Digital Exclusion Compounds Healthcare Crisis for Delhi's Ageing Population
For a significant majority of senior citizens residing in the national capital, the most formidable obstacle to obtaining adequate healthcare is no longer physical distance or financial constraints. Instead, it is the pervasive and growing chasm of digital exclusion. A comprehensive city-level survey has uncovered a startling reality: a staggering 86% of elderly Delhiites have never received any formal digital literacy training. This critical skills gap leaves them utterly unable to navigate the increasingly online world of healthcare, including booking doctor appointments, accessing digital health records, applying for welfare schemes, or even using basic digital communication tools.
Survey Details and Alarming Health Statistics
The eye-opening findings emerge from the Hamari Dilli Elder Friendly survey, which meticulously gathered data from 600 elders across three distinct residential colonies: Siddhartha Extension (Pocket B & C), Lajpat Nagar I, and Sukhdev Vihar. Conducted collaboratively by Wellness Health & You and the KG Community Development Council, the study paints a stark and concerning portrait of ageing in urban India. It highlights a complex web of challenges, including a rising burden of chronic diseases, profound loneliness, limited access to medical specialists, and an ever-widening digital divide that exacerbates all other issues.
The health data from the survey is particularly alarming. Nearly 45% of the respondents reported suffering from hypertension, while 11% were living with diabetes. Beyond these specific conditions, many seniors struggled with general mobility issues, exhibited poor awareness of age-related geriatric conditions, received inadequate nutritional guidance, and had little to no screening for depression or the debilitating effects of social isolation. For a large number, consultations with specialist doctors remained financially or logistically out of reach.
Mirroring National Trends and a New Community Response
This local data powerfully mirrors distressing national trends identified in the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, which previously showed that 27% of all Indian elders have unmet healthcare needs and 30% live alone or solely with a spouse. The Delhi survey adds a new layer of urgency to these statistics by specifically highlighting how digital illiteracy is actively compounding social isolation and severely limiting access to essential services.
In a direct and innovative response to these findings, the initiative has launched an ‘Elders for Elders’ community care model. This approach fundamentally flips the traditional narrative of elderly care. Instead of viewing seniors as passive beneficiaries requiring handouts, the programme actively encourages and empowers them to become organisers, peer supporters, and key decision-makers within their own communities. The pilot phase has already seen twelve senior citizen associations join the effort.
Practical Implementation and Expert Insights
On the ground, six buddy groups are now active, strategically pairing more independent elders with those who require additional support. The network is being further strengthened by identifying intergenerational volunteers. A dedicated fortnightly Outpatient Department (OPD) has commenced operations in Siddhartha Extension, staffed by a physician, a nutritionist, a counsellor, and a physiotherapist to provide holistic care.
Technological solutions are also being deployed. A Digital Elder Care Card is being rolled out to seamlessly link seniors with doctors, pharmacies, and various service providers, with participating providers agreeing to offer rebates to cardholders. Furthermore, a dedicated mobile application is currently under development to help elderly users easily locate and access nearby healthcare services.
Dr. G. S. Grewal, director of the Senior Care+ programme at Pacific OneHealth, which is scaling this initiative, emphasized that longevity alone cannot define successful ageing. "Healthy ageing is multidimensional. It critically depends on sustained mobility, mental wellbeing, consistent preventive care, and, increasingly, digital inclusion. Elders desire active engagement and purpose, not mere sympathy. This model innovatively blends robust community networks with clinical continuity, ensuring that seniors do not just live longer, but live better and with dignity," he stated.
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Swadeep Srivastava, president and co-founder of Pacific OneHealth, pointed out that India's healthcare systems remain predominantly built around episodic treatment. "There is a pressing need to develop entire ecosystems that support the sustained wellbeing of the elderly. This community-rooted model is both replicable and empowering. It fundamentally shifts the paradigm by enabling seniors to take proactive charge of their own health journeys," he explained.
Political Support and Community Voices
At the launch event, Krishna Nagar MLA Dr. Anil Goyal urged all citizens above the age of 70 to enrol for the Ayushman health card. He also highlighted the Delhi government's existing health assurance scheme, which provides coverage of up to Rs. 10 lakh for treatments across a wide network of empanelled hospitals.
Senior citizen representative J. S. Marwaha captured the core spirit of the new initiative, stating, "For wellbeing in later life, seniors must remain active, connected, and purposeful. This groundbreaking initiative finally gives them the platform and the space to achieve exactly that." The collective effort represents a crucial step toward building a more inclusive and supportive urban environment for India's rapidly ageing population.
