The tragic death of an elderly woman, left uncared for and unnoticed in her own home, has understandably shaken the nation, with social media erupting in anguish.
Yet this tragedy is less about one family’s failure but rather about our nation’s collective failure to prepare for the reality of an aging society.
For decades, we have celebrated our “demographic dividend,” without recognizing that simultaneously, life expectancy has risen to 75 years and that by the end of this decade, one in ten Bangladeshis will be over 60.
This is not a distant problem but happening now, and it cannot be ignored any longer.
To that end, to say that our hospitals are unequipped to handle geriatric needs would be an understatement. We see year after year how spikes in diseases overwhelm our healthcare facilities, and we are not prepared for exponential rises in elderly patients.
Unless we act decisively, millions of elderly citizens will face isolation, poverty, and inadequate healthcare. The planning must start now: From expanding pensions and allowances to building professional caregiving services and investing in redesigning housing, transport, and hospitals to meet the needs of the elderly.
The death of neglected elderly citizens is a tragedy, yet it could become a symbol of what awaits the entire nation if we continue to ignore the aging crisis.
There is no time for complacency. The time has come to recognize that caring for the elderly can no longer be reduced to just a family duty but rather, must be a national responsibility.
