Senior citizens found dead in their home

Unveiled to mark World Senior Citizen’s Day 2021, observed on August 21, the India’s first-ever report on senior citizens is based on conversations with over 2,000 respondents older than 18 years from five Indian cities — Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune. It gives key insights into the changing aspirations, needs of senior citizens and their view of ageing in the 21st century as compared to the youth.

Mohit Nirula, chief executive officer, Columbia Pacific Communities, said, “Our idea of ‘positive ageing’ is not prescriptive — we are not defining or imposing our idea of ‘ageing’. We only aim to understand different group’s perceptions of the same, what it means, how it will shape their expectations and decision making, and how we can best support them”.

According to the report, more than two out of five respondents aged over 60 said that “life begins at 60; no work, only leisure, there are the best years, after all”. Additionally, nearly 31 per cent of participants believe that it is only after 60 that they would have all the time and the wisdom to achieve their ambitions.