October 1 every year is observed as World Elders day. Old age is often described as second childhood, when people crave for attention and help. But whether they get those benefits or are well off, depends lot more upon circumstances.
To cheer up on this day, we have some initiatives taken jointly by ICICI Prudential Life Insurance,
one of India’s leading life insurers and Dignity Foundation, an established organization dedicated to the cause of productive ageing. They have come together to lauch ActivAge a platform that will work towards promoting and facilitating the concept of productive ageing amongst the senior citizens in India. It entails a comprehensive engagement program for the fifty-plus segment, involving them in activities that will help them lead a holistic post-retirement life.
Speaking at the launch, Ms. Shikha Sharma, Managing Director and CEO, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance said, “While financial independence is a key determinant for a satisfying life post-retirement, it isn’t the only factor that promises quality life at that stage. While our strengths lie in providing financial solutions in the retirement space, Dignity Foundation provides a platform for senior citizens to explore exciting opportunities to keep them engaged. Through ActivAge, we will enable senior citizens to lead a more active, wholesome life and age productively.”
Dr. Sheilu Sreenivasan, Founder President, Dignity Foundation, said: “It is our privilege to partner with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and further champion the cause of active ageing. ActivAge will provide senior citizens a larger forum to engage themselves in productive activities, which will help senior citizens lead a more fulfilling life after their working years. The activities have been designed to bring more senior citizens together on a regular basis. Through ActivAge we hope to build a larger community of active senior citizens, who in-turn will help change the meaning of post-retirement life in India.”
ActivAge programs include Chai Masti, involving Dignitarians in various mind-stimulating activities, Intergenerational Mela seeking to increase interaction between grandparents and their grandchildren, Suraksha Bandhan, an activity that encourages school children to bond with their grandparents and Voice of Dignity, a newsletter which would articulate their concerns and learning on various issues. All these activities will be held in Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Jamshedpur.
Second Careers
ICICI Prudential Life and Dignity Foundation under the aegis of ActivAge will launch a website on second careers. This is a first of its kind initiative that will offer a unique opportunity for Dignitarians to pursue careers post their retirement. The website has been created keeping in mind that many retirees seek either part-time or full time opportunities in the corporate sector, as they are still active and can contribute to the various functions within a company. The second careers website is the first step towards providing avenues in this direction, to senior citizens.
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance will provide a web interface, where Dignitarians can upload their resumes. These resumes can be accessed by both ICICI Prudential Life and other prospective employers who will offer the unique opportunity for Dignitarians to explore second careers.
Volunteer Programs
Employees of ICICI Prudential Life will also participate in volunteer programs and productively share their time and learnings with Dignitarians in an interactive way. Volunteer programs designed for ActivAge include Dignity Companionship program - engaging in activities like reading or playing cards, scrabble, Dignity Dementia Day Care Centre, involving in creative pursuits like dance and singing and Dignity Home Computer Training - imparting computer training, surfing the net or access email services.
The immediate beneficiaries of ActivAge will be the over 50,000 members of Dignity Foundation across India. However, senior citizens from across the country can become members of Dignity Foundation and benefit from ActivAge programs.
Elder Population (Below extract referred from Kerala Online)
The rise in the proportion of the ageing population represents one of the most significant demographic shifts in history. In 1950, there were 205 million people who were over 60; in 2000, there were 606 million; and by 2050, there will be two billion. The number of the elderly trebled over the last 50 years and an encore is expected in the next 50 years. As a proportion of the total world population, the number of the elderly will double in the next 50 years.
This demographic change is fast turning the hair of policy-makers prematurely grey throughout the world, especially in developing countries, where the growth of the aged population is happening at a more rapid pace.
In India, the elderly population has grown manifold. While only 19 million people were 60-plus in 1947, today the figure has risen to nearly 80 million, an increase of 285 per cent in the last five decades. The figure is expected to double in the next 25 years. Nearly 90 per cent of the elderly have no form of official social security, and over 40 per cent live below the poverty line. Close to 75 per cent are from the rural areas and over 73 per cent are illiterate. Some 55 per cent of the women over 60 years (over 20 million) are widows.
If achieving longevity was the triumph of the 20th century, care of the elderly will be the challenge of the 21st century. While research on ageing is well-developed and documented in developed countries, it hardly happens in countries such as India. According to Dhar Chakraborti (The Greying of India, Sage Publications, 2004), this is primarily because of the belief that the family support system is and will continue to be an adequate insurance against all problems related to old age.
The full article from Kerala Online based on Elder population can be read here.
To cheer up on this day, we have some initiatives taken jointly by ICICI Prudential Life Insurance,
one of India’s leading life insurers and Dignity Foundation, an established organization dedicated to the cause of productive ageing. They have come together to lauch ActivAge a platform that will work towards promoting and facilitating the concept of productive ageing amongst the senior citizens in India. It entails a comprehensive engagement program for the fifty-plus segment, involving them in activities that will help them lead a holistic post-retirement life.Speaking at the launch, Ms. Shikha Sharma, Managing Director and CEO, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance said, “While financial independence is a key determinant for a satisfying life post-retirement, it isn’t the only factor that promises quality life at that stage. While our strengths lie in providing financial solutions in the retirement space, Dignity Foundation provides a platform for senior citizens to explore exciting opportunities to keep them engaged. Through ActivAge, we will enable senior citizens to lead a more active, wholesome life and age productively.”
Dr. Sheilu Sreenivasan, Founder President, Dignity Foundation, said: “It is our privilege to partner with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and further champion the cause of active ageing. ActivAge will provide senior citizens a larger forum to engage themselves in productive activities, which will help senior citizens lead a more fulfilling life after their working years. The activities have been designed to bring more senior citizens together on a regular basis. Through ActivAge we hope to build a larger community of active senior citizens, who in-turn will help change the meaning of post-retirement life in India.”
ActivAge programs include Chai Masti, involving Dignitarians in various mind-stimulating activities, Intergenerational Mela seeking to increase interaction between grandparents and their grandchildren, Suraksha Bandhan, an activity that encourages school children to bond with their grandparents and Voice of Dignity, a newsletter which would articulate their concerns and learning on various issues. All these activities will be held in Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Jamshedpur.
Second Careers
ICICI Prudential Life and Dignity Foundation under the aegis of ActivAge will launch a website on second careers. This is a first of its kind initiative that will offer a unique opportunity for Dignitarians to pursue careers post their retirement. The website has been created keeping in mind that many retirees seek either part-time or full time opportunities in the corporate sector, as they are still active and can contribute to the various functions within a company. The second careers website is the first step towards providing avenues in this direction, to senior citizens.
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance will provide a web interface, where Dignitarians can upload their resumes. These resumes can be accessed by both ICICI Prudential Life and other prospective employers who will offer the unique opportunity for Dignitarians to explore second careers.
Volunteer Programs
Employees of ICICI Prudential Life will also participate in volunteer programs and productively share their time and learnings with Dignitarians in an interactive way. Volunteer programs designed for ActivAge include Dignity Companionship program - engaging in activities like reading or playing cards, scrabble, Dignity Dementia Day Care Centre, involving in creative pursuits like dance and singing and Dignity Home Computer Training - imparting computer training, surfing the net or access email services.
The immediate beneficiaries of ActivAge will be the over 50,000 members of Dignity Foundation across India. However, senior citizens from across the country can become members of Dignity Foundation and benefit from ActivAge programs.
Elder Population (Below extract referred from Kerala Online)
The rise in the proportion of the ageing population represents one of the most significant demographic shifts in history. In 1950, there were 205 million people who were over 60; in 2000, there were 606 million; and by 2050, there will be two billion. The number of the elderly trebled over the last 50 years and an encore is expected in the next 50 years. As a proportion of the total world population, the number of the elderly will double in the next 50 years.
This demographic change is fast turning the hair of policy-makers prematurely grey throughout the world, especially in developing countries, where the growth of the aged population is happening at a more rapid pace.
In India, the elderly population has grown manifold. While only 19 million people were 60-plus in 1947, today the figure has risen to nearly 80 million, an increase of 285 per cent in the last five decades. The figure is expected to double in the next 25 years. Nearly 90 per cent of the elderly have no form of official social security, and over 40 per cent live below the poverty line. Close to 75 per cent are from the rural areas and over 73 per cent are illiterate. Some 55 per cent of the women over 60 years (over 20 million) are widows.
If achieving longevity was the triumph of the 20th century, care of the elderly will be the challenge of the 21st century. While research on ageing is well-developed and documented in developed countries, it hardly happens in countries such as India. According to Dhar Chakraborti (The Greying of India, Sage Publications, 2004), this is primarily because of the belief that the family support system is and will continue to be an adequate insurance against all problems related to old age.
The full article from Kerala Online based on Elder population can be read here.
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