Problems of the Elderly
Content
Problems of the Elderly
S. No. Problem
Need
1
Failing Health
Health
2
Economic insecurity
Economic security
3
Isolation
Inclusion
4
Neglect
Care
5
Abuse
Protection
6
Fear
Reassurance
7
Boredom (idleness)
Be usefully occupied
8
Lowered self-esteem
Self Confidence
9
Loss of control
Respect
10
Lack of Preparedness for old age Preparedness for old age
Equity Issues are relevant to all the above
Failing Health
It has been said that “we start dying the day we are born”. The aging process is
synonymous with failing health. While death in young people in countries such as India is
mainly due to infectious diseases, older people are mostly vulnerable to noncommunicable diseases. Failing health due to advancing age is complicated by nonavailability to good quality, age-sensitive, health care for a large proportion of older
persons in the country. In addition, poor accessibility and reach, lack of information and
knowledge and/or high costs of disease management make reasonable elder care beyond
the reach of older persons, especially those who are poor and disadvantaged.
To address the issue of failing health, it is of prime importance that good quality health
care be made available and accessible to the elderly in an age-sensitive manner. Health
services should address preventive measures keeping in mind the diseases that affect – or
are likely to affect – the communities in a particular geographical region. In addition,
effective care and support is required for those elderly suffering from various diseases
through primary, secondary and tertiary health care systems. The cost (to the affected
elderly individual or family) of health has to be addressed so that no person is denied
necessary health care for financial reasons. Rehabilitation, community or home based
disability support and end-of-life care should also be provided where needed, in a holistic
manner, to effectively address the issue to failing health among the elderly.
Economic Insecurity
The problem of economic insecurity is faced by the elderly when they are unable to
sustain themselves financially. Many older persons either lack the opportunity and/or the
capacity to be as productive as they were. Increasing competition from younger people,
individual, family and societal mind sets, chronic malnutrition and slowing physical and
mental faculties, limited access to resources and lack of awareness of their rights and
entitlements play significant roles in reducing the ability of the elderly to remain
financially productive, and thereby, independent.
Economic security is as relevant for the elderly as it is for those of any other age group.
Those who are unable to generate an adequate income should be facilitated to do so. As
far as possible, elderly who are capable, should be encouraged, and if necessary,
supported to be engaged in some economically productive manner. Others who are
incapable of supporting themselves should be provided with partial or full social welfare
grants that at least provide for their basic needs. Families and communities may be
encouraged to support the elderly living with them through counseling and local selfgovernance.
Isolation
Isolation, or a deep sense of loneliness, is a common complaint of many elderly is the
feeling of being isolated. While there are a few who impose it on themselves, isolation is
most often imposed purposefully or inadvertently by the families and/or communities
where the elderly live. Isolation is a terrible feeling that, if not addressed, leads to tragic
deterioration of the quality of life.
It is important that the elderly feel included in the goings-on around them, both in the
family as well as in society. Those involved in elder care, especially NGOs in the field,
can play a significant role in facilitating this through counseling of the individual, of
families, sensitization of community leaders and group awareness or group counseling
sessions. Activities centered on older persons that involve their time and skills help to
inculcate a feeling of inclusion. Some of these could also be directly useful for the
families and the communities.
Neglect
The elderly, especially those who are weak and/or dependent, require physical, mental
and emotional care and support. When this is not provided, they suffer from neglect, a
problem that occurs when a person is left uncared for and that is often linked with
isolation. Changing lifestyles and values, demanding jobs, distractions such as television,
a shift to nuclear family structures and redefined priorities have led to increased neglect
of the elderly by families and communities. This is worsened as the elderly are less likely
to demand attention than those of other age groups.
The best way to address neglect of the elderly is to counsel families, sensitise community
leaders and address the issue at all levels in different forums, including the print and
audio-visual media. Schools and work places offer opportunities where younger
generations can be addressed in groups. Government and non-government agencies need
to take this issue up seriously at all these levels. In extreme situations, legal action and
rehabilitation may be required to reduce or prevent the serious consequences of the
problem.
Abuse
The elderly are highly vulnerable to abuse, where a person is willfully or inadvertently
harmed, usually by someone who is part of the family or otherwise close to the victim. It
is very important that steps be taken, whenever and wherever possible, to protect people
from abuse. Being relatively weak, elderly are vulnerable to physical abuse. Their
resources, including finances ones are also often misused. In addition, the elderly may
suffer from emotional and mental abuse for various reasons and in different ways.
The best form of protection from abuse is to prevent it. This should be carried out through
awareness generation in families and in the communities. In most cases, abuse is carried
out as a result of some frustration and the felt need to inflict pain and misery on others. It
is also done to emphasize authority. Information and education of groups of people from
younger generations is necessary to help prevent abuse. The elderly should also be made
aware of their rights in this regard.
Where necessary, legal action needs be taken against those who willfully abuse elders,
combined with counseling of such persons so as to rehabilitate them. Elderly who are
abused also require to be counseled, and if necessary rehabilitated to ensure that they are
able to recover with minimum negative impact.
Fear
Many older persons live in fear. Whether rational or irrational, this is a relevant problem
face by the elderly that needs to be carefully and effectively addressed.
Elderly who suffer from fear need to be reassured. Those for whom the fear is considered
to be irrational need to be counseled and, if necessary, may be treated as per their needs.
In the case of those with real or rational fear, the cause and its preventive measures needs
to be identified followed by appropriate action where and when possible.
Boredom (Idleness)
Boredom is a result of being poorly motivated to be useful or productive and occurs when
a person is unwilling or unable to do something meaningful with his/her time. The
problem occurs due to forced inactivity, withdrawal from responsibilities and lack of
personal goals. A person who is not usefully occupied tends to physically and mentally
decline and this in turn has a negative emotional impact. Most people who have reached
the age of 60 years or more have previously led productive lives and would have gained
several skills during their life-time. Identifying these skills would be a relatively easy
task. Motivating them and enabling them to use these skills is a far more challenging
process that requires determination and consistent effort by dedicated people working in
the same environment as the affected elders.
Many elderly can be trained to carry out productive activities that would be useful to
them or benefit their families, communities or environment; activities that others would
often be unable or unwilling to do. Being meaningfully occupied, many of the elderly can
be taught to keep boredom away. For others, recreational activities can be devised and
encouraged at little or no additional cost.
Lowered Self-esteem
Lowered self-esteem among older persons has a complex etiology that includes isolation,
neglect, reduced responsibilities and decrease in value or worth by one-self, family and/or
the society.
To restore self-confidence, one needs to identify and address the cause and remove it.
While isolation and neglect have been discussed above, self-worth and value can be
improved by encouraging the elderly to take part in family and community activities,
learning to use their skills, developing new ones or otherwise keeping themselves
productively occupied. In serious situations, individuals – and their families – may
require counseling and/or treatment.
Loss of Control
This problem of older persons has many facets. While self-realization and the reality of
the situation is acceptable to some, there are others for whom life becomes insecure when
they begin to lose control of their resources – physical strength, body systems, finances
(income), social or designated status and decision making powers.
Early intervention, through education and awareness generation, is needed to prevent a
negative feeling to inevitable loss of control. It is also important for society – and
individuals – to learn to respect people for what they are instead of who they are and how
much they are worth. When the feeling is severe, individuals and their families may be
counseled to deal with this. Improving the health of the elderly through various levels of
health care can also help to improve control. Finally, motivating the elderly to use their
skills and training them to be productive will help gain respect and appreciation.
Lack of Preparedness for Old Age
A large number of people enter ‘old age’ with little, or no, awareness of what this entails.
While demographically, we acknowledge that a person is considered to be old when (s)he
attains the age of 60 years, there is no such clear indicator available to the individual. For
each person, there is a turning point after which (s)he feels physiologically or functionally
‘old’. This event could take place at any age before or after the age of 60. Unfortunately,
in India, there is almost no formal awareness program – even at higher level institutions
or organizations – for people to prepare for old age. For the vast majority of people, old
age sets in quietly, but suddenly, and few are prepared to deal with its issues. Most people
living busy lives during the young and middle age periods may prefer to turn away from,
and not consider, the possible realities of their own impending old age.
The majority of Indians are unaware of the rights and entitlements of older persons.
The problem of not being prepared for old age can only be prevented. Awareness
generation through the work place is a good beginning with HR departments taking an
active role in preparing employees to face retirement and facing old age issues. For the
majority who have unregulated occupations and for those who are self-employed,
including farmers, awareness can be generated through the media and also through
government offices and by NGOs in the field. Older people who have faced and
addressed these issues can be ‘recruited’ to address groups at various forums to help
people prepare for, or cope with, old age.
S. No. Problem
Need
1
Failing Health
Health
2
Economic insecurity
Economic security
3
Isolation
Inclusion
4
Neglect
Care
5
Abuse
Protection
6
Fear
Reassurance
7
Boredom (idleness)
Be usefully occupied
8
Lowered self-esteem
Self Confidence
9
Loss of control
Respect
10
Lack of Preparedness for old age Preparedness for old age
Equity Issues are relevant to all the above
Failing Health
It has been said that “we start dying the day we are born”. The aging process is
synonymous with failing health. While death in young people in countries such as India is
mainly due to infectious diseases, older people are mostly vulnerable to noncommunicable diseases. Failing health due to advancing age is complicated by nonavailability to good quality, age-sensitive, health care for a large proportion of older
persons in the country. In addition, poor accessibility and reach, lack of information and
knowledge and/or high costs of disease management make reasonable elder care beyond
the reach of older persons, especially those who are poor and disadvantaged.
To address the issue of failing health, it is of prime importance that good quality health
care be made available and accessible to the elderly in an age-sensitive manner. Health
services should address preventive measures keeping in mind the diseases that affect – or
are likely to affect – the communities in a particular geographical region. In addition,
effective care and support is required for those elderly suffering from various diseases
through primary, secondary and tertiary health care systems. The cost (to the affected
elderly individual or family) of health has to be addressed so that no person is denied
necessary health care for financial reasons. Rehabilitation, community or home based
disability support and end-of-life care should also be provided where needed, in a holistic
manner, to effectively address the issue to failing health among the elderly.
Economic Insecurity
The problem of economic insecurity is faced by the elderly when they are unable to
sustain themselves financially. Many older persons either lack the opportunity and/or the
capacity to be as productive as they were. Increasing competition from younger people,
individual, family and societal mind sets, chronic malnutrition and slowing physical and
mental faculties, limited access to resources and lack of awareness of their rights and
entitlements play significant roles in reducing the ability of the elderly to remain
financially productive, and thereby, independent.
Economic security is as relevant for the elderly as it is for those of any other age group.
Those who are unable to generate an adequate income should be facilitated to do so. As
far as possible, elderly who are capable, should be encouraged, and if necessary,
supported to be engaged in some economically productive manner. Others who are
incapable of supporting themselves should be provided with partial or full social welfare
grants that at least provide for their basic needs. Families and communities may be
encouraged to support the elderly living with them through counseling and local selfgovernance.
Isolation
Isolation, or a deep sense of loneliness, is a common complaint of many elderly is the
feeling of being isolated. While there are a few who impose it on themselves, isolation is
most often imposed purposefully or inadvertently by the families and/or communities
where the elderly live. Isolation is a terrible feeling that, if not addressed, leads to tragic
deterioration of the quality of life.
It is important that the elderly feel included in the goings-on around them, both in the
family as well as in society. Those involved in elder care, especially NGOs in the field,
can play a significant role in facilitating this through counseling of the individual, of
families, sensitization of community leaders and group awareness or group counseling
sessions. Activities centered on older persons that involve their time and skills help to
inculcate a feeling of inclusion. Some of these could also be directly useful for the
families and the communities.
Neglect
The elderly, especially those who are weak and/or dependent, require physical, mental
and emotional care and support. When this is not provided, they suffer from neglect, a
problem that occurs when a person is left uncared for and that is often linked with
isolation. Changing lifestyles and values, demanding jobs, distractions such as television,
a shift to nuclear family structures and redefined priorities have led to increased neglect
of the elderly by families and communities. This is worsened as the elderly are less likely
to demand attention than those of other age groups.
The best way to address neglect of the elderly is to counsel families, sensitise community
leaders and address the issue at all levels in different forums, including the print and
audio-visual media. Schools and work places offer opportunities where younger
generations can be addressed in groups. Government and non-government agencies need
to take this issue up seriously at all these levels. In extreme situations, legal action and
rehabilitation may be required to reduce or prevent the serious consequences of the
problem.
Abuse
The elderly are highly vulnerable to abuse, where a person is willfully or inadvertently
harmed, usually by someone who is part of the family or otherwise close to the victim. It
is very important that steps be taken, whenever and wherever possible, to protect people
from abuse. Being relatively weak, elderly are vulnerable to physical abuse. Their
resources, including finances ones are also often misused. In addition, the elderly may
suffer from emotional and mental abuse for various reasons and in different ways.
The best form of protection from abuse is to prevent it. This should be carried out through
awareness generation in families and in the communities. In most cases, abuse is carried
out as a result of some frustration and the felt need to inflict pain and misery on others. It
is also done to emphasize authority. Information and education of groups of people from
younger generations is necessary to help prevent abuse. The elderly should also be made
aware of their rights in this regard.
Where necessary, legal action needs be taken against those who willfully abuse elders,
combined with counseling of such persons so as to rehabilitate them. Elderly who are
abused also require to be counseled, and if necessary rehabilitated to ensure that they are
able to recover with minimum negative impact.
Fear
Many older persons live in fear. Whether rational or irrational, this is a relevant problem
face by the elderly that needs to be carefully and effectively addressed.
Elderly who suffer from fear need to be reassured. Those for whom the fear is considered
to be irrational need to be counseled and, if necessary, may be treated as per their needs.
In the case of those with real or rational fear, the cause and its preventive measures needs
to be identified followed by appropriate action where and when possible.
Boredom (Idleness)
Boredom is a result of being poorly motivated to be useful or productive and occurs when
a person is unwilling or unable to do something meaningful with his/her time. The
problem occurs due to forced inactivity, withdrawal from responsibilities and lack of
personal goals. A person who is not usefully occupied tends to physically and mentally
decline and this in turn has a negative emotional impact. Most people who have reached
the age of 60 years or more have previously led productive lives and would have gained
several skills during their life-time. Identifying these skills would be a relatively easy
task. Motivating them and enabling them to use these skills is a far more challenging
process that requires determination and consistent effort by dedicated people working in
the same environment as the affected elders.
Many elderly can be trained to carry out productive activities that would be useful to
them or benefit their families, communities or environment; activities that others would
often be unable or unwilling to do. Being meaningfully occupied, many of the elderly can
be taught to keep boredom away. For others, recreational activities can be devised and
encouraged at little or no additional cost.
Lowered Self-esteem
Lowered self-esteem among older persons has a complex etiology that includes isolation,
neglect, reduced responsibilities and decrease in value or worth by one-self, family and/or
the society.
To restore self-confidence, one needs to identify and address the cause and remove it.
While isolation and neglect have been discussed above, self-worth and value can be
improved by encouraging the elderly to take part in family and community activities,
learning to use their skills, developing new ones or otherwise keeping themselves
productively occupied. In serious situations, individuals – and their families – may
require counseling and/or treatment.
Loss of Control
This problem of older persons has many facets. While self-realization and the reality of
the situation is acceptable to some, there are others for whom life becomes insecure when
they begin to lose control of their resources – physical strength, body systems, finances
(income), social or designated status and decision making powers.
Early intervention, through education and awareness generation, is needed to prevent a
negative feeling to inevitable loss of control. It is also important for society – and
individuals – to learn to respect people for what they are instead of who they are and how
much they are worth. When the feeling is severe, individuals and their families may be
counseled to deal with this. Improving the health of the elderly through various levels of
health care can also help to improve control. Finally, motivating the elderly to use their
skills and training them to be productive will help gain respect and appreciation.
Lack of Preparedness for Old Age
A large number of people enter ‘old age’ with little, or no, awareness of what this entails.
While demographically, we acknowledge that a person is considered to be old when (s)he
attains the age of 60 years, there is no such clear indicator available to the individual. For
each person, there is a turning point after which (s)he feels physiologically or functionally
‘old’. This event could take place at any age before or after the age of 60. Unfortunately,
in India, there is almost no formal awareness program – even at higher level institutions
or organizations – for people to prepare for old age. For the vast majority of people, old
age sets in quietly, but suddenly, and few are prepared to deal with its issues. Most people
living busy lives during the young and middle age periods may prefer to turn away from,
and not consider, the possible realities of their own impending old age.
The majority of Indians are unaware of the rights and entitlements of older persons.
The problem of not being prepared for old age can only be prevented. Awareness
generation through the work place is a good beginning with HR departments taking an
active role in preparing employees to face retirement and facing old age issues. For the
majority who have unregulated occupations and for those who are self-employed,
including farmers, awareness can be generated through the media and also through
government offices and by NGOs in the field. Older people who have faced and
addressed these issues can be ‘recruited’ to address groups at various forums to help
people prepare for, or cope with, old age.
