There is a scene that plays out in Indian households with quiet, grinding regularity. A parent, perhaps in their late sixties, falls. A hip is fractured. An adult child, often working in another city or another country, rushes back.
The parent is hospitalised, operated on, and eventually discharged. But discharged into what? A home that is not adapted for reduced mobility, a city with limited accessible physiotherapy, and a family that must reorganise its routine around a loved one who can no longer stand unassisted.
What happened is frailty. And India is increasingly unprepared for the scale of this challenge.
According to the article, India's ageing population will create a significant healthcare and social burden in the coming decades. Frailty can develop gradually through loss of strength, reduced mobility, fatigue and declining physiological reserves.
The article highlights the importance of recognising frailty early and addressing it through appropriate physical activity, nutrition, healthcare support and preventive approaches.
Frailty is not simply an inevitable part of ageing. Early identification and appropriate intervention can help people maintain independence and quality of life.
This article was authored by Dr. Navin Gnanasekaran, longevity physician and head of radiology at Apollo Hospitals.