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PLIGHT OF THE AGED PEOPLE

by Savvy marco Savvy Marco

Old Aged People and Their Hunchback of Problems

The elderly Indian population is one of the fastest-growing in the world.

Yet, India lacks basic infrastructure and expertise to support the health & welfare of our elderly.

For most Indian senior citizens, the biggest concerns are Healthcare costs, lack of financial support, and isolation.

Besides, most of the aged are not accorded the dignity of care they deserve in later life.

Problems and Age in a Direct Proportion

With aging, the ability to do daily activities like functional ability declines to some degree in every person. Also, older people, on average, tend to have more disorders and disabilities than do younger people. But the changes that accompany aging are more than just changes in health. Social issues such as living arrangements or type of daily activities influence an older person’s risk and experience of illness.

The Social Problems

When individuals belonging to rural communities, migrate to urban areas in search of better employment opportunities, they usually leave their parents. The aged people may experience problems in adjusting to the social life of the cities. They usually feel apprehensive about going to nearby marketplaces and obtain assistance from their family members. The complexities of modern life and living conditions undermine the traditional values and beliefs of the aged people.

The elderly in India are much more vulnerable because the government spends less on social security systems. The elderly in urban areas rely primarily on hired domestic help to meet their basic needs in an increasingly-chaotic and crowded city.

Social isolation and loneliness have increased. , The aged people are usually financially exploited by fraudulent acts, lying, and cheating. For the sake of obtaining one’s wealth and money, aged people have been harmed by individuals within the household as well as outside. In some cases, even individuals make up false stories to obtain money from them.

It is important to understand the social aspects concerning aging in the country as they go through the process of aging. Increased life expectancy, rapid urbanization, and lifestyle changes have led to the emergence of varied problems for the elderly in India.

Physical Infrastructure in Poor Conditions

With increasing longevity and debilitating chronic diseases, many elder citizens will need better access to physical infrastructure in the coming years. Lack of physical infrastructure is a major deterrent to providing comfort for the aged. There are few purpose-built Care Homes or even public ramps available for the less mobile older citizen. This would be both at their own homes and in public spaces, including roads and malls.

Mental Health Issues

In India, the elderly people suffer from dual medical problems, i.e., both communicable as well as non–communicable diseases. This is further enhanced by the impairment of special sensory functions like vision and hearing.

A decline in immunity, as well as age-related physiologic changes, leads to an increased burden of communicable diseases in the elderly.

Elderly people are highly prone to mental morbidities due to the aging of the brain. Problems associated with physical health, cerebral pathology increase. Socio-economic factors like the breakdown of the family support systems and a decrease in economic independence are also causes.

Mental health issues are rarely discussed and the country is ill-prepared to deal with the increasing incidence of Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and depression amongst the elderly.

There are few facilities and experts who can manage geriatric health effectively even in major metros.

Also, there is little public or private financial support for the elderly. Research shows that of the 450 million Indians who are working, not more than 45 million are eligible for a pension.

Most senior citizens who live alone suffer due to lack of companionship – sometimes exacerbated by lack of mobility due to ill health. Loneliness and isolation are major concerns among elderly Indians above the age of 60.

Isolation can result in gradual depression and other mental disorders in the elderly.

In the name of Urbanization

The rapid urbanization and societal modernization have brought in its wake a breakdown in family values. The framework of family support, economic insecurity, social isolation, and elderly abuse lead to a host of psychological illnesses.

The traditional Indian society with an age-old joint family system has been instrumental in safeguarding the social and economic security of elderly people.

The traditional norms and values of Indian society also laid stress on showing respect and providing care for the elderly.

However, the prevalence of nuclear family set-ups in recent years has emerged. The elderly are now likely to be exposed to emotional, physical, and financial insecurity in the years to come.

Rapid socio-economic change, including more nuclear families, is also making Elder Care management difficult. This is a major concern especially for busy adult children responsible for their older parents’ wellbeing.

Managing Home Care for the elderly is a massive challenge. Multiple service providers, who often do not talk to each other, are involved in providing that care -nursing agencies, physiotherapists, medical suppliers.

Physical Abuse on the Aged

The elderly are also prone to abuse in their families or institutional settings. This includes physical abuse like infliction of pain or injury, psychological or emotional abuse like an infliction of mental anguish and illegal exploitation, and sexual abuse.

Helping Hands and NGOs

The necessity for the NGO for senior citizens in India has increased lately due to the increased ill-treatment and suffering. Older people have to endure a lot after they become incapable and helpless. After becoming old, the mental and physical health of an individual deteriorates.

They are not served with essential healthcare needs. They are not much familiar with the information and knowledge concerning the types of diseases and illnesses concerning their physical and mental health.

The best thing about old age homes that would change the living environment for senior citizens and elderly mothers is reverberating ambiance loaded with laughable, blissful moments.

Several senior citizens and volunteers from different age groups discuss various topics and keeping the positive vibes alive.

Not only this but also the senior citizens would get pleased with the love and respect they would get by being there.

Currently, there is an estimated 104 million elderly in India.

HelpAge, a similar form of NGO, in the umbrella category, advocates for their needs such as Universal pension, quality healthcare, action against Elder Abuse. It has done much more at a national, state, and societal level with Central and State governments. It helps for elder-friendly policies and their implementation. Thereof, working hand-in-hand with Senior Citizens Associations understanding elder needs working with and for them.

Covid 19 and more Problems

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, 71% of senior citizens from the 7800 respondents based on a recent survey said that there is an increase in elder abuse throughout the lockdown and post-lockdown. Sources suggested that every second senior citizen gets mistreated or degraded by members of the family, children, relatives, and others.

Respect For and To

The elderly should be viewed as contributors to the process of development, and their ability to affect social betterment must be taken into account during policy and program formulation at all levels. Public health care systems, social protection, and pensions for this aging populace are going to be big issues for governments around the world.

Lucrative Schemes

Senior Citizens Saving Scheme (SCSS) is a government-backed savings instrument offered to Indian residents above the age of 60. It has been launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment of the Government of India.

Launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment of the Government of India, there is theRashtriya Vayoshri Yojana. It is only available to those senior citizens who are below the poverty line, that is, are BPL cardholders.

These schemes have been helping thousands of old aged people of this country.

Help We Must

It must be remembered that comprehensive care to the elderly is possible only with the involvement. A collaboration of family, community, and the Government falls under that. India should prepare to meet the growing challenge of caring for its elderly population.

All social service institutions in the country need to address the social challenges to elderly care to improve their quality of life.

Legal Rights and Treating the Elderly in a Right Manner

The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents Act, 2007, aims at providing maintenance to senior citizens in the country.The moral duty to maintain parents is recognized by all people. However, so far as law is concerned, the position and extent of such liability varies from community to community.

The statutory provision for maintenance of parents under Hindu personal law is contained in Sec 20 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956. This Act is the first personal law statute in India, which imposes an obligation on the children to maintain their parents.

As is evident from the wording of the section, the obligation to maintain parents is not confined to sons only. Daughters also have an equal duty towards parents.According to Tyabji, parents and grandparents in indigent circumstances are entitled. Under Hanafi law, they are provided maintenance from their children and grandchildren who have the means, even if they are able to earn their livelihood.

The Christians and Parsis have no personal laws providing for maintenance for the parents. Parents who wish to seek maintenance have to apply under provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code.

There is urgent need to amend the Constitution for the special provision to protection of aged person and bring it in the periphery of fundamental right.It should be the Constitutional duty of the State to make an Act for the welfare and extra protection of the senior citizen including palliative care.

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