Rajnath Singh should build a “decent” old-age home for Lucknow’s senior folks

May 15, Lucknow An excellent old-age home in the state capital is what senior folks in Lucknow are requesting of Rajnath Singh, the Union defense minister and current MP.

It has to do with priorities. For large-scale projects, the government invests hundreds of crores. It may also be used to build a decent senior living facility where seniors can live freely. The government might very easily do so for setting up such facilities, as it does for firms that get land subsidies,” says B. N. Sarup, 78, a retired physician searching for a respectable assisted living facility after the death of his wife. His daughter and two boys are residents of Canada.

The state capital is home to an estimated 60,000 or more people who are 80 years of age or older. These individuals are primarily the responsibility of their families and society at large. They desire an assisted living facility with all the comforts of home, along with government assistance for their daily needs.

Srila Prakash, a 68-year-old single lady who is sick, said, “I am even willing to pay a particular amount every month for such a facility because living alone after a certain age is difficult as well as insecure.”

“I own a vehicle, but I’m too old to drive. Beyond the first pick-up and drop-off, there is no more support provided by taxi services. Therefore, it would be helpful if there was a reliable government-backed system that we could simply contact to obtain assistance with simple tasks or to go out once in a while, the woman added.

These elderly people attempted, but were unable, to see Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh.

Another 80-year-old voter present with no help, Atul Varshney, stated, “We have decided to send a memorandum to him so that he can consider this facility for us after the polls.”

He claimed to be an obsessive writer and reader who longs for a group where he can express his passion for the arts.

The elderly believe that in addition to retirement homes, clubs, parks, and community centers, there need to be government hotlines they may call in order to have their problems answered.

“In general, we need to push for the right policies to help create a benevolent society that could ensure the elderly, especially octogenarians, have a dignified life,” he said.

According to official figures, India’s population aged 60 and over has more than quadrupled in the last 50 years.

According to other projections, by 2050, 19% of the nation’s population is expected to be over 60.

A significant social upheaval is now occurring as a result of the concentration of well-paying occupations in a small number of Indian cities, which is fueling the emergence of micro-families, leaving the senior members of the family to live alone and struggle with loneliness.

While many may not even need assisted living, they may feel the need for senior care facilities that can assist with daily tasks like banking, getting to and from public areas and markets, and sometimes going out socializing in order to prevent depression from taking a stronger hold on their mental health.

Domestic violence and inadequate healthcare are some issues that need to be addressed.

In order to improve senior citizen care, NITI Aayog announced last year that it was strengthening its policy prescription. This includes a focus on public-private partnerships to establish old-age homes, a convergence of current senior citizen programs, and advocating for increased funding to be allocated to the sector in order to significantly increase care for senior citizens.