While COVID pandemic has impacted the lives of ageing women on various levels, the Government of India has taken several measures for the aging people in the country. It released an advisory for mitigating the spread of the virus among the ageing population. As per the advisory issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)“The government acknowledges the fact that ageing population is at higher risk of COVID-19 infection due to their decreased immunity and body reserves.”[4] It also recognises the fact that the ageing population required special attention, therefore, it was announced that the Centre will provide three months of pension in advance to poor senior citizens, differently-abled and widows under its National Social Assistance Programme. Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, the government also launched a direct benefit transfer to 30 million senior citizens, widows, disabled to get a one-time ex-gratia amount of INR 1,000 in two installments over a period of 3 months. The government aimed to provide 20 crore women Jan Dhan account holders an ex-gratia amount of Rs 500 per month for three months. Women in 8.3 crore below-poverty-line families covered under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna will get free cylinders for three months. Apart from the general schemes i.e., for everyone, some specific schemes for the senior citizens needs to be looked at as well. The Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens is such a significant and specific Central Sector Scheme. Its main objective is to “improve the quality of life of Senior Citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing through providing support for capacity building of State/UT Governments/Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)/Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)/local bodies and the community at large.”[5]

Delhi has witnessed three subsequent waves of Coronavirus from March 2020 up until February 2022, and has borne lockdown for good durations. In spite of all the precautionary measures taken by the people and the government, the numbers increased exponentially and Delhi-NCR region has been a major hotspot of COVID-19 in the country. All the people, including the group in question here, navigated their struggles during these circumstances only and therefore, our focus is to explore the latent and manifested impacts of the pandemic on ageing women. For this primarily the research is on understanding the complexity of psychological, economical and medical impacts of pandemic on ageing women of India. The idea is to understand the digitization which is the new normal and its impacts vis a vis the health of the ageing women, their competencies and challenges.

Psychological Facets

As was the general tendency worldwide, every woman interviewed agreed on facing anxiety and some form of mental despondency over the period of the pan Indian lockdown. The very source of their anxiety arose from the economic fallout that affected nearly every household, beginning from losses in business to job recessions, and since most of the women interviewed lived with her sons and family, the economic fallout affected the women on their personal levels. Majority of the interviewed women felt the insecurity of their lives which caused them anxiety and insecurity.

Since we interacted with the women located in Delhi which has relatively better eco environment in the form of parks and morning community yoga facilities, the sudden lockdown led to absolute physical immobility,confining them within the four walls of home and causing them more problems since nearly all the women were used to going to parks, engaging in recreational activities outside their home spheres, meeting their friends, doing physical exercises- a complete limitation to moving out costed a great deal of apprehension and mental fatigue. Though some of them took up other homely recreational activities, for most of them heavy physical engagements due to health didn’t suit as the result the impacts of pandemic were more toiling on them and they had to look for alternatives such as maintaining a regular walking schedule in their terraces, or porches, et cetera. The spread of the virus in the second phase of pandemic was more deadly- the limitless deaths itself was emotionally nerve- wrecking to the women since fear psychology started playing a major role. Many women themselves avoided the external world outside their homely quarters every way possible in the fear of contacting the virus. According to reports[6], the ageing are more likely to be contacted with the virus for obvious reasons like weaker immune capacities and morbid diseases like high blood pressure, failing kidneys and lungs. However, the anxiety leading from the virus has reduced substantially over the times, it still continues to haunt some.

Reasons of anxiety to the majority of them was the lack of being able to fulfill their household chores leading to irritation and emotional vulnerability. As women, they’re expected to serve their families and complete their chores, however, with age and their physical immobility has anyways burdened them causing emotional outbursts. And now with their inability to do their chores on time pressured them even more. Though for the majority of the interviewees their families claimed of not exerting any pressure on them for housework. All of them have however admitted feeling sad, insecure, anxious, depressed, worried, angry, agitated, irritated since the lockdown started.

However, on a positive note, the interviews spent a good deal of their time engaging with their grandchildren and children, playing with them and spending quality family time which aided to their mental wellbeing. Regular phone calls with distant relatives and friends who’ve accessibility to necessary media also helped most of them. Increased screen time owing to their immobility gravely affected their physical health. However, none of the women had a need to see a doctor in case of mental health or take therapies. They have engaged themselves in recreational activities- most women took a spiritual turn like Buddhist chants or meditation or yoga and pranayama to keep their mental peace or kept themselves busy in homely activities.

At the government level positive steps in the form of release of helpline numbers were provided to aid anxious citizens but due to the lack of awareness very few could avail the services. With the rising rates of the virus and the ageing being the most susceptible, it only seems wise if the govt. and several other organizations take the step to conduct drives and sensitize citizens about the importance of mental health during this period of uncertainty and try to bring back the ageing women back to the purview of the new normal.

The Economical Facet

During the interview process, it was found that nearly half (45%) of those interviewed were financially and economically independent, either because they were self-employed or because they lived in old age homes, others were dependent on the family in one way or the other. This dependence was either on the husband, who was a businessman or the sole breadwinner of the family, or it would be on the son of the house for the same reason or on both of them. One declared that she was dependent earlier but after her father and brother gave her the share in the family property, she is now a financially independent Woman. 2 Women claimed that the family land keeps them financially stable. 5 of those interviewed were always independent of their family's income.

When asked about any knowledge on the pension schemes that the government has launched for the old age, it was quite surprising to note that almost none of them had an exact idea of such schemes. 6 were partially aware because their husbands worked in any kind of government job. Majority of them never bothered about such schemes. 7 of them were exclusively dependent on pension schemes. One woman opined that such schemes should rather be given to the neediest one. Some, who belonged to a well to do family background, didn't bother to know about this, since they believed that these were of no use to them.

Many ageing women interviewed were living in a joint family set up and thus conflicts and skirmishes were a frequent phenomenon, however, they also accepted that they have started to be accustomed to it and therefore do not complain. 5 of those questioned said that they were never charged with questions on their economic expenditure, while most of them have learnt to cut down on their expenses to bring down the financial burden on the family. One of them is questioned for her expenses even after being economically independent, but she tends to ignore it. Almost half of the interviewees acknowledged that there was a substantial cut down in their expenditure, unnecessary and sometimes necessary due to lockdown. Almost all of them had a full-time servant.

Many, who were employed in a sector that suffered from a major impact of lockdown, were struggling to make a living in such times. A woman, who is a divorcee and a writer, accepts that she is facing problems on the financial front and is living on her savings.

Of those interviewed, almost all agreed to the fact that lockdown has impacted them considerably on the financial front. 2 women were dependent on the land they owned, but this has been impacted due to restrictions on mobility and other barriers. Those who were dependent on their businessman husband had to suffer since businesses too came to be shut. However, it is interesting to note that none of them claimed to have been affected by this so much. While a small percentage believed they were largely affected.

The Medical Facet

Almost all those interviewed showed some or the other signs of some kind of ailments, however not the same proportion of women availed the e- pharmacy or telemedicine, rather a majority of them were dependent on the local pharmacies and shops. Those who avail the medicines physically, do so with the help of either their husband or their sons.

For a majority of those who were suffering from problems like high blood pressure or joint pains, it was difficult to find a doctor at the service.  They had to thus cut down upon their regular doctor visits.

Some stated that in the initial phase of the lockdown, they couldn't go for a monthly check-up, however in the later phase when the lockdown was a bit eased, they could access the dispensaries for monthly health check-up.

Many complained of grave health conditions like arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure,etc. One ageing woman, who is a breast cancer survivor, had to skip a full body checkup because of restricted mobility. For diabetes and high blood pressure patients, it has become very difficult to remain at home and they complain of becoming restless. Especially those women who had joint pains, they find it most difficult to carry out their household chores, in a situation when they are alone, or with their husband. One woman, who had a major physical fallout due to which she was hospitalized, is now bedridden. One woman acclaimed that she has started to develop early signs of dementia.

Only a few of those who were interviewed mentioned that they work out to remain fit and healthy. Others have been confined to their houses. For some, nothing has changed much in the post lockdown period, they go to visit parks as usual, while a small percentage of women have to resort to walking on the terrace or within the house.

Almost all the interviewees agreed that their screen time has increased to compensate for the time that they used to spend walking outside and chit-chatting with neighbors. They have either resorted to TV shows or video calls with family and relatives.

Almost all of them confessed that, since the lockdown, family relationships have deteriorated, however, they can manage it accurately. Some complained that the daughter in law faces problems because of the added household, office work, managing children and husband all at one time.

Has digitalization helped ageing in covid times?

Digitalization has emerged as ‘the new normal’ in the Covid times, taking almost all of the facets of life in it and touching all the age groups, even the ageing ones. Ageing ladies have always acquired less of this technology, only 4% of ageing would use the internet before Covid and only 6% would carry mobile phones and only a very small fraction of them is well versed with digital vocabulary of smartphones and laptops. In tough and isolating times of lockdown it was seen, the ageing group was further segregated from their small social spheres and still are the most susceptible ones due to their pre-medical history thus, forced to stay inside. The effects of lockdown had been various on them like psychological, physical, financial and others. Of all the aspects that the government (at state and Centre level) took care of in the problems faced by ageing in lockdown, their inability to cope with the new normal of digitalization was ignored.

Though the number of elderlies using mobile phones is less, the effects of digitalization were not limited to them. The psychological factors were the primary reason to adapt to the technology as isolated and stranded families had only the digital medium to connect through. Digital mediums served as the platform from which they could continue their yoga sessions, plan family meetings, celebrate festivals on zoom and other online meeting platforms. Zoom, Google add on to their limited digital vocabulary. Savita Devi, 65, a former primary school teacher said that they were compelled to use technology which was very difficult for them. The statement has all the pain and compulsion the pandemic has put them through. About 24% of the ageing who participated in a survey called digital devices “too complicated” to be used on a daily basis. As the ageing group is diverse in itself in terms of their medical histories, no single conclusion can be achieved, as the cataract, Alzheimer patients who faced difficulty in online connectivity faced more loneliness, distress and depression. Others had faced sudden increases in their screening hours as the ones with joint pain, digestive problems, diabetes had to limit to rooms and zoom meetings for little or so workout. The ones living with families were able to fare better than the ones living alone or just with their husbands as they could spend better quality time with their grandchildren and didn’t have to worry about their son being stuck in some other cities. Such individuals could also be looked after better under the care of their familial ones unlike the ones who had to either take help from volunteers provided in cooperative societies or to manage all on their own with the grocery, medicines and other daily necessities. The new shift didn’t change the personal interactions only but also changed the work pattern mainly in the education field.

Recognizing the importance of digitalization in connecting the pandemic world, the question that needs to be answered is how many of the ageing women could actually afford a digital device for themselves? Statistics shows, only independent and working women are more likely to own a digital device and the percentage of such a group is really low. Income insecurity is very common amongst ageing women, especially the ones in the unorganized sector, 59% reportedly have no personal income example from wages, pensions, etc. 66% of all ageing women are fully dependent financially on their son (with whom they reside mainly) and other family members. Therefore, if an ageing lady demands a digital device without having professional and valid reasons (to be scrutinized by the family members) find it difficult to claim any. Very little percentage of them who earn, have faced a backlash in their earnings during the lockdown period. In the poor and low-income families, ageing are often also the earning members, the trend didn’t change either in the lockdown period. Thus, the class angle emerges as the individuals with family stability could afford to stay inside while the ones already fighting with poverty and managing modest lives had to step out of their homes to try to earn anyhow.

The largest problem with the digitalization is to be seen in the rural and marginalized areas which, though, were brought under the digital connectivity using the scheme called ‘Digital India’ but the problems continue to occur here. An attempt was made to migrate to digital platforms to deliver welfare services like public distribution systems, better by linking biometric details of recipients through the Aadhar Card and PAN card with the public schemes. Keeping in mind these schemes the government started systems like online banking,Aadhaar cards,Permanent Account Number (PAN), and also tax procedures were simplified. But digital literacy as low as 24% and inadequate digital infrastructure remains the root problems. The roots of this noble cause were further checked during the lockdown period when the crisis of employment happened and the government announced that services would be distributed using digital platforms.

The outcome of such a deep-seated problem was seen in the inconvenience faced by ageing ladies who lack even the basic digital knowledge along with others. An interviewee of the primary research, Radha Devi, 65, a laborer under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), who after her first round of work was due Rs.12,000 as her payment which she was to receive in her bank account but didn’t as there continue to occur an error in her account. She wasn’t the only one to face such errors in her village. The attempt of digitalization with a background of inadequate digital systems in the banks of the rural areas became the biggest concern to natives there.

In conclusion it can be stated that the digitalization affected the ageing groups in a very diverse way. At one hand, the digital connectivity served broader purposes of connecting individuals, helping them in the violent home environment by providing helpline details and in several other ways. On the other hand, it seemed detrimental to the ageing who don’t feel comfortable using the devices. Analyzing the survey, done by the team, it was found that many ageing women didn’t feel the need of necessarily acquiring themselves with the mobile technology because often the family members stepped in to help them with the technicalities of the digitalization.  Though the ageing group of women were being helped by some family members or an acquaintance, the emotional burden caused by the shift from a physical mode of operation to a digital one shows the uncomfortability they have been through.