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This week’s special edition of Health 360 spotlighted India’s rapidly ageing population, expected to reach 230 million by 2036 — nearly 15% of the country. Experts stressed that geriatric care must be treated as a co-public health priority.
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00:15you've tuned in to healthy 60 and on the show this week as always we will tell you everything
00:20you need to know about what is making headlines in the world of health and fitness we're tracking
00:27health trends and what i came across this week was a report on geriatric health our seniors who now
00:34make up about 11 of the population will by 2050 make up about 20 of the population fact is that
00:42with the growing geriatric population india needs a policy change on helping them in their emotional
00:48mental and physical well-being are we ready also on healthy 60 this week what are the foods that are
00:55actually good for your brain health we'll also tell you why the prime minister is stressing on the
01:01importance of organ donation i'm sneha mordani this is healthy 60
01:07you
01:28our top focus this week is on india's aging population india's senior citizen population
01:33is projected to surge to around 230 million by 2036 making up about 15 percent of the total
01:41population geriatric care must be recognized as a co-public health priority on par with mental health
01:49and non-communicable diseases that's what experts are now saying focus on digital literacy and emotional
01:54well-being as well should be there and this is the time to start listen in
02:19digital literacy is very much needed in some of us because we don't know the latest features and things are
02:24moving so fast
02:27well these are our seniors folks who have brought us up taking care of us and further the cause of
02:34the nation's progress
02:36now in their twilight years they need our support and as a country everyone's support in moving ahead with dignity
02:44and with respect
02:47so geriatric care is no longer an option because india's population is rising specifically elderly population
02:55and with passing time with good medical management more and more people are now entering into the elder sage group
03:03so we need geriatric medicine for sure picture this india by 2050 will not be a country of youngsters we
03:11will have a considerable big population of the elderly
03:15while india is not yet affected by population aging to the extent that some other nations are
03:21there will nevertheless be an increased need for government assistance government oversight and also care facilities
03:29according to this report after recovery from hospitalization they need support which can be taken care
03:36at the family level by trained caregiver or community worker if they are interested which is probably needed
03:43many rehab can be done by community participation provided we can create that mechanism to train the community volunteer along
03:51with caregivers
03:53then there is a challenge of an urban rural divide in access to medical services
03:59hopefully with the efforts from the private hospitals from the government I am hopeful that with time we can achieve
04:08that target
04:09and the infrastructure will be built and the treatment can be provided at rural India also but that needs a
04:17very strong action now
04:18because as the population is aging we are not preparing according to that
04:23elderly health needs do not just require hospitalization but can be effectively managed to train caregivers at home via home
04:32based services
04:33after retirement you start losing your purpose that is one of the reasons I tell my patient always to prepare
04:40yourself even after retirement
04:41so let's say someone is getting retired at the age of 60 or 65 and he is living 90-95
04:46so next 30 years if they don't have any plan
04:49seniors are prone for social isolation and you will be surprised to know around 70 60 to 70 percent elderly
04:56people are suffering from
04:57either low or moderate get depression which is mostly undiagnosed
05:04investing in geriatric care is not just a health care necessity it is a moral and national imperative
05:12a few of the NGOs very larger NGOs like help page India age well they are working very good on
05:20for the providing the elder care
05:22but the issue is that these things are going on from last one decade but there is no significant change
05:28we have seen
05:29so the progress is very slow but the population rise is very sharp
05:36so that's why it is also a divide or we can say the difference in that also which we have
05:41to take care
05:43earlier families took care of their seniors but a lot has changed over the years
05:47urban migration and nuclear households mean many seniors are living alone or with limited support
06:00imagine not being able to do what everyone around you seems to be mastering
06:05using a gadget and playing around with technology
06:14many Indian seniors face a growing digital divide that leaves them struggling with both technology and loneliness
06:21as essential services from banking and health care to government benefits and social communication
06:28move online older adults who lack digital literacy often find themselves dependent on others for basic tasks
06:38I do need help in technology because I'm living in all alone
06:45technology is a good not help place up the hotel to rule in nature you
06:49awareness ki jivratheal look what I do you have to get out of the link are certain
06:54our Delhi elder friendly survey in Delhi found that 86% of elderly residues lack digital literacy
07:02affecting their ability to access health care services and online communication
07:08pointing to broader challenges of social and service exclusion for seniors
07:12Agewell foundation study reported around 85% of senior citizens in Delhi NCR were digitally illiterate
07:21with most feeling marginalized and unable to find training opportunities
07:27digital divide is a huge and not only for senior citizens
07:31nowadays I am seeing even a young persons finding it difficult to cope up with artificial intelligence
07:37our society, our governments and we as doctors we have to take a responsibility to make digital literacy more widely
07:45available
07:46and we have to take more courses so that they can be more comfortable with this digital revolution
07:53a rising silver economy is steering fresh investment and rapid expansion in India's senior housing market
08:01senior living homes redefining retirement in urban India
08:05here's more
08:12children move away and parents one central to join families often find themselves in large homes with just too much
08:20silence
08:20retirement communities are filling that silence with community and that is what is given a Philip to the concept of
08:28retirement communities
08:31all of any retirement community is actually the services the care services and when I say care
08:36I mean care in every form physical emotional social occupational spiritual environmental
08:42it's a holistic care that really defines a retirement community
08:46the core difference here is not necessarily the infrastructure real estate of course
08:50the real estate is thoughtfully designed for a senior in terms of features
08:55so a wellness area which has a doctor on campus, nurses, physiotherapists, phlebotomists
09:00some beds for end of life care
09:03you know all with a swimming pool
09:06cuisine area specifically subsidised
09:08entertainment areas
09:11areas for you know celebration
09:13so curated calendars for engagement
09:16to keep them cognitively and physically active
09:19helping them pursue the passion they wanted to whether it's music, art or pottery
09:23so I think it's all the services put together along with thoughtfully designed real estate
09:27which really defines independent senior living
09:31these communities in India are not just picking pace
09:34they are becoming part of the new Indian dream
09:37reshaping not just how seniors live
09:39but how aging itself is understood and celebrated
09:42our senior living market is becoming one of the country's most attractive real estate opportunities
09:49with over 10 crore Indians above the age of 60 in 2023
09:54projected to triple to 30 crore by 2050
09:58the demand for specialised housing for seniors is set to explode
10:04because it takes time to prepare for an ageing population
10:07so far the narrative in India has been all around our demographic dividends
10:12and but the reality is fast changing
10:14if you look at the number of seniors today about 150 million
10:17that is more than the population of Japan
10:20it is seven times the population of Scandinavian countries
10:23and this is you know going at a very rapid rate
10:26about 19,500 Indians turn 60 every day
10:30life expectancy has gone up
10:33the you know 70 is a new 60 you know now
10:37but unfortunately so has disease burden
10:40there's also a social transformation happening in India
10:43where more and more families at least in the top 10-20 urban cities
10:47you know are no longer joint families they're all nuclear
10:50so 27% you know of urban senior citizens stay alone or with their spouse
10:56one of the casualties of all this demographic and social transformation
11:00is benign neglect of our seniors
11:02therefore isolation and mental you know issues start to happen
11:06according to another joint report by the Association of Senior Living India
11:11ASLI and JL in India
11:1415,000 senior living homes are likely to come up by 2030
11:17at an estimated investment of 26,000 crore
11:22it launches continue at the current pace in the organized market
11:25at an accelerated growth trajectory
11:28supply could touch 25,500 units
11:31while with policy support
11:33it might rise to further 34,600 units
11:37what we have noticed in the past
11:39particularly after covid
11:41there's been a subtle shift in the thinking of seniors
11:44they are now understanding the importance of safe and secure
11:47for you know communities where they can be taken care of
11:50there's a report by JL in 2024 which said India will need about
11:5420-21 lakh units for seniors by 2030
11:58and we only have a few thousand currently in operation on the construction
12:02so there's a huge demand and supply gap
12:04I do see a need you know and a play for intergenerational communities
12:07where you have some towers for normal residential and some towers for senior living
12:11so they can stay together you know in one community
12:15there will be more and more embedding of the care layer
12:18so within the retirement communities a lot more interventions around you know care
12:23proactive preventive care you know will come into place
12:27there will be a role for technology to be able to monitor
12:30to be able to look at you know gadgets and devices for fall management as well
12:35so that embedment will take place
12:37recently a minister from Rajasthan said that cow milk makes you smart
12:42buffalo milk will not help you with your cognitive health
12:45now this is a bizarre statement to say the least
12:48but many people do talk about some super foods
12:51which work for your cognitive health which make you sharp
12:55is that the truth really
12:57are there foods that work towards making you brainier
13:01you find out in this report
13:27Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar
13:30has triggered a controversy after claiming that milk from indigenous cows enhances children's
13:37intelligence and energy while buffalo milk makes them sluggish.
14:02Well, picture this. He said, after feeding both calves fully, the buffalo calf would cough
14:09indoors off and said, while the cow calf would leap around with a lot of energy, showcasing
14:15sharp intelligence. He also said, ask a cow calf and a buffalo calf to find their mothers
14:22from a distance. He suggested the cow calf will run straight to its mother, while the
14:28buffalo calf will struggle. The difference, he argued, reflects the supposed cognitive
14:34impact of the milk they consume.
14:37Well, we will find out about the intelligence of the cows and buffaloes. But first, I need
14:42some dope on the intelligence, really, of this minister.
14:46So, I asked this question to the doctor on how intelligent is this comment.
14:53To presume that cow milk will, indigenous cow milk will make us intelligent while buffalo
14:59milk will make us dull is a little presumptuous because the largest difference between cow
15:04milk and buffalo milk is the amount of fat present in both. The most important integrant
15:10for the brain, which is vitamin B12, is adequately present in both cow and buffalo milk. So, this
15:15claim is largely presumptuous and should be verified by scientific studies.
15:20Well, experts say if there is any milk associated with good cognitive health, it is the breast
15:27milk. Well, that also brings us to some more questions around food and what type of food
15:33really boosts our brain health. Well, we've all heard of this, haven't we? Fish. Nay for
15:39some, yay for many. But are fish eating folks actually any brainier than others who don't
15:46eat fish? Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain membranes and they actually help to
15:54protect the brain against oxidative damage by scavenging free radicals better because they
16:00are able to help the brain repair itself better. But it would be very difficult to say whether
16:05these people are brainier or not. But omega-3 fatty acids are good for brain health. Whether
16:12they make you more intelligent is actually questionable. What about walnuts? Consider the brain food.
16:19By improving the cholesterol balance in the body, walnuts protect the brain against oxidative
16:26damage, atherosclerosis, brain strokes, dementia and brain degeneration. So that is why in terms
16:35of overall brain health walnuts are good. But whether they make you more intelligent that's
16:41questionable.
16:42Dark chocolates. I hear about the excellent work of flavonoids and how it could improve brain
16:48function and help in cognitive health.
16:52You must differentiate the brain health in terms of oxidative damage, repair, atherosclerosis,
16:59risk of stroke or dementia versus intelligence or functioning of the mind. So most of these
17:07products actually help to make the brain better, healthier, give the brain more energy. But whether
17:13they make you more intelligent stands to be, stands with a question mark.
17:18Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Man Ki Baath has recently highlighted the growing awareness
17:23focus of organ donations in India. India has recorded a four-fold surge in organ transplants
17:29over the last one decade, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. From
17:35less than 5,000 in 2013, organ transplants in the country have now jumped to nearly 20,000
17:41in 2025. But we still have a long way to go. Here's more.
17:54huah Badalzi.
17:59Waha, waha, dwau, northamaha dni, extreme �ake术ные
18:05друзья, Klipurawa, northamaha di Brahmachi.
18:07Uh, k Trina
18:08Panamaha, former pastor. J kannstr confuses
18:16और खुशिया अधूरी रह गई। उसके पेरेंट्स जिस पीडा से गुजर रहे होंगे उसे सब्दों से व्यक्त नहीं किया जा
18:28सकता है।
18:30लेकिन इतने गहरे दर्द के बीच भी आलिन के पिता अरुन अबराहम और मा शेरिन ने एक ऐसा फैसला लिया
18:42जिससे हर देश्वासी का रदय उनके प्रती सम्मान से भर गया है।
18:49उन्होंने आलिन के अंगदान का फैसला किया। इस एक फैसले से पता चलता है कि उनकी सोच कितनी बड़ी है
18:59और व्यक्तित्व कितना विशार।
19:03This marks the third time the Prime Minister has spoken about organ donation in Man Ki Baad,
19:09putting the much-needed spotlight on a challenge the country faces, that of shortage of organs.
19:16But before the bad news about the shortage, the good news first.
19:21Organ transplants have seen a four-fold increase in the country, from less than 5,000 in 2013 to nearly
19:2720,000 in 2025,
19:30according to the Government of India.
19:32But here's the catch, nearly 18% of transplants are currently being performed with organs donated from dead donors,
19:39and dependence on cadaver donors is way too high.
19:45We want to know that kidney disease has become an epidemic,
19:49and it's very difficult to diagnose kidney disease at a very early stage.
19:54So what we see, mostly in the outpatient clinic,
19:58it is the patients who are coming in a very late stage,
20:02and when they require even dialysis or pre-need autoimmune.
20:06This figure is upsetting to say the least.
20:10As of late 2025, over 82,000 plus patients are actively waiting organs,
20:16with the majority needing kidneys and livers.
20:20Right for heart, if I say, almost 50,000 patients are waiting at a time for a cardiac transplant,
20:28and actually, how many get it?
20:30Just 200 to 300.
20:33So there is a huge gap between organ donation and the requirement for organ donation.
20:40Similarly, with the kidneys,
20:41there is a dearth of somewhere around 80, 90,000 patients who are waiting for kidney transplant.
20:49Some 40,000, 50,000 waiting for liver transplant.
20:52But actually, what is happening,
20:54we are just able to cover up,
20:56ranging from 0.2 to just hardly 2% of the patient population.
21:04Organ transplants have come a long way.
21:06The first successful human organ transplant was a kidney transplant performed in the month of December, 1954.
21:14Liver, heart and pancreas transplants were successfully performed by the late 1960s,
21:21while lung and intestinal organ transplant procedures began in the 1980s.
21:26Among the advances that modern medicine has brought,
21:30organ transplantation affirms the very spirit of humanity.
21:34For a country like India, creating a robust, ethical and scalable organ transplant ecosystem
21:40was not just a necessity, but a moral imperative.
21:44India has built one of the most comprehensive and integrated organ transplant frameworks in the global south.
21:50So, for kidney transplants, we have grown in technological way,
21:56like most of our donors are having laparoscopic surgery.
22:01And now, in recipient also, a few of them who are obese,
22:06they have advantage of robotic transplant surgery.
22:10But unfortunately, in terms of increase in the number,
22:16that has to be really worked on,
22:20because we haven't seen significant increase in number of transplants.
22:26So, can organs, say a kidney or the liver,
22:29be retrieved from a deceased who suffered diabetes, hypertension?
22:33Yes, says the Indian Society for Organ Transplantation.
22:38We haven't had a very good disease donor program
22:41as compared to what most of the European countries have.
22:45The organs lack rekeena, heart or kidney.
22:49If they are for the dog,
22:51if they are not damaged because of these diabetes,
22:55then we can actually harness liver and teeth.
23:01And this same thing is being applied for the living donation also right now.
23:05Experts also say,
23:07over the past five to six years,
23:09misinformation has spread,
23:11fueled by vested interests.
23:12False claims that doctors are certifying brain death
23:15and harvesting organs for commercial gain
23:17have done a lot of damage.
23:22Most of our donors are life-related.
23:24So, your donor has to be a relative and alive.
23:27So, we have two kidneys.
23:29So, he has to live the rest of his life with one kidney.
23:34So, as I said,
23:36there is another fear in most of our population
23:40that if we lose one kidney,
23:42our survival would not be the same.
23:44The second way we can increase the donor pool
23:47is promoting donation of organs after death.
23:52I think that part is really needs to be worked on.
23:59While concerns remain,
24:01there is superstition and fear
24:02that also play a big role in preventing people
24:05from donating organs of their loved ones.
24:10So, how does organ donation work?
24:12They do have this kind of belief
24:17that we donate some organ.
24:20We may not get their organ in the next birth.
24:23These kind of myths are being,
24:27you know,
24:28we are trying our best to get without these kind of myths.
24:35So, how does organ donation work?
24:38How does one convince a patient's family
24:40that he or she is brain dead?
24:42Like in the case of Baby Alan from Kerala,
24:45a 10-month-old who recently donated
24:47five of her organs.
24:50There are multiple people
24:51which are involved,
24:53every hospital and all that.
24:55We try to first convince
24:56someone has to break the ice
24:58that the patient is brain dead.
25:03So, there is a whole criteria for that
25:05which we follow.
25:06There are apnea tests which are done.
25:07We try to convince the family
25:09because the consent has to be given
25:10by the family member
25:11that they are ready to donate the organs.
25:14And I would say
25:15it is right from the schooling onwards
25:18we should convince.
25:19Right now, various schools,
25:21we organize certain things
25:22where we tell that organ donation is good.
25:25So, right now,
25:26patients come and they said that
25:27I want to donate my organ
25:29if I have any such thing.
25:31How does one really go about
25:33donating the organs?
25:35What's the procedure here?
25:37There are organ donation cards
25:40which are available online.
25:42There are,
25:42we have Indian Society of Noto
25:45National Organ Tissue Transplant Program.
25:49So, you can log on to their website
25:51and really fill up the form
25:55to donate your organs
25:56once you are dead.
25:57But, you know,
25:59despite that,
26:00our law is a little stringent
26:04to allow donation
26:05even if you have filled the form
26:08because your relatives
26:10need to agree to that.
26:13Well, did you know
26:14that you can donate
26:15all your organs
26:16even your skin
26:17if you want?
26:19A single donor
26:20can help multiple people
26:21through the donation
26:22of their heart,
26:23lungs,
26:24kidneys,
26:25liver,
26:26pancreas
26:27and much more.
26:28It's not even counting
26:29the tissue donation
26:30which can help dozens more.
26:32We are busting the myths
26:34around organ donation
26:35and telling you
26:35what the facts really are
26:37to encourage you
26:38to donate your organ
26:40if at all you get
26:41an opportunity.
26:43Have you ever thought
26:44of becoming an organ donor
26:46but held back?
26:47You have had your doubts.
26:49Well, our experts
26:50are busting all myths
26:51and telling you
26:51all that you need to know
26:53about organ donation.
26:55So, donating an organ
26:56during one's lifetime
26:58is extremely risky.
27:00Isn't that a myth?
27:00All the donation that happens
27:02is a very scientific process.
27:04Even the disease donor
27:05is a scientific process
27:06where you evaluate the donor
27:07and then
27:08if the organs are good
27:10and functioning
27:10you use them.
27:11For a living related donor
27:12it is a very very hardened
27:14structured
27:15and very enormous
27:16evaluation that happens
27:18over four or five stages
27:20in the donor
27:20and once they become okay
27:22then only they can donate.
27:23So, donating organ
27:24is a very scientific process.
27:26They would donate organ
27:27if only they are
27:28medically completely fit.
27:29Only young
27:30and perfectly healthy people
27:32can donate.
27:33What are doctors then saying?
27:35There is a criteria
27:35for each organ
27:36and the age varies
27:37from 18 to 55 years
27:39for liver
27:39and 18 to 60
27:41or maybe 65 years
27:42for kidney.
27:42So, it is desirable
27:44to have young donors
27:45because their liver functions
27:47and other things
27:48would be better
27:49but it's not that
27:50only young
27:51and very very fit
27:52people can donate.
27:53A normal life
27:54cannot be lived
27:55after donating an organ.
27:57Even if you take the organ
27:58the body remains normal
27:59and there is nothing like
28:01they would have
28:01a low quality of life
28:03or there would be
28:04danger to their life
28:05apart from
28:06certain scientific
28:08known surgical complications
28:10which can happen
28:11early in the park
28:12but they all
28:12people will recover.
28:14But long run
28:15they all will have
28:16normal life
28:17as like any other individual.
28:19Well, that brings us
28:20to the end of this edition
28:21of Health Free 60.
28:23We hope you enjoyed
28:24watching the show
28:24as much as we did
28:25putting it together
28:26for you.
28:27You can find all of our
28:28reports up on our website
28:29it's indiatoday.in
28:31you can download the app.
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28:44That brings us
28:45to the end
28:46of this edition.
28:47Thank you so much
28:48for watching.
28:49Take very good care
28:50of yourself.
28:50Bye for now.
29:14Bye for now.
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