Why in news?
Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe in India. A study found that heat‑related deaths among older adults rose by 55 percent between 2000‑04 and 2017‑21, with states such as Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan recording the highest fatalities.
Who are the geriatric population?
The geriatric population refers to people aged 65 years or above. Ageing brings a decline in immunity, metabolism and resilience, making older adults more susceptible to diseases and environmental stress like extreme heat.
India’s elderly demographics
- Growing share: In 2022 about 10.5 percent of India’s population—around 14 crore people—was elderly. By 2050 this share is expected to nearly double.
- Rural majority: Around 71 percent of the elderly live in rural areas, where healthcare and infrastructure are often inadequate.
- Gender gap: Elderly women outnumber men by roughly four million (71 million women versus 67 million men) and face unique vulnerabilities due to poverty and social roles.
Why are the elderly more vulnerable to heat?
- Biological factors: Reduced sweating, impaired circulation and poor thermoregulation make it harder for older adults to cool their bodies. Pre‑existing heart, kidney or mental health conditions amplify risk.
- Dehydration: Many elderly people do not feel thirsty and therefore drink less water, leading to electrolyte imbalance and kidney stress.
- Gender dimensions: Older women often work in poorly ventilated kitchens and manage household chores without rest. Older men may continue labour outdoors without adequate hydration.
- Tropical nights: When night‑time temperatures stay above 20 °C, the body cannot recover from daytime heat, increasing stress on the heart and lungs.
- Social isolation and poverty: Living alone delays help in emergencies, and low incomes restrict access to cooling devices or healthcare.
Gaps in protection
- Policy blind spots: Heat‑action plans exist in several states, but most lack strategies specifically tailored for the elderly.
- Data discrepancies: Different agencies report widely varying numbers of heat‑related deaths, making planning difficult.
- Cost barriers: Cooling technologies such as thermoelectric garments are expensive and beyond the reach of poor rural households.
- Weak surveillance: There is no robust system to monitor heat deaths in real time or to map urban heat islands.
- Gendered neglect: Policies rarely acknowledge the distinct vulnerabilities of older women.
Solutions and strategic actions
- Targeted social protection: Provide subsidies for fans, cooling devices and hydration packs to poor elderly households. Offer energy support during heatwaves.
- Health system strengthening: Train ASHA workers and health staff to recognise heat stroke and set up temporary cooling centres in villages and city wards.
- Improve data and research: Publish real‑time mortality data and encourage studies on how income, gender and disease interact with heat vulnerability.
- Increase technology access: Scale up low‑cost cooling innovations with production incentives so they become affordable.
- Institutional coordination: Regularly convene the Health, Environment, Urban Development and Agriculture ministries to refine state and national heat‑action plans.
- Early‑warning systems: Develop a unified mobile app that integrates existing weather services and issues heat alerts in local languages. Use social media for quick outreach.
- Long‑term climate action: Transition to renewable energy sources and promote sustainable housing designs that improve ventilation and reduce heat exposure.
Conclusion: As India’s population ages and heatwaves intensify, protecting the elderly requires targeted social protection, better data, affordable technology and coordinated planning.