Why in News: Nearly 9 million Indians above 60 years are living with dementia, projected to rise to 1.7 crore by 2036. The growing burden highlights the urgent need for specialised care infrastructure, trained caregivers, and a national dementia policy.
Burden of Dementia in India
- Rising prevalence: Linked to ageing population and lifestyle diseases.
- Loss of independence: Patients require assistance in daily activities like eating, bathing, or recognising family members.
- Economic impact: Families face income loss as caregivers—often women—must leave jobs.
- Social isolation: Stigma and lack of awareness make early diagnosis rare.
- Limited research data: India lacks robust dementia surveillance or registry.
Shortage of Care Facilities
- Few day-care centres: Only a handful like ARDSI’s Delhi centre exist; many have shut down due to high costs.
- High operational costs: ₹15,000–₹50,000/month makes care unaffordable for most.
- Uneven distribution: Urban areas have limited centres; rural regions have none.
- Need for public funding: Experts urge government-supported dementia care centres.
Impact on Caregivers
- Emotional strain: Constant supervision leads to anxiety, guilt, and depression.
- Financial stress: High treatment and care costs drain household savings.
- Health toll: Caregivers face sleep loss, fatigue, and hypertension.
- Lack of institutional support: Few respite care or counselling facilities exist.
Institutional and Research Support
- NIMHANS and AIIMS: Conduct research on dementia and caregiver psychology, funded by ICMR.
- ARDSI (Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India): Provides day-care, therapy, and memory exercises; advocates national policy.
- Pilot initiatives: Centres in Gurugram, Noida, and Bengaluru demonstrate scalable models for dementia-friendly environments.
Way Forward
- National Dementia Policy: Define rights of patients and responsibilities of state; ensure insurance coverage.
- Public infrastructure: Establish affordable dementia day-care and respite centres in every district.
- Training programs: Skill caregivers, nurses, and community health workers under National Health Mission.
- Integration with primary care: Include cognitive screening in elderly check-ups.
- Financial assistance: Subsidies or caregiver allowances for families.
- Awareness campaigns: Reduce stigma through education and community participation.
- Research and data: Create a National Dementia Registry for evidence-based planning.
UPSC Relevance:
GS Paper-2 – Health, Social Justice, Vulnerable Sections.
Mains Practice Question:
Q. India’s ageing population has made dementia a silent public health emergency. Discuss the challenges and outline a framework for compassionate dementia care.