A. H. Sruthi Anil Kumar’s research while affiliated with International Institute for Population Sciences and other places

India, a developing country and currently the most populous nation, has been experiencing a rapid and unpredictable increase in the proportion of its older population. The healthcare system is already struggling to meet the needs of the current population, and the rising number of older adults is expected to further strain resources. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the distribution of the older population in Indian cities and their access to advanced health facilities. The study uses data from Census of India, 2011, which is the latest census data available. A Health Facilities Index was developed to assess the availability of health facilities, and a geospatial approach was adopted to determine aging patterns and access to health facilities across cities. Despite similar aging trends, health infrastructure was unevenly distributed across cities. The study revealed that advanced health facilities were concentrated in specific areas, primarily metropolitan cities, whereas smaller cities lacked adequate health facilities and accessibility. Therefore, improving health infrastructure in smaller cities to match that in larger ones should be prioritized. The findings highlight a notable infrastructure gap in Indian cities, which presents a significant challenge to achieving healthy aging in the country.

Background Sleep is an essential component of human health and well-being, playing a crucial role in several cognitive processes, including attention, memory, and executive function. In this study, we aimed to examine the association between sleep quality, sleep duration and cognitive functioning among older men and women in India. Methods Data come from the World Health Organization’s Study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO-SAGE), India wave-2, which was conducted in 2015 in six selected states of India, representing different country regions. The sample included 6,396 older adults aged 50 years and above. We used multivariable linear regression models to examine the associations between sleep quality, sleep duration and cognitive function, separately among older men and women. Results Older men and women with poor sleep and short duration sleep had lower mean scores of cognition than their peers with good sleep and age-appropriate sleep duration. Poor sleep (aCoef: -5.09, CI: -8.66, -1.51) and short duration sleep (aCoef: -5.43, CI: -7.77, -3.10) were negatively associated with cognitive functioning among older men and the associations remained significant among older men with poor sleep (aCoef: -2.39, CI: -3.78, -1.00) and short duration sleep (aCoef: -4.39, CI: -6.46, -2.31) after adjusting for a large number of socio-demographic, health and behavioral factors. Similarly, poor sleep (aCoef: -3.15, CI: -5.79, -0.52) and short duration sleep (aCoef: -2.72, CI: -4.64, -0.81) were associated with cognitive functioning among older women, however, the associations were insignificant when the potential confounders were adjusted. Conclusions This study provides evidence for the significant association between sleep health and cognitive functioning in older Indian adults, especially older men, with poor sleep quality and insufficient sleep duration being detrimental to their cognitive health. Healthcare providers should routinely screen for sleep quality and age-appropriate sleep duration in their older adult patients and consider sex/gender-tailored sleep interventions as part of cognitive health management strategies.

Background Most studies on later‐life health in India focus on families, with far less attention given to the health repercussions of neighbourhood conditions among older Indians. We address this limitation in existing research by examining the associations between perceptions of neighbourhood safety and social cohesion and sleep duration and sleep quality among older adults in India. Methods Data come from the Study on Global Aging and Adult Health (WHO‐SAGE), India 2015 wave 2, with a sample of 7118 adults aged 50 years and above. Sleep quality and duration were assessed using subjective responses. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were employed to test the research hypotheses. Results Prevalence of poor sleep quality was higher among older adults living in unsafe neighbourhoods (4.46%) than peers residing in safe neighbourhoods (3.52%), and it was also higher among those living in neighbourhoods with poor social cohesion (5.31%) than counterparts who lived in socially cohesive communities (3.10%). Older adults in neighbourhoods with poor social cohesion had higher odds of reporting compromised sleep quality (adjusted odds ratio 1.75, CI: 1.22–2.51) than those living in socially cohesive neighbourhoods. Moreover, compared to those who perceived they were living in safe neighbourhoods, their peers who perceived their neighbourhoods as unsafe reported shorter sleep duration, with a negative beta coefficient of −0.27 (CI: −0.45 to −0.085). Conclusion That perceived unsafety and poor social cohesion within one's neighbourhood are associated with compromised sleep reflects the significance of making neighbourhoods safer and more integrated for later‐life sleep health. In addition to micro‐level strategies (e.g., balanced nutrition and physical activity), efforts to improve sleep health should optimise macro‐level opportunities, such as rehabilitating and revitalising neighbourhoods, which may alleviate sleep disturbances and improve sleep outcomes among older adults.

Objectives: The healthcare system in India is struggling to meet the needs of the current population, and the rising aging population is likely to exacerbate this problem. Therefore, this study tried to investigate the distribution of the older population's access to improved health facilities in Indian cities. Methods: The study uses data from the 2011 Census of India, which is the latest census round. An index was developed to understand the available health facilities, and a geospatial approach was adopted to understand the aging pattern and access to health facilities across Indian cities. Results: Despite similar aging scenarios, health infrastructure was not equally distributed across cities. The study revealed that advanced health facilities were more concentrated in specific pockets, particularly in metropolitan cities, while smaller cities lacked good health facilities and were not easily accessible. Discussion: The results highlight the infrastructure gap in Indian cities, which poses a significant challenge in achieving healthy aging.

Global climate change poses an increasingly dire threat to habitats, livelihoods, and communities worldwide. This cross-sectional study has tried to examine the state of improved shelter facilities in India, utilizing the comprehensive methodology outlined by UN-Habitat and NFHS-5 data. The findings of our research alarm that 39.3% of India’s population lacks access to improved shelter. Moreover, a significant disparity in the availability of improved shelter facilities is observed across various states in India. In regions prone to hazards such as floods and earthquakes, there is a considerable lag in terms of improved shelter provisions. On the other hand, non-hazardous areas demonstrate relatively higher rates of access to improved shelter. Our study reveals a marked distinction between improved shelter and hazard-free improved shelter estimates. In India, only 40.6% of the population can be considered safe from the perils of floods, landslides, and earthquakes. However, the situation is considerably worse in rural areas, where both improved shelter and hazard-free improved shelter are scarce. This highlights the urgent need to adopt hazard-free improved shelter as a more refined metric for housing, as it can prove instrumental in guiding effective planning and policymaking initiatives. To ensure a risk-free living environment for future generations, it is imperative to undertake micro-level vulnerability mapping and conduct comprehensive risk assessments for various hazards. Furthermore, the government must take proactive measures to promote resilient housing infrastructure as a crucial component of sustainable development.

As population aging continues to become a major demographic trend globally, it is essential to examine the demographic shifts at the micro-level to understand the changing scenario of older populations. A lack of adequate data in India on older populations is a hindrance to the government’s efforts to provide social security for them. This study uses gridded population data to analyze the spatial patterns, micro-level trends, and the share of older populations in India for 2030 and 2040. The study’s findings demonstrate that India has seen a dramatic shift in population aging trends, with large intra-state variability. The micro-level analysis shows that certain districts have a higher percentage of older people. Further, the share of older populations is predicted to rise considerably over the next two decades. The results highlight the need to shift from national and state-level policies to a more localized approach. The findings provide a comprehensive analysis of population aging at the micro-level in India and highlight the need for targeted policies and programs to ensure the well-being of older populations. The results of this study can inform policymakers in their efforts to provide social security for older people and improve their quality of life.