Why Kerala is starting government department for elderly

At 75, Mathew K V refuses to slow down. Nearly two decades after retiring as a schoolteacher, he has consciously built a life around staying active, connected and purposeful — either working on his farmland in Wayanad or attending community meetings and social gatherings.Age, he admits, has caught up with him. He tires faster and moves slower now. But unlike many others his age who retreat into the confines of home or surrender to deepening vexation, Mathew understood early that the biggest threat facing the elderly is not illness, but isolation. And, so, he resolved never to allow himself to become idle, lonely or disconnected.“In youth, friendship comes naturally through work, family and social life. But in old age, relationships and routines do not sustain themselves. One has to make a conscious effort to step out, meet people and remain engaged,” he says.Mathew warns that loneliness among senior citizens often triggers emotional, mental and even physical decline. “Many problems in old age arise from isolation. Society and govt should not allow elderly people to slip into loneliness,” he cautions.As if echoing the concerns raised by Mathew and many other senior citizens, who form a substantial part of Kerala’s demography, the state govt has now decided to place sharper focus on elderly welfare by setting up an exclusive department for senior citizens. “This is for the first time, to my knowledge, that a department dedicated to the elderly people has been created in a state in India,” chief minister V D Satheesan declared immediately after the swearing-in of the new UDF govt last week.The department will first examine the model in Japan, which brought revolutionary changes in the lives of the elderly. It will then conduct a comprehensive study to understand the concerns, condition and needs of the elderly in the state. “The true measure of a refined society lies in how it treats its elders. As a civilised society, we must extend care and hold our elderly together,” the CM said. This was one of the five guarantees announced in the Congress manifesto for the 2026 assembly elections, given that the elderly make up a major voting bloc in the state.How Will It Help?The crude birth rate in 2023 in Kerala was 12.3 per 1,000 population (live births for every 1,000 people) as against 18.4 per 1,000 population at the national level. The current birth rate in Kerala represents a drastic drop from 31.1 in 1971. In fact, in 2023, the death rate was higher than the birth rate in four of Kerala’s 14 districts.Kerala’s ageing population has increased faster than the rest of India. In 1961, the elderly population was 5% of Kerala’s total, below the national average of 6%. However, by 2001, it had increased to 11% in Kerala, compared to 8% nationally. In 2011, it was 13% and, reportedly, might have touched 19% by 2026. The share of the elderly in Kerala’s population is projected to touch 23% by 2036. The math was reflected in the latest voters’ list for the 2026 state polls. Of the 2.69 crore total voters, 23% are senior citizens. Another 19% were in the 50-59 age group. The state, thus, is going to witness an explosion in its elderly population in the immediate future.S Irudayarajan, chairman of the International Institute of Migration and Development, warns that we may soon witness a new demographic trend — similar to that in China — where the number of deaths exceeds the number of births in the next 10 to 15 years. In a report submitted to the state planning board last year, Irudayarajan said the decadal growth rate of the elderly population will touch 31% by 2051. “What we have now is a society where middle-class families opt for a single child, youngsters want to migrate abroad and elderly parents are left alone at home,” said Irudayarajan.Challenges AheadKerala has long been known for its healthcare and social indicators. It is now grappling with a rapidly ageing population and a declining birth rate, raising concerns about elderly care, social support systems, and public health preparedness. Even in the past, the state govt has not been immune to the needs of the elderly.Last year, the Kerala State Elderly Commission Act, 2025, a state policy for senior citizens, was introduced and tribunals set up to address their pleas, while around 15 welfare measures were launched for them under the social justice department.Going forward, the absence of a dedicated and specialised task force at the ground level, fragmentation of welfare schemes across multiple departments, and shortage of funds remain the key challenges before the govt. A senior official in the state social justice department spoke of the challenge of ensuring resources to support “nearly one-third of the total population”, pointing out how “indefinite welfare measures may not be sustainable in the long run”.A key focus would be to empower senior citizens by utilising their experience and expertise even after retirement through the creation of a skill bank and setting up of resource groups. “Only those above 80 years should be given intensive welfare support,” the officer said.Another dimension in the state where women enjoy longer life expectancy than men is the presence of a large share of widowed women, which stands at 59% in the age group above 60, compared with 10% widowers among men.Illness, LonelinessAnother significant concern is that the majority of the elderly are still not prepared for their healthcare challenges. Very few have medical insurance, even as out-of-pocket expenditure has skyrocketed both at public and private hospitals. Experts, on the other hand, warn that Kerala’s healthcare system remains ill-equipped to address the specialised needs of geriatric care. “Geriatric care is individual-specific. The focus should not be merely on treatment, but on improving the quality of life of elderly patients,” said Dr Aswin Surjith, treasurer, Geriatric Society of India.The elderly have a wide range of health concerns: lifestyle diseases, chronic illnesses, and mobility concerns. But now, another serious concern is fast emerging — ‘geriatric depression’ — driven largely by loneliness and social isolation.“Many elderly people suffer from depression because they are alone at home with their children either busy at work or staying outside. Community outreach programmess like geriatric clubs, etc, are essential to keep them socially connected and engaged in recreational activities,” said Surjith.“Not just money and access to healthcare, our greatest happiness is when we get someone to speak to. This helps us fight loneliness in our golden years. When I receive a call from my daughters or come across a person willing to listen to me, it feels like heaven,” said Varghese, a septuagenarian who lives with his wife in Pathanamthitta. His two children are settled abroad.Care Homes: Changing ViewThough Kerala has seen a growth in private retirement homes and old-age homes in the last few years, one can’t really ignore the stigma attached to it. Often, the elderly view it as an end-of-life option — a choice they would never voluntarily make. “Placing an elderly person in a care home is often viewed as abandonment. That mindset has to change. In many countries, senior citizens willingly move into care homes because they receive round-the-clock attention and support,” Surjith said.Despite the stigma, the Orphanage Control Board (OCB), which functions under the social justice department, continues to routinely receive new applications for starting care homes in Kerala, where most care homes are run by NGOs.“Things are slowly changing as family members of elderly people are willing to spend Rs 45-65 lakh to purchase oneor two-room apartments at paid-home facilities for their parents, where children can come to meet or stay for a few days. It is not abandonment; instead, senior citizens become an elite community,” said an OCB official.The challenge before the new govt is to redefine what growing old with dignity means. For thousands like Mathew and Varghese, dignity in old age is not measured only through pensions or hospital care, but through companionship, purpose and the assurance that they are still seen, heard and valued. Whether Kerala can transform this demographic moment into a model of humane ageing will depend on how successfully it can ensure that its elderly do not merely live longer, but live better.