Background

There are an estimated 106 million elderly people in India. As India’s youth population grows, it is important that older citizens do not get forgotten. While family bonds are often very strong across the country, elderly people consistently face loneliness, neglect and even abuse. 

Many elderly people require specialist care due to their age, illness or disability. For a variety of reasons, they may find it difficult to cope with day-to-day tasks such as getting dressed, using technology or getting themselves around. These people need help with these and many more elements of their daily life, however that is not all – just as much as anyone else, older people need love, companionship and communication. 

We all feel lonely and misunderstood sometimes, but this often becomes more extreme later in life. Older people rely on their family, friends and other loved ones to provide care and conversation. While the generation gap may often seem restrictive, there are myriad ways that young people can connect with their grandparents and other older people they meet. It’s just a matter of finding common ground!