Ageing in India and the UK: Issues, programmes and policy implications for social inclusion of older people

This paper highlights a difference the UK and India ageing scenario. This in particular characterizing the challenges and issues faced by older people in India and the UK, demographic profile, present policies and programmes for the upliftment of older people. A productive ageing model proposed some key recommendations for social inclusion of older people in India and the UK. Furthermore, this paper features that caring for the old is not merely looking into their special needs of health care, housing and financial insecurity but a whole lot of complex issues have to be addressed. Even though, the issues and challenges for ageing in India and the UK have several differences, but the conflict of generations, a loss of respect for the aged, the flaws of heartless institutional care of the elderly in old people's homes are only some of the issues which defy easy solutions in both countries. Indian culture has inherently several elder friendly values and practices which need to be reinforced. Importing a western model, as in developed country (UK) of care for elderly people is likely to be costly in a country that can ill afford such initiatives. Working in close collaboration with international agencies is one way of learning from models that have been used in other countries and adapting those best suited to the socio-cultural milieu of India.