Morbidity, Physical Disability and Health Security of the Greying Population in India: Distributional Profile and Implications

Abstract

Ageing involves multidimensional changes including those in the biological, psychological and social spheres of a person’s existence. Based on the IHDS 2011-12 the study tries to analyse the morbidity/ disability status and the income and expenditure coverage incurred for treatment of the 60 plus folks in the country. High Blood Pressure, diabetes and Asthma are the most prevalent morbidity types among the aged people and these are suffered through out of the rest of life. The inadequate care and support in the older age creates stress and makes the infirmity problem more severe. Accessibility and quick improvement in health condition become the major reason for preferring the allopathic treatments. Availing any sort of pension or health insurance schemes is the possible way that makes the elderly more independent and stable. However the data reveals that the percent of elderly availing these services are slight in number. Financial burden and dependence force them to skip their treatment or to ignore the affliction, this makes their health condition more severe and further leads to more illness.