Year: 2025 | Month: August | Volume: 12 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 35-41
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20250805
Growing Old in Kerala: A Comprehensive Review of Elderly Welfare Initiatives
Sandra K1, Dr K Sathyamurthi2
1PhD Scholar, Department of Social Work, Madras School of Social Work, Chennai.
2Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, Madras School of Social Work, Chennai
Corresponding Author: Sandra K
ABSTRACT
As India's older population is projected to double by 2050, Kerala stands out with an ageing demographic that already represents 16.5% of its residents. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the welfare schemes implemented by Kerala’s Social Justice Department to address the needs of its growing elderly population. This study draws on secondary data from government reports, policy documents, and academic literature to evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives. Key findings highlight successful community-based outreach programs, such as Vathilpadi Sevanam and Vayomithram, which have facilitated improved access to healthcare and social services for seniors. Despite these successes, the paper also identifies significant implementation challenges, including gaps in health insurance coverage and digital literacy among older adults. The study underscores the imperative to innovate and strengthen these welfare programs to ensure a dignified and inclusive ageing process for Kerala’s seniors.
Keywords: elderly welfare, social justice, policy evaluation, healthcare access, welfare schemes
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