August 29, 2025

India is ageing quickly, and guess what? Women are living longer than men by an average of 2.7 years! But here’s the twist – they often spend 25% more of that extra time in poor health, says McKinsey Health Institute. The India Ageing Report 2023 shows that by 2050, over 20% of India’s population will be 60 or above. Many of these senior citizens will be women, yet society still treats them like quiet shadows, not as vibrant individuals with unique health challenges. Why? Because older women usually put their family first and often neglect their own care. Health seeking for these women isn’t easy. It’s a tangled web of social, economic, and cultural hurdles. They face three big delays: at home, their needs are often ignored; getting to healthcare is tricky and expensive; and even at clinics, the facilities may lack female-friendly services. Plus, many elderly women depend emotionally and financially on their family, especially in patriarchal homes where men control healthcare choices. This stops many women from getting timely treatment. Financial woes hit older women hard. Nearly 60% have no personal income, limiting their access to health insurance or even paying medical bills. Digital divides keep them away from helpful health info. Many must rely on sons or grandsons to travel to hospitals. Even when they reach clinics, only a few have female doctors or comprehensive screenings. Women face aging health issues differently. Post-menopause, they are more vulnerable to heart problems, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, and fractures. Sadly, rural areas often dismiss their pain as “normal ageing.” Also, women’s uro-gynaecological health fades from focus with age. Conditions like uterine prolapse and urinary incontinence remain silent burdens. Breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancers hit older women hard, but late diagnosis and low screening worsen outcomes. Brain diseases like Alzheimer’s are more common in older women due to biology and social isolation. Despite this, mental health remains a hidden crisis. Many elderly women juggle caregiving for family but face loneliness and depression. Sadly, only 1 in 10 seeks help, says HelpAge India. But all is not gloom! These women stay active – joining community events, walking groups, yoga classes, painting, and more. Social ties protect them from loneliness and poor health, too. Education and income help some get better care. The big ask? India needs gender-sensitive health policies that consider women’s unique aging journey. More studies, better data, and AI can help unpack their struggles. Mobile clinics like Kerala’s Vayomithram Project bring care right to elderly women’s doorsteps. Healthcare screening must include women-specific issues like osteoporosis and cancers. Pension and insurance schemes should reflect women’s informal work and caregiving roles. Expanding programs like Atal Pension Yojana and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension with gender-friendly rules is key. Financial aid schemes like Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana for assistive devices can do more by linking with local health workers. Health insurance must cover outpatient needs, preventive checks, and mental health support. Adding women-specific geriatric care packages to Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY could be a game changer. Social support groups, like Kerala’s Kudumbashree or senior centers in Uttar Pradesh, offer much-needed community bonds. Each elderly woman has a story of sacrifice and care. Now, it’s time for society to care back — with healthcare systems that listen, policies that understand, and communities that support. When we truly focus on elderly women, we build a stronger, healthier India for all.

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Tags: Elderly women, Health care, Ageing india, Gender gap, Health insurance, Social support,