Hyderabad: The insurance sector, despite criticism for not being senior citizen-friendly, has in the past five to six years introduced geriatric disease-specific coverage, including for dementia and Parkinson’s, said Dr Adesh Kumar Jampulkar, vice-president, Liberty General Insurance.Speaking at a panel discussion during Anvayaa Elder Care’s 10th anniversary celebrations, he said India’s ageing population and the rise of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and arthritis are increasing the need for frequent hospitalisation and long-term care, making insurance more important. He said changing demographics and disease patterns present both challenges and opportunities for insurers.Surya Pulagam, CMD, Incor Group, which develops elder care projects, said senior living should shift towards “mixed communities” where elders remain engaged with younger generations instead of being isolated in old-age homes.Dr Usha Sharma, retired CSIR-IGIB scientist, urged seniors to stay active by redefining their lives every five years and keeping their minds engaged. Prof VS Prasad, former NAAC director, said living happily is more important than living long.Several Padma awardees were felicitated, while Anvayaa members aged 70 to 91 participated in a ramp walk with Tollywood actors and a performance by violinist Padma Shankar. Guests included actor Brahmanandam, former Telangana chief secretary SK Joshi, special chief secretary Jayesh Ranjan and former DGP Mahender Reddy.Anvayaa announced lifetime complimentary emergency-response assistance for 14 elderly families of Gallantry Award and Padma Shri recipients. Founded by Prashanth Reddy in 2016, Anvayaa supports over 1.5 lakh seniors across 38 cities and has handled more than 5,000 medical emergencies.
