Dr Kasturi Lal
Two- third of elderly population resides in rural areas. The sex ratio is depicted 1060 women to 1000 men by 2026. The population of 80 Plus people would show a tremendous rise with a predominance of women by 2050. Nearly half of the elderly living in the villages are of poor socio-economic status. They are predominantly women who are widow, divorced or separated. They are dependent upon their families. Women from economically weaker sections, other backward classes, schedule Tribes, Schedule Caste are mostly suffering on account of social support from the society. Economic hardships debar them from taking independent decisions. Poor socio-economic status of the family does not allow women to maintain personality as she is deprived of means of attaining a balanced personality as well as physical, social and mental exhilaration which is important for better health. Paradoxally, the better economic gains of the family due to nuclear families and busy adult children have compounded the task of care of elderly.
The stigma of widowhood leads to profound social ostracism that impinges not only on access to health care but also a broader range of fundamental human rights such as right to shelter, food, property and even proper information. There have been increasing reports of material exploitation, financial deprivation, property grabbing, abandonment, verbal humiliation, emotional and psychological torment caused to elderly. All of this compromise the mental and physical health of the elderly.
Isolation of Elderly
Psychological trauma caused to elderly due to isolation is immense. One of the biggest fears for most senior citizens living alone is to have access to an emergency facility, if required especially at night. Lack of companionship basically can result in gradual depression and other mental disorders. Access to mental health services is limited and thus more care is provided adhoc informally and in the family. Consequently, dependency anxiety is a common phenomenon among the elderly.
Viewing the dwindling kinship in the society now, the suggestions are being poured in the Press to educate the young to inculcate the spirit of service and sacrifice. They are being advised to give respect to elders and focus on reconstruction of villages. But in reality, the picture is quite reverse and depressing. The modern parents have been obsessed with the desire to educate their children to earn big fortunes irrespective of cultural and moral bankruptcy.
Compassion Needed
In a civilized society, the hallmark of healthy existence depends on the compassion shown by the young generation towards elderly and not by political, commercial consideration. Political, Commercial, Executive, NGO sector and individuals who have been considered pillars of social reforms and educators of the children are themselves shrouded with the ignonminy of incurring unnecessary huge expenditure on social events and showing apathy towards the care of elderly as well as a social change. Individuals are being recognized by the quantum of finances they have than their intent.
Elderly citizens need better access to physical infrastructure because of increasing longevity of life which is associated with debilitating chronic diseases. There is strong evidence in favour of support for elderly in rural areas where lack of availability of infrastructure and health services is worrisome. There is an acute need for expanding access to geriatric care beyond the tertiary level in rural areas especially for service of the female elderly. Senior citizens who need access to physical infrastructure emergency response infrastructure is not developed. There is evidence against the existing dispensation of services of elderly in socialistic sector. Realizing that the services of the elderly are not satisfactory, a change and innovation in the existing system to disburse services to the elderly is required.
There is very little public or NGO support for elderly. Public sector has to look at elderly friendly policies.it is of paramount importance that they have to develop a better social infrastructure and establish centers for their day care. They have to develop a better social infrastructure to reduce private cost. This change should be in consonance with the need-based strategy. We have to work on a mission of providing access to all privileges and facilities which elderly in rural area deserve. We require centers in villages which will be source of recreation, a forum for social meeting where choice for play, read and eat is provided without encumbrance.
Under the project ‘elderly care on wheel’ launched for first time by our trust in Jammu, a club has been promoted by Lajwanti medical trust “Senior Support Service Club” at Chowadi, on the outskirts of Jammu city. This club has been fulfilling the requisite goal of becoming a source of recreation for elderly, a forum for seniors to connect with each other. A managing committee constituted by the members of the club has been tasked to expand the activities of club. The trust has undertaken a task of establishing such projects in initially three villages of Marh, R.S pura, and Bishnah block to improve delivery of care to elderly women where apart from enhancing geriatric care the provision of health infrastructure are made available. This will consist of periodic medical checkup clinics conducted in different disciplines of medicine for the beneficiaries and availability of ambulance fitted with all life-saving equipments comprising of ventilators and tie up with medical institutions for referral system
Social Support
The value of community centers and social support system in promoting social cohesion is known. It encourages the people to sit together for social mobilization and joint action. As we go through life there are thousands of little turns in the road and there are a few really big turns moments of reckoning moments, of truth to retain credibility. Socialistic sector has to develop confidence in public towards their social responsibility. Their role is being suspected when reckless advertisement sway over the most serious issues confronting care of elderly. The inconsequential and uneventful development are projected in sensational news while real social issues hardly find a place in their agenda. The usual strategy is to attract public attention by attractive advertisement and the credibility no longer takes priority
Emanuel Swedenborg
The beneficiaries of elderly care cannot be considered as consumers as the voluntary organizations which are absorbed in social work, their time and talent is donated for charitable activities characterized by prospective planned care to understand the need of elderly in villages. They consider every mission a pledge of duty to the fulfilment of which they consecrate every faculty. The better management abilities allow such originations to use available resources in a more equitable and efficient manner to provide necessary services for all who need and deserve them.
Journey of thousand miles begins with a single step. It does not matter how slowly we go as long as we get it right, our greatest glory is in never falling but in rising every time, we fall. What defines us is how well we rise after falling. We will look forward to develop better social relationship in villages, it is better to light one candle than to curb darkness. We will encourage others to light more candles and sooner than later you know it, you will illuminate a path for a better future
(The author is former Principal, GMC. Jammu)
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