#EldersMatter - HelpAge India 1827

India has an elderly population of 138 million people, i.e. those above 60 years old. Of our elder population, of which 55 million sleep hungry, and 12 million elderly are going blind from cataract. 90% elders must work to survive, as they have no pension, PF, financial support, or medical coverage

India’s elder population is rapidly increasing. In 20 years, it is expected to be 200 million. By 2050, the elder population will reach 351 million

Elderly are the most vulnerable to Covid-19, lowered immunity, and health conditions, given their advanced age.

India’s elders face daily hardships. 90% live in poverty, with no financial support. 25% can’t access or afford healthcare, 20% face total isolation & neglect, and 40% face crime or abuse

HelpAge India is a leading, credible, national level NGO with a mission “to work for the cause and care of disadvantaged elders and to improve their quality of life”. Registered in 1978 under the Societies' Registration Act of 1860, HelpAge works to protect the rights of India's elderly and provide them relief, to enable them to live better and healthier lives.

India’s elderly face deprivations under three categories; economic, health, and emotional. HelpAge undertakes nationwide programmes focusing on welfare and upliftment of disadvantaged elderly. These include Covid response interventions, Survival Packages (food & hygiene supplies), 2 million+ free treatments via 160+ Mobile Health Units, REACH Rapid Response Helplines in 20 cities handling over 30,000 distress calls p.a., Livelihoods initiatives enabling 67,000 elders to earn income via 5,500 Self-Help Groups, Vision Restoration to over a million needy elders via cataract surgeries & refractive glasses, Support a Gran programme that provides for the basic & financial needs to destitute elders, Empowerment of Senior Citizens, 70,000 Physiotherapy treatments, support to several Old Age Homes, 100,000 Cancer treatments, provision of Disability Aids, AgeCare initiatives for wellness and fitness, Advocacy for elder rights & entitlements, Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation, as well as Fighting Elder Abuse.

Currently there are 138 million elderly in India. HelpAge India voices their concerns, so they can lead secure & dignified lives. It works through 26 State Offices across India, runs numerous programs on-ground, addressing elder needs and advocating for their rights, such as their right to Universal Pension, quality Healthcare, action against Elder Abuse and many more at a national, state and societal level with Central and State governments. It advocates for elder friendly policies and their implementation thereof.

The organization delivers positive impact via its direct interventions in the areas of Healthcare (mobile healthcare units, cataract surgeries), AgeCare (helplines, senior citizen care homes and day care centres, physiotherapy), Livelihoods (elder-self-help groups; linkages with Government schemes), Disaster Response (e.g. covid19 relief response), as well as Advocacy and Awareness on rights and policies related to the elderly.

HelpAge India impacts the lives of 1.5 million elders each year, and is counting on your donations to reach many more.