With demographic transition underway in India, the elderly population is projected to rise to 12% of the total population by 2025. Taking care of elderly in today’s society is a very important responsibility of everyone. Elderly care emphasizes the social and personal requirements of senior citizens who need some assistance with daily activities and health care.

However, it has been observed globally that older people consume the most health expenditures out of any other age group.

Traditionally, care for older adults has been the responsibility of family members and was provided within the extended family home. Increasingly in modern societies, care is now being provided by Home care services or Assisted care givers or charitable institutions. The reasons for this change include decreasing family size, greater life expectancy, the geographical dispersion of families.

Many elderly people gradually lose functioning ability and require either additional assistance in the home or a move to an eldercare facility. Their adult children often find it challenging to help their elderly parents make the right choices. Assisted living is one option for the elderly who need assistance with everyday tasks.

Older adults are scared of losing their independence more than they fear death. Promoting independence in self-care can provide older adults with the capability to maintain independence longer and can leave them with a sense of achievement when they complete a task unaided.

The warning signs to watch out for Elderly population is physical problems, Cognitive problems & Emotional problems.

Physical problems – Chronic health problems often come about as people age and are unable to perform many of the activities they once could. Their bodies may become more fragile, more rigid, and less resilient. Chronic illnesses may cause secondary impairments, or new illnesses to develop. Disease-related physical impairments may be easy to spot or may be subtler.

Cognitive problems – Although cognitive problems, at least in their mildest form, some cognitive problems may impair a his or her ability to live safely and independently. Cognitive problems may cause memory problems, difficulty with language, difficulty making judgments, and difficulty regulating emotions, just to name a few. Mild dementia may not require elder care, but any type of dementia that is progressive and causes serious safety concerns must be addressed.

Emotional problems – A decline in health, the loss of a spouse, the inability to do things once enjoyed, or the feelings of unimportance are all issues that may cause your loved one to experience emotional problems.

Emotional problems may manifest themselves in a number of ways. For example, your loved one may become socially withdrawn, moody or irritable, or may even have suicidal thoughts.

Many seniors deny the existence or severity of emotional problems, which makes the thoughtful observations of physicians and family members all the more important.