Shelter to Senior Citizens

This is on an article in the Hindu dated Dec 3, 2011 Saturday. Titled "Building safe havens for the helpless elderly" says providing shelter to Senior Citizens has gained importance in Kerala.
The "Shobha Hermitage" at Vadakkanchery in Palakkad District provides free accommodation for elders from the poor sections of the society.

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When Loneliness Strikes

WHEN LONELINESS STALKS THE SENIOR CITIZENS

I am referring to an article in OPEN PAGE of Hindu dated May 16, 2010. Prof. Rameeza A. Rasheed writes a very sensitive issue. The author says, The solution to the problem may lie in joining homes for elders or forums modeled on those existing abroad. He also writes about his experience in such a senior citizens forum abroad. It's all really great. All senior citizens (who can afford the memberships ) would certainly wish to be part of such forums or homes. But where are such homes or forums here ? I can't find any in my city . I have to drive my life with hopes of such a Home !

In another article, Sri. R Devarajan describes his plight. He has been enjoying the help of many during his GOOD days. Now, when he is in need of some help, NO ONE really does. He says " When I am old and when I need some help, there is none in sight."
This is not the case of Mr. Devarajan alone. Most of the senior citizens are in the same boat.

I suggest you all to read these articles in full.

Promises : for the Senior Citizens

International Day of Older Persons (October 1) &
Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act

On October 1, the day of the 'Older Persons', was 'celebrated' by our State Govt too. The authorities made a special note that the demographic proportion of senior citizens in Kerala poses fresh challenges for the State. There are 31.5 Lakh Senior Citizens in the State. The major issues here are : Majority are widows, poverty, gender inequality, and lack of security. Most serious being the “lack of family support”.

Here are a few proposals / offers by the Minister for Health and Social Welfare (Govt of Kerala).
1. Government had drawn up a plan to equip District Hospitals and Geriatirc Care Centres and separate out-patient counters for the Senior Citizens.
2. These facilities would be extended to Taluk Hospitals and Medical College Hospitals in due course.
3. District level Tribunals would be set up to enforce MWP&SC Act.
4. Domestic Violence Act would be invoked to prevent atrocities against Senior Citizens.
5. A project to improve the infrastructural facilities in old age homes being workedout.
6. Free eye camps, Free surgery and spectacles, awareness camps for the inmates of the OldAge homes.
7. The Social Security Mission, announced by the Govt, would take care of the needs of the elderly people also.

I think we should be happy that the Government is really concerned about the Senior Citizens. Let's all be optimistic and wish for the early materialisation of the promises.
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Ageing country : Urgent need for action

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Our ‘ageing country’

Let me invite your attention to an article in the Magazine section of ‘The Hindu’ last Sunday (21 Sept, 2008). A very thought provoking article on the urgent need for a safety net, an accurate public health policy in the senior care field. The author HENDI LINGIAH (a clinical psychologist, France) points out that, as we become an “ageing country”, senior health care becomes more critical. Though the article is particularly with reference to the Alzheimer’s Disease and its issues, it’s relevant in its global sense. I shall quote from the article :

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The percentage of persons aged above 60 in India has been rising steadily over the last decades. In fact, in 2001, its proportion exceeded 7.5%, defining a country as an ‘ageing country’ according to the UN definition and is expected to reach 8.9% by 1016. But the increase of life expectancy goes with the increase of age-related diseases and developing countries are not spared. The number of people above the age of 60, suffering for and searching for care, domiciliary services, specific treatments, and specific answers to their needs will increase. Consecutively, the lack of specific structures would lead to discontent. Hence the need to implement a sound public health policy in the field of senior care.

Today, it is estimated that more than 50% of people with Alzheimer’s disease live in developing countries. Meanwhile, when developed countries have more care alternatives available for a less number of elderly people, they are also trying to improve the current public health system with the aim of anticipating their growing ageing population.

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Properly planning and the implementation of a public health policy regarding support for the elderly has today become a necessity : the recognition of the early symptoms of dementia, patterns of interventions, research on the diseases, drug and non-drug therapies, infrastructures, professional practices, home care giver’s trainings, ..etc..

This is a challenge for the developing countries, if they want to avoid, in the coming years, the increase in the number of sick elderly persons and severe cases due to insufficient early detection and solutions provided at an affordable cost.

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Are we prepared to face these challenges, personally and as a society ? Are we concerned about his ? Is our Government listening and doing something ? What best can we do about the whole issue ? Please think over, and put your views.