The Old Guard

Japan Proves That Ageing Can Be An Asset. Kerala, One Of India’s Fastest-Ageing States, Has Much To Learn From Its Experience. The State’s Proposed Senior Citizens’ Department Is A Welcome Start, But Meaningful Reforms Must FollowDr Abdulla Bava Japan’s city streets tell a quiet but powerful story. In a country often described as the ‘world’s oldest society,’ ageing does not equate to withdrawal. Instead, it is increasingly synonymous with participation, dignity, and purpose. From railway platforms to neighbourhood parks, Japan’s senior citizens are visibly reshaping how societies understand later life. As Kerala approaches a similar demographic turning point, this lived reality offers both a mirror and a roadmap.Across Japan, older adults remain deeply embedded in everyday life. It is common to find people well into their seventies and eighties working as shop assistants, taxi drivers, safety supervisors, or consultants.

For many, employment is not just about financial necessity but about identity and social engagement. Work provides structure, interaction, and a continued sense of contribution. As life expectancy keeps rising, Japan demonstrates that human productivity need not end with formal retirement.This spirit of independence extends beyond the workplace. Elderly people navigate the public transport system daily with remarkable confidence.

Many do not rely on priority seating, often choosing to stand or even offer their seats to younger passengers. Such behaviour reflects not only physical resilience but also a cultural ethos that values autonomy and self-reliance.Japan’s ageing success story is not limited to individual vitality; it is equally rooted in community engagement. In neighbourhoods across the country, senior citizens play indispensable roles: Supervising school crossings, managing community gardens, organising clean-up drives, and taking part in local governance discussions.

They are not passive beneficiaries of society but its quiet custodians.Equally noticeable is their commitment to lifelong learning. Seniors routinely attend classes at cultural centres and universities, studying subjects ranging from calligraphy and tea ceremony to digital literacy. Intellectual curiosity thrives well into later life, supported by a societal belief that learning has no age limit, and this continuous mental engagement contributes significantly to both well-being and social inclusion.Physical activity forms another cornerstone of active ageing in Japan. In parks during early mornings, groups of elderly citizens gather for radio taiso, a nationwide calisthenics routine. Others join walking clubs, yoga groups, or dance sessions. These activities are as much about maintaining health as about fostering friendship and community ties. Ageing here is not experienced in isolation; it is lived collectively.Japan did not arrive at this model by chance. It is the result of early recognition and deliberate policy action. Faced with a rapidly ageing population, the country invested in systems such as long-term care insurance, built a professional caregiving workforce, and created pathways for elderly employment. Most crucially, it reframed ageing, from a welfare burden into a productive resource.This case holds clear relevance for Kerala, which, long celebrated for its achievements in literacy, healthcare, and human development, now stands at its own demographic crossroads.

By 2036, nearly 23% of its population will be above 60, rising to almost 30% by mid-century. At the same time, the working-age population is shrinking and the share of children is declining sharply. This shift, from a youthful to an ageing society, signals a profound structural change.The implications are far-reaching. A smaller workforce will be required to support a growing elderly population, increasing fiscal pressure on pensions, healthcare, and social services.

Already, Kerala’s welfare-heavy approach, centred on subsidies and old-age pensions, is showing signs of strain.But the larger challenge lies beyond economics, it is about care. Traditional family-based support systems are weakening under the pressure of migration and urbanisation. Many elderly people now live alone, creating what experts describe as a ‘care deficit.’ Financial remittances from abroad cannot substitute for daily care, companionship, and supervision.

This is precisely where Japan’s experience offers a lesson: Ageing is not destiny, and policy can shape outcomes.Kerala’s current approach largely treats senior citizens as dependents, with a focus on building care homes. What is required instead is a fundamental shift—from welfare to productivity, and from care homes to doorstep care. This is not merely a philosophical adjustment but an economic necessity. Without it, the state risks a shrinking labour force, rising dependency ratios, and growing social isolation among the elderly.Towards this, the state govt’s move to set up a dedicated department for senior citizens is timely and commendable.The path forward is clear, though time-bound. First, Kerala must build a comprehensive long-term care ecosystem that integrates home-based, community-based, and institutional services. Fragmented schemes will not suffice for the scale of ageing ahead. Second, the state should invest in a trained caregiving workforce. This addresses domestic demand while also creating jobs, and could position Kerala as a hub for care professionals more broadly.Third, policy must enable elderly employment. Flexible retirement ages, part-time roles, and incentives for companies to hire older workers can unlock the productive potential of senior citizens. Japan has shown that participation beyond 60 is both viable and valuable.Fourth, community-based care must be strengthened. Gram panchayats can play a pivotal role in identifying needs, coordinating services, and setting up day-care centres and doorstep care.Finally, the focus must shift toward healthy ageing. Given the high prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, Kerala must invest in preventive healthcare, chronic disease management, and active-ageing initiatives. Longer lives must also be healthier and more functional ones.Kerala's ageing transition is often framed as a looming crisis. But with proper planning and implementation, it need not be.

The challenge lies not in ageing itself but in adapting institutions to meet its demands.Japan’s experience offers a vision of what is possible: A society where older people remain active, engaged, and respected, where ageing is seen not as decline but as continuation. This decade is decisive for Kerala. It must choose between persisting with a welfare-heavy model or building one that integrates care, productivity, and dignity. Societies cannot stop ageing, but they can decide how to age—and if Kerala acts decisively, it can lead by example, not just in India but across the developing world.(The author is a scientist at the Advanced Technology Institute, Japan and a visiting scientist at Unesco’s International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management)