are capable of keeping seniors highly active even at the age of 75.
• Always consider iron and calcium as the highest priority. Hence, eat foods like bread,pulses, breakfast cereals, green leafy vegetables, tofu, and soya. 
• Vitamin C – Citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, etc
• Vitamin D – One of the biggest ways to gain vitamin D is sunlight. There are also supplements that boost vitamin D in seniors.
• Reduce salt and sugar intake – Indeed, it is quite difficult to survive with minimal salt in food products. Hence, you may try using alternatives like herbs and spices that help add more flavour to the dish and reduce the need for salt.
• Completely avoid alcohol – Alcohol can impair judgements which can lead to greater chances of suffering falls. Furthermore, excess alcohol in the blood can be extremely dangerous and can even lead to life-threatening conditions.

Choose Athulya Assisted Living Services for premium care

If you’re worried your senior parents are living right on the edge of suffering injuries or illnesses, do choose Athulya Assisted Living, currently active in Chennai, Kochi, Coimbatore and Bangalore.

The facilities are entirely senior-oriented, hence, there is minimal to nil chance of seniors suffering injuries from falling. Furthermore, with a clean kitchen and qualified chefs at their disposal, Athulya promises a healthy diet for their loving residents.

There are senior care physicians available around the clock, with Athulya’s primary goal being to constantly improve their geriatric care quality and adhere to the elderly population's needs.

To know more, do visit their website at Athulya Assisted Living.