Formative Research to Inform Community-Based Healthy Ageing Interventions in Rural India: Findings from the ELITE (Enhancing Living Experiences of the Elderly) Project

This formative phase of the qualitative study explored elders’ needs, priorities, daily routines and community resources, alongside frontline healthcare workers’ perspectives on delivering healthy ageing interventions in rural Maharashtra, India. Ten focus group discussions involved 235 elders, while 56 interview sessions included 58 Community Health Officers, ASHAs, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives and Multipurpose Workers. Participatory methods comprised free listing, daily activity mapping and village resource mapping. Inductive thematic analysis identified six themes: intersecting health and social vulnerabilities, fragile family support, predominantly non-communicable disease-focused care, uneven access and continuity, trusted but insufficiently trained frontline workers, and the value of collective community spaces. Elders prioritised mobility, medicines, nutrition, emotional support, dignity, and social and cultural participation. Familiar local venues and 2–4 pm were considered feasible for programme delivery. Findings support a multidimensional community intervention integrated with primary care, strengthened referral systems, frontline-worker training, family engagement and locally acceptable group activities.