A valuable lesson we learn in life is about its ever-changing nature. Ageing serves as a persistent reminder of the same. But, perhaps, more than anything else, the ageing process brings with it the realisation of the inevitable – the growing dependency, on family, society and more.

Beyond the moral debate on familial responsibilities and social traditions, there is a need to dissect the change in socio-cultural dynamics. Over the years the importance of making an effort to understand the unique needs, physical, mental and social, of the elderly has only grown. There is much spoken but perhaps little done to address these.

This week, we make a humble effort to understand the complexities and challenges surrounding the subject of care for the elderly. From the evolution of family units and its impact on provision of care to the elderly to social protection and welfare systems, we explore all that has changed and can change for these facilities to improve.

We also include reportage on the need for dedicated geriatric healthcare in public hospitals and free of cost elderly care centres; and a commentary on the need for more sophisticated concepts of healthy and happy ageing and understanding unique health challenges faced by the elderly.