INDIA: 'A long life need not be disease-free,' cautions health expert

. CHENNAI, Tamil Nadu / The Times of India / January 16, 2009 Chennai city (earlier known as Madras) is greying gracefully, with 8% of its population being senior citizens. And that is 1.2% more than the national average. But what's the relationship between longevity and healthcare? Experts are divided on their views. Government General Hospital dean Dr T P Kalaniti says longevity reflects the accessibility of healthcare and fruition of efforts to control risk factors. "Health awareness is high among elders. They come in for regular checks," Dr Kalaniti said. Almost all homes and services like HelpAge India that provide spaces for the elderly offer medical care facilities to ensure that they remain healthy. "We have doctors available on call round the clock. Besides offering medical care to people living with us, we also help senior citizens who call us through the toll free number 1253' set up by the Chennai City Police," says a senior administrator at HelpAge India. Some doctors believe that longevity means improved survival by sick people. "Advancements in medical science has enabled us to postpone deaths. Here as mortality decreases, morbidity increases. Longer life does not mean the elderly are free from diseases," says a professor in geriatrics at the Madras Medical College. As the younger generation migrates or struggles to cope with the pressures of work, the well-being of their parents become a matter of concern. With little time to care for the elderly, both the children and the parents are seeking solutions that help them live with dignity. Dr V S Natarajan, a pioneer in geriatrics agrees. "Like paediatrics, geriatrics is a separate specialisation. The system and metabolism of the elderly are different. You need to be careful what you prescribe for the elderly and what line of treatment you take for acute and chronic ailments," said Dr Natarajan. State health secretary V K Subburaj said an institute for geriatric research will be set up in the city for looking into the healthcare accessibilities of the elderly. Copyright © 2009 Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd.