SENIOR CITIZENS

Aging is a natural process. It is an inevitable part of life.

International day of the Elderly is celebrated on 1^st October every year.

Criteria for old age differs from society to society. Ancient society – vigor’s of life – thus old at a young age; political or communist society – people begin office at 60 / 70 years as they are considered more mature.

 

The process of aging

Aging involves a progressive slowing down of all body processes. As a result, older people eat less, exercise less, and have less zest for life. They also sleep less restfully and therefore spend more time in bed compensating for lack of sleep. Their senses become less efficient and they have difficulties in hearing and vision.

Some negative changes also occur due to stress and disease. E.g. senility (impaired attention, memory loss and disorientation in time and space) Alzheimer’s (brain disease)

 

Problems faced by the aged: the problems are interlinked and to be understood in reference to each other.

Economic insecurity: Income determines standard of living and quality of life. With retirement, income declines. The problem is serious in cases where the individual has not saved enough to lead a comfortable life. They become dependent on the children. In some cases, old parents have to shift form one sons house to the next.

Physical helplessness and dependence: As a person becomes older, physical strength declines. The greater the decline in physical strength, the greater the dependence on others.

Psychological problems: Senior citizens feel lonely, marginalized, alienated and therefore experience anxiety, depression.

Empty nest syndrome: Migration leads to empty nest syndrome. As the children are abroad for better future prospects, the aged are forced to live alone.

 

Dealing with senior citizen problems

Self help measures: An individual need not become an economic burden on society. A person should plan for retirement. One can develop hobbies as second careers. One should also save in order to lead an economically stable life. Economic security enables raise the self-esteem of the aged.

Think young and have a positive attitude to life. Aging leads to maturity and wisdom.

Physical looks: Some people are obsessed with looking young and attempt to hide their age. But one must remember that it is more important to have a positive attitude to life than an appearance.

Exercise brain and body – Exercises such as walking, swimming, yoga, etc. enables the aged to resist the effects of brain problems. Persons who keep themselves busy with useful activities age gracefully.

Developing new activities to occupy time: as those who have nothing to do get bored. People find it difficult to adjust to retired way of life.

Making new friends: By the time a person grows old he has very few friends left as most have moved away / died. One therefore has to make new friends. But since old people become fixed in their ways, this is a difficult task. Isolation and living alone are harmful to health. So, it is important for the aged to make new friends.

Avoid attention seeking behavior. Many aged people expect family members to pay special attention to them, but people regard aged people as bores and cannot tolerate them. Therefore, if they stop seeking attention they would be looked after with affection.

 

Social support measures

Economic security in old age is one of the main problems of aged. The government needs to provide for senior citizens with allowance / pension.

Homes for the aged with adequate facilities need to be set up. A voluntary organization called ‘Dignity Foundation’ has been doing useful work. It encourages retired persons to indulge in productive and recreational activities. It runs a counseling center, etc.

The family should also shoulder responsibility of looking after the aged whenever possible.

Community living is more popular abroad; however it is slowly becoming popular in India too.

Kerala is the state with the highest number of aged homes.

Senior Citizens Associations: enable senior citizens to interact and reduce loneliness by conducting activities and keeping themselves busy.

Government provides special income tax redemption for senior citizens. Government banks offer a slightly higher rate of interest to senior citizens. The government of Maharashtra has introduced special window booking counters for senior citizens for long distance booking. Buses have seats reserved and special compartment in trains reserved for senior citizens. Day car centers are now opening up for senior citizens.