Pravinkumar R. Patil, BS Pharm, MA, MS, MBA, PharmD.
Clinical Pharmacist, Founder & Senior Advisor Kalaza Care Medical Recovery Homes, Pune, India.
As India’s elderly population grows rapidly, the Union Budget 2025 has brought both opportunities and challenges in addressing the needs of senior citizens. With projections estimating that seniors will make up nearly 20% of India’s population by 2050, the need for robust policies and infrastructure for elder care has never been more urgent. This blog delves into the provisions, achievements, gaps, and challenges in elder care highlighted in this year’s budget.
Key Provisions for Elder Care in Budget 2025
- Tax Relief Measures The income tax exemption limit was raised to ?12 lakh, providing financial relief to seniors dependent on pensions or savings. The TDS threshold for interest income was doubled from ?50,000 to ?1 lakh, and the TDS limit on rental income increased from ?2.4 lakh to ?6 lakh annually.
- Healthcare Investments The health budget increased by 18.6%, reaching ?2.85 lakh crore, with a focus on primary healthcare and digital health platforms. Initiatives like Day Care Cancer Centers aim to improve access to specialized care for seniors.
- Social Security Enhancements Exemptions on withdrawals from National Savings Scheme (NSS) accounts were introduced. Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana received an allocation of ?289.69 crore to support welfare programs for senior citizens.
- Support for Geriatric Care Expansion of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers to include geriatric-specific services. Increased funding for training healthcare professionals in geriatric care.
- Programs like Ayushman Bharat have improved access to healthcare for many seniors, especially in rural areas.
- Pension schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana have provided financial security to retirees.
- States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala have implemented senior-friendly policies, including palliative care and day-care centers.
- Inadequate Infrastructure Despite increased funding, rural areas still lack sufficient healthcare facilities and trained geriatric specialists. Only 18% of seniors are covered by health insurance, leaving many vulnerable to high medical costs.
- Fragmented Policies Elder care remains disorganized with no unified national framework to address healthcare, financial security, and social inclusion comprehensively.
- Social Barriers The decline of joint family systems has left many seniors without traditional caregiving support. Loneliness and mental health issues remain widespread, with over 60% of seniors reporting feelings of isolation.
- Economic Pressures Rising healthcare costs and inadequate pensions force many elderly individuals into financial insecurity.
Missed Opportunities in Budget 2025
While the budget introduced incremental measures, it fell short of addressing critical issues:
- No significant investment was made in building age-friendly urban or rural infrastructure.
- Geriatric care remains underfunded despite the growing demand for specialized services.
- The lack of a national old-age pension scheme leaves many seniors without a safety net.
A Call for Action: Bridging the Gaps
To truly support India’s aging population, the government must adopt a more integrated approach:
- Develop a comprehensive elder care policy that includes healthcare, financial security, and social inclusion.
- Invest in training programs for geriatric specialists and caregivers to address workforce shortages.
- Expand telemedicine services to improve healthcare access in remote areas.
- Encourage public-private partnerships to innovate affordable senior care solutions.
- Switching gear from reactive Vs proactive care?? Do you believe this approach will change quality of life of our seniors and in a long run will also prevent hospitalizations costs.
- Culturally parents in India spend almost all savings and retirements on their children with no or minimal provisions for their own old age life. In results they do become dependent and vulnerable for delay in care, negligence and abuse.
- Geriatric friendly infrastructure, removal of 18% GST on elder care, home health care and assisted living services will substantially ease burden on seniors.
The Union Budget 2025 has sparked discussions about the future of elder care in India. While some progress has been made, significant gaps remain that require immediate attention. We invite you to share your thoughts: What measures do you think are essential for improving elder care in India? How can we ensure that seniors receive the dignity and support they deserve? Let’s work together to create a society where every generation thrives! ??#ElderCare #UnionBudget2025 #HealthyAging #GeriatricCare #SeniorCareSolutions #kalazacare #medicalrecoveryhomes #homehealthcare
