The Elder Age

“One who always serves and respects the elderly is always blessed with four things- long life, wisdom, fame and power.” These are excerpts from the Manusmriti, the earliest metrical work of India.


Indian tradition never considered the problem of aging as a burden but instead, the value based here had learnt and always taught to respect the elders of direct and indirect relations. The women of the house were given the primary responsibility of caring for the elders and responding to their needs although everyone played their part as well.


But today, it does seem that the generations have long forgotten this remarkable tradition of treating elders with respect and kindness. In reality however, there is a need to consider the change in lifestyle which was inevitable with changing times. The women now had to consider their own aspirations to better their lives and their families so; the duty of caring for the elders was to be shared by every member of the family.


The generation gap however, left no time for the elderly to accept this paradigm shift.


Challenges faced by the elderly


7.6% of India‟s 1.2 billion strong populations are above the age of 60. As we sang the birthday song for the 7 billionth baby of the world, we also note the increased stress on the elderly.


* In today‟s society we find the trend of „grand dumping‟ especially in the urban parts of India where the urban rich elderly are dumped in old age homes and are told to fend for themselves. Estimates also suggest that 40% of those living with children face abuse of some kind of the other.


* Economically, India has progressed in securing savings for the aged with banks providing greater interests for senior citizens. With the popularization of the nuclear family mantra, however, the elder elements have been pushed to part with their savings for the benefit of these families rather than for their own personal use.


* Moreover, it is often seen that the more vulnerable of the elders – like the disabled, suffer the most.


Youth Responsibilities


The youth apart from being sensitized to the difficulties and needs of the elderly, needs to understand that it is their duty to be empathetic.


* Actively participate in forums for the benefit of the elderly


* Charity begins at home, so we should first look at our home condition and serve our own grandparents better before even thinking of caring for strangers


* A smile can go a long way. It is the facial expression of respect and humility that would be recognized by the elders as the first sign of love.


* Keep a respectful distance. In our enthusiasm we may outdo our care which at times maybe irritating to them. We should not allow them to feel helpless, for them, their sense of individuality is the greatest of pleasures and honor.

STEPS BY THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT

1. NATIONAL POLICY ON OLDER PERSONS(NPOP)
.1 Government of India announced the National Policy on Older Persons in 1999 to reaffirm its commitment to ensure the well-being of the older persons in a holistic manner.Reiterating the mandate enshrined in Article 41 of the Constitution of India, the Policy has
brought the concern for older persons on top of the National Agenda. The NPOP while promising to safeguard their interest in terms of financial security, health, legal, social and psychological security, also envisages a productive partnership with them in the process of
development by creating opportunities for their gainful engagement and employment. The Policy also appreciates special needs of older persons and therefore lays emphasis on empowerment of community as well as individuals to adequately meet the challenges of the process of ageing.


.2 The NPOP broadly provides for the following to fulfill these objectives:
1.Financial security through coverage under Old Age Pension Scheme for poor and destitute older persons, better returns on earnings/savings of Government/Quasi-Government employees’ savings in Provident Fund, etc., creating opportunities for continued education/skill up-gradation ensuring thereby continued employment/selfemployment and income generation and provision for Pension Scheme for selfemployed, employees of the non-formal, and non-governmental sector.


4.2.2. Health Security: The NPOP recognizes special health needs of the older persons to be met through strengthening and reorienting the public health services at Primary Health Care level, creation of health facilities through non-profit organization like trust/charity, etc., and implementing health insurance.


4.2.3. Recognizing Shelter as basic human need, the NPOP provides for earmarking 10 percent of the houses/housing sites in urban as well as rural areas for older persons belonging to the lower income groups, special consideration to the older persons falling in the category of Below Poverty Line (BPL) and destitute in housing schemes like Indira Awas Yojana, loans at reasonable interest rates and easy repayment installments with tax relief for purchase of houses etc.

4.2.4. Education/information needs of older persons too have got adequately reflected in the National Policy. Education/information material relevant to the lives of older persons should be developed and made available through mass media. Education,training and information being the important human requirement, the NPOP provides for proactive role in ensuring the same by disseminating knowledge about preparation of Old Age. It is also emphasized for schools to have programme on inter-generational
bonding.


4.2.5. Welfare and Institutional Care: Institutional Care has been provided for in the NPOP as the last resort. The care in non-institutional set up i.e. within family and the community needs to be strengthened and encouraged. This apart, the State should also create infrastructure in partnership with voluntary organizations to provide for poor,destitute and neglected older persons whose care cannot be ensured within the family.This is to be ensured through Old Age Homes and other such institutional facilities that would be needed. Voluntary efforts needs to be encouraged for creating facilities for day care, outreach services, multi-service citizen centres, etc.


4.2.6. Protection of Life and Property of Older Persons: The State has to gear up security network to save older persons from criminal offence and police is required to keep friendly vigil. Early settlement of property/inheritance disputes is to be done, safeguards to protect them from fraudulent dealings in transfer of property through sale/’Will’ are to be put in place and free legal aid and toll free helpline services are to be placed across the country. Maintenance of elderly within family resorting to the provisions of law viz. Criminal Procedure Code, (Cr.P.C.) 1973, Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act. (HAMA) 1956 etc., whenever needed is required to be ensured.


4.2.7. Training of Human Resource to care for Older Persons: The Policy lays
emphasis on need for trained personnel/care givers. This envisages the training of human resource in the areas like specialization in Geriatrics in medical courses, special courses on Geriatric Care in nursing training, training of social workers specially for geriatric care and professional caregivers.


4.2.8 Media: The Policy enjoins upon media to take up a special responsibility for the care of older persons. Media is to play a role in identifying emerging issues and areas of action, dispelling stereo-types and negative images about the old age,maintaining restraint from creating fear psychosis by responsible reporting, promoting intergenerational bonds and informing individuals/families/groups with appropriate information on ageing process

Economic Security Schemes for Elderly

The traditional norms and values of Indian society laid stress on showing respect and providing care for the elderly. Consequently, the older members of the family were normally taken care of in the family itself. The family, commonly the joint family type, and social networks provided an appropriate environment in which the elderly spent their lives. The advent of modernization, industrialization, urbanization, occupational differentiation, education, and growth of individual philosophy have eroded the traditional values that vested authority with elderly. . Unlike in the western countries, where there is dominant negative effect of modernization and urbanization of family, the situation in the developing countries like India is in favour of continuing the family as a unit for performing various activities .In spite of several economic and social problems, the younger generation generally looks after their elderly relatives. Though the young generation takes care of their elders in traditional societies, it is their living conditions and the quality of care, which widely differs from society to society.


Government under standardized economic security policy is covering retirement benefits for those in the organized sector, economic security benefits for those in the unorganised sector and old age pension for rural elderly.
As per the National Policy on Aging (1999), one-third of the elderly population (1993-94) is below the poverty line and about one-third are above it, but belonging to poverty line. NOAP scheme (National Old Age Pension Scheme) which is initiated by the Central Government provides for a pension of Rs.75/- per month to the old people living in the conditions of destitution. Most vulnerable sections of Indian society like, women, and lower caste individuals have been benefited from this scheme.




Help Age India (NGO)
HelpAge reaches out to the underprivileged elderly through its various services in the areas of financial, health and emotional security.


HelpAge is slowly moving from welfare to integrated age care services for the elderly in urban & rural areas. Expanding its scope of services quantitatively as well as qualitatively. In the recent past new services have been started such as Elder Helplines.

Elderly care -cultural and geographical differences

The form of elder care provided varies greatly among countries and is changing rapidly. Even within the same country, regional differences exist with respect to the care for the elderly.


Traditionally elder care has been the responsibility of family members and was provided within the extended family home. Increasingly in modern societies, elder care is now being provided by state or charitable institutions. The reasons for this change include decreasing family size, the greater life expectancy of elderly people, the geographical dispersion of families, and the tendency for women to be educated and work outside the home. Although these changes have affected European and North American countries first, it is now increasingly affecting Asian countries also.


According to Family Caregiver Alliance, the majority of family caregivers are women:


“Many studies have looked at the role of women and family caregiving. Although not all have addressed gender issues and caregiving specifically, the results are still generalizable [sic] to women because they are the majority of informal care providers in this country. Consider: • Estimates of the percentage of family or informal caregivers who are women range from 59% to 75%. • The average caregiver is age 46, female, married and working outside the home earning an annual income of $35,000. • Although men also provide assistance, female caregivers may spend as much as 50% more time providing care than male caregivers.”


In most western countries, elder care facilities are residential family care homes, freestanding assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs).


A Family Care Home is a residential home with support and supervisory personnel by an agency, organization, or individual that provides room and board, personal care and habilitation services in a family environment for at least two and no more than six persons

Ishare

Ishare is a project initiated by Rajagiri Public School,where the students help the less privileged by setting aside an amount of Rs 1 per day from their pocket money,which is collected at the end of the month.

On November 3 2011 as a part of the ishare project,the students visited Deivadan Old Age Home.We spent our valuable time with 175 grandparents.It was also very touching to see 8 sisters with a smile on their faces taking care of the entire community which has physically handicapped,mentally challenged and very old aged residents.We gifted them a big 16kg washing machine,refurbished 35 cots and gave mattresses with bed sheets and pillows with cover.We also provided lunch for inmates.....

TESTIMONIAL
by a student who visited Deivadan Old Age Home



With the look in their eyes,our hearts melted.Their eyes of mercy longed for company.Their lives,utter darkness.But the love they shared was worth more than our contributions.The moment of realization was when we shared their sorrows.It was almost as though a burden was put down.......

Problems of Older Persons

Among the several problems of the elderly in our society, economic problems occupy an important position.Mass poverty is the Indian reality and the vast majority of the families have income far below the level, which would ensure a reasonable standard of living.The ministry of social justice and empowerment, government of India(1999) in its document on the national policy for older persons,has relied on the figure of 33percent of the general population below poverty line and has concluded that one- third of the population in 60 plus age group is also below that level .Though this figure may be understand from older persons comes about 23 million.As people live longer and into much advanced age (say 175 years and over), they need more intensive and long term care, which in turn may increase financial stress in the family.Inadeqate income is a major problem of elderly in India (Siva Raju, 2002). The most vulnerable are those who donnot own productive assets, have little or no savings or income from investments made earlier, have no pension or retirement benefits, and are not taken care of by their children or they live families that have low and uncertain incomes and a large number of dependents.

Population Of Aging in India

The reduction in fertility level , reinforced by steady increase in the life expectancy has produced fundamental changes in the age structure of the population , which in turn leads to the aging population. The analysis of historical patterns of mortality and fertility decline in india indicates that the process of population aging intensified only in the 1990”s.The older population of India, which has 56.7 million in 1991, is 72 million in 2001 and is expected to grow to 137 million by 2021.Today India is home to one out of every ten senior citizens of the world. Both the absolute and relative size of the population of the elderly in India will gain in strength in future.Among the total elderly population, those who live in rural areas constitute 78 percent.sex ratio in elderly population,which was 928 as compared to 927 in total population in the year 1996,is projected to become 1031 by the year 2016 as compared to 935 in total population. The data on old age dependency ratio is slowly increasing in both rural and urban areas. Both for men and women, this figure is quite higher in rural areas when compared with that of urban areas.More than half of the elderly populations were married and among those who were widowed, 64 percent were women as compared to 19 percent of men.