LTCcovid Country Profile – Printable Version
1.01. Population size and ageing context
The population of Pakistan is 220.9 million, making it the sixth most populous country in the world, although it is projected to become the third most populous country by 2050. Pakistan has a predominantly young population, but in line with global trends, the elderly population in Pakistan is rising. In 2020, the population over age 60 was 6.7 million people; this is expected to rise to 40.6 million by 2050 (United Nations). In part, this is due to increasing life expectancy in Pakistan (although this is still low by global standards) (The Global Economy).
Pakistan is a developing country, with significant economic difficulties, lack of a health insurance coverage system, and low levels of savings among older people. This poses real challenges for the elderly population. Retirement age is 60 for men and 55 for women, although many do not stop working at this age. Due to frail provision of pensions, most people work until their final days, and/or rely on their next generation to provide for them during retirement (Jalal et al, 2014).
References:
Jalal, S., Younis, M.Z. 2014. Aging and Elderly in Pakistan. Ageing Int 39, 4–12 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-012-9153-4
Update for: Pakistan Last updated: January 27th, 2022 Contributors: Daisy Pharoah |
1.04. Approach to care provision, including sector of ownership
The prevalent family structure in Pakistan is the joint/extended family system: respect is shown to older people, and historically families take care of older people as they age. However, there has been a shift in recent years: an increasingly ageing population and migration of younger generations to areas where there are better career and employment opportunities as well as the entrance of women to the workforce has meant that more elderly people are compelled to reside in shelter homes (Cassum et al., 2020). There is still taboo around old-age homes, and as a result there are still relatively rare in Pakistan (Majid, 2018).
References:
Cassum, L.A., Cash, K., Qidwai, W. et al. 2020. Exploring the experiences of the older adults who are brought to live in shelter homes in Karachi, Pakistan: a qualitative study. BMC Geriatr 20, 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-019-1376-8
Update for: Pakistan Last updated: January 27th, 2022 Contributors: Daisy Pharoah |
2.01. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country (total population)
Official sources report that as of January 2022, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is around 1.4 million, and deaths around 29,000. However, this is likely to be a substantial underestimate of the real levels of COVID-19 cases and mortality due to limited testing capabilities (Ahmed, 2021 and Our World in Data).
Update for: Pakistan Last updated: January 27th, 2022 Contributors: Daisy Pharoah |
2.06. Other impacts of the pandemic on people who use Long-Term Care
There is little available information on the impacts of the pandemic on care sector in Pakistan, in part because the care sector itself is not well-developed. However, there are suggestions that the economic insecurity that the pandemic has given rise to has especially affected older people who were previously working informally and in small businesses, on which their livelihoods depend on (Ayesha, 2021). This is true especially as only around 20 per cent of people aged 60 or more in Pakistan receive any form of pension (Qureshi, 2021).
References:
Ayesha, A. (2021). Be age-friendly during COVID -19 Pandemic. https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/11- May-2020/be-age-friendly-during-covid-19-pandemic
W. Qureshi (2021). Four pension reforms that could improve older people’s life in Pakistan. https://www. helpage.org/blogs/waqas-qureshi-19658/four- pension-reforms-that-could-improve-older-peoples-lifein-pakistan-1078/
Update for: Pakistan Last updated: January 27th, 2022 Contributors: Daisy Pharoah |
2.08. Impacts of the pandemic on people working in the Long-Term Care sector
Perceptions and experiences of care home staff
A study by Bilal and colleagues (published in August 2020) explores the experiences and perceptions of staff providing care to elderly residents across three care homes in Karachi. The results of the study highlighted the constant levels of fear and anxiety that care home staff experienced throughout the first few months of the pandemic, although this was alleviated somewhat by the availability of protective gear and training. The study also highlighted discrimination felt by caregivers, which was due to an ignorant fear among the public that they might be spreading the infection because of their close contact with elderly people. One carer described a driver cancelling his delivery of food to their care home (Bilal et al., 2020).
References:
Bilal, A., Saeed, M. A., & Yousafzai, T. (2020). Elderly care in the time of coronavirus: Perceptions and experiences of care home staff in Pakistan. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 35(12), 1442–1448. https://doi.org/10.1002/GPS.5386
Update for: Pakistan Last updated: January 29th, 2022 Contributors: Daisy Pharoah |
3.09. Access to Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) in the Long-Term Care sector
Speaking to authors of a recent report in May 2020, the owner of an old age home indicated that the government had not issued any particular Standard Operating Procedures for old age homes. They also had not yet been contacted for masks or safety kits – it was therefore left to the old age home to purchase overpriced masks to keep residents and staff safe. The owner of the home added that a health advisory was issued by the government to some shelter homes, even though the residents of such homes are more capable of looking after themselves than those in old age homes, where risks are doubled due to a reliance on receiving care (The Global Platform Reader).
Update for: Pakistan Last updated: January 27th, 2022 Contributors: Daisy Pharoah |
3.11. Vaccination policies for people using and providing Long-Term Care
Although older people are a priority group for vaccination, progress to date has been relatively slow. By May 2021, only 1.7 per cent of the population had received at least one dose. To date (January 2022), 52% of the eligible population has been vaccinated (Ministry of National Health Services and covid.gov.pk).
Update for: Pakistan Last updated: January 27th, 2022 Contributors: Daisy Pharoah |