Respondents above 45 years rated high out-of-pocket spending on health above fears about physical and mental wellbeing. While life expectancy is up, thanks to medical advances, this generation is more likely to be living their sunset years alone as the young migrate for work.
"As they live longer, they become financially dependent for their living and health costs have to be met for an extended time. They are increasingly being seen as burdensome by the younger population, thus increasing the likelihood of abuse," said Dr Smita Bammidi, a researcher on ageing with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Deonar.
In a Nielsen survey of 30,000 people, 54% of those above 45 cited not having enough money to cover medical costs as their top concern.
Physical and mental fitness was a more widespread concern (81%), but was always rated below medicare costs.
Interestingly, current senior citizens seemed more concerned about losing their motor skills as they grow older than funding their lifestyle.
"More than half (53%) of online respondents in India claim their biggest fear is losing physical agility as they age, followed by not having enough money to live comfortably (49%) or cover medical expenses (45%),'' the survey, completed in December 2013, said about those above 60.
"There are over 190 million Indians over the age of 45 as per Census 2011, making up for 19% of our population,'' said Nielsen India president Piyush Mathur. But there is no planning at government or private sector level for this sizeable section. "In the West, the ageing segment is a driver of consumer perspective. In India, this niche segment is rarely targeted. There isn't enough medical insurance or packages targeting this group."
Shailesh Mishra of the Silver Innings Foundation, which works for Alzheimer's patients in Mumbai, said there is no concept of "planning for the future senior citizens". "Medical expenses are rising every day. If a family has an Alzheimer's patient, a part-time nurse will cost Rs 15,000," he said, highlighting the urgent need for government-run programmes for the elderly.
"Older persons in India find funding their expenses post-retirement when there is no regular monthly income their single biggest concern. A majority may not have enough savings and are dependent to varying extent on their children for their needs," said Bammidi of TISS.
The elderly could be a force to reckon with as they are high in absolute numbers, she added. "They are consumers of various products and healthcare, they can decide which party comes to power, but we don't use them effectively."
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