July 08, 2005

By NIRAKAR POUDEL

Ageing is a natural phenomenon and an inevitable process. Every living being born, develops, grows old and dies. Ageing population means an increase in the share of the elderly in the total population. It is closely related with the dynamic process of demographic and socio-economic transformation. Whether a population is young or old, or getting older or getting younger, it depends on the proportion of people at different age groups. In general, a population with more than 35 percent under age of 15 years is considered young and population with more than 10 percent aged 65 years and above is considered old. The population of Nepal is considered young as 39 percent of its total population is under 15 years of age and only 4.20 percent are above 65 years of age.

In our country, age 60 and above are demarcated as elderly population. Ageing is a process of gradual change in physical appearance and mental situation that cause a person to grow old. The life expectancies are 59.7 and 59.1 years for male and female respectively in Nepal. Ageing and life expectancy are closely related. With the rise of life expectancy, the problem of ageing amplifies. Although the population is growing younger, elderly people are also facing many troubles.

There are various factors that make a person old. Decrease in physical strength, increase in mental tension, decrease in immunity power and getting sick to a large extent are the major features that make a person aged. Elderly people also experience many physical changes. There is gradual drying and wrinkling of skin, decrease in touch feeling and taste sensation, extensive food indigestion, decrease in range of color and intensity of vision, failure of ability to distinguish color, loss of hearing power and weakening immune system. With the increase in age, people lose their creativity level, problem solving ability and learning skills as well as short-term memory.

Elderly people also have to face economic and social difficulties. Nepalese society is in a phase of modernization. The traditional joint family is slowly being replaced by nuclear family in urban areas. The caring of elderly population is a major problem. Because of this trend of nuclear family, the older members of family are being isolated. Old people long for love, proper nourishment, happiness and relaxing conversations from other family members. This system of nuclear family and busy lifestyle of people have secluded them from other family associates. There is modification in the cultural norms and traditional family support systems for elderly in Nepal have been placed under substantial strain.

There are many concerns and problems of elderly population. They are concerned for their health, diminished social status and insecurities about their importance among other people, difficulty in adjusting to their retirement and change of daily routine, insecurity brought about by feelings of inadequacy in meeting daily life situations, loss of ability to socialize and be of service to others in order to get self satisfaction and joy and strong desire to be useful to others in any way. The living standard of elderly people of our country needs enhancement.

Ageing is considered a problem in our society. Old people are even considered as burden for family. Ageing is not a problem if the caring of old people is developed as a social tradition. Caring of elderly people is a welfare scheme that provides meaningful support for the elderly people with a view to make their health physically and mentally sound and to continue the emotional aspects of their life. Family members must take proper care of the old people. Elderly people should be encouraged to do any activity like moving around house or garden that provides glee and light exercise. Old people need regular interval of rest throughout the day between varied activities, which prevents tiredness. Old people must be provided nutritious food and their cleanliness should be properly taken care of. There should be safe and adaptable environments for old people.

Old people need to live in dignity and pride with no exploitation, physical and mental torture and fair treatment. There are a few institutions run by the government and non-governmental sectors to take care of elderly people and providing them support and rehabilitation. As there still lacks social welfare system, no one is there to guarantee the security of old people. For the government employees, they receive a certain amount of pension but a large number of old people are without it.