Old Age In India

Among old-old (70 years and above ),80 percent were widows compared to 27 percent widowers. Men compared to women are found to be economically more active. In 1991, 60 percent of the males were main workers whereas only 11 percent of the females were main workers . Out of the main workers in the 60+ age group, 78 percent of the males and 84 percent of the females were in the agricultural sector. Since women”s economic position depends largely on martial status women who are widowed and living alone are found to be the worst among the poor and vulnerable

Older Population

Given the tend of population aging in the country, the older population faces a number of problems and adjusts to them in varying degrees. These problems range from absence of ensured and sufficient income to support themselves and their dependents to ill health, absence of social security, loss of social role and recogination and to the non-availablity of opportunities for creative use of free time. The needs and problems of the elderly vary significantly according to their age, socio- economic status, health,living status and other such background charcterstics.As people live longer and into much advanced age (say75 years and over),they need more intensive and long term care, which in turn may in crease financial stress in the family.