On December 14, 1990, the UN General Assembly made October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons, following up on initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the Assembly. The International Day of Older Persons was observed for the first time throughout the world on October 1, 1991.
International Day of Older Persons is a special day for older persons or senior citizens all over the world.
In India trends in demographic transition of the aged population are alarming. life span of elderly is increasing every year. It is expected that during the coming 60 years, people must reach longevity of 100 years. The old amongst the olds, 80 years and above,
will be 311 million in 2050.Centurians will be 2.2 million by 2050.India is the second largest country in the world with the elderly population.
As per a report, in 1996, 6.68 per cent of females and 6.67 per cent of males were aged 60 years and above, these figures are projected to rise up to 13.10 per cent for females and 11.80 per cent for males by the year 2026. The terms aged, elderly or senior citizens are used to describe a section of population who have reached a certain chronological age. Out of this, the oldest old segment, which is the most vulnerable on account of suffering from disabilities, diseases, terminal illness and dementia, is also the largest growing segment of the elderly population.
The problem of ageing is quite complex. Neglect of older persons by the family and society is real, critical and alarming. Top most care and attention are required for those elderly who are frail, weak, disabled, lonely and sick and who are above the age of 80 who demand greater physical attention in their day to day life. The increased longevity of the population means that health and activity problems of ageing are likely to grow.
Elderly should be treated fairly regardless of age, gender and ethical background or disability. The increasing population of the elderly is “a development concern that should provide priority for economic and social policies to become senior citizen-friendly.
Also NGOs, community and the social workers can play a major role for assisting the seniors to get their right. Awareness of younger generation to follow Indian Moral Code should be the main determinant factor in planning for redressal of the old age problems.
Various organisations working for the cause of elderly should train the geriatric animators and the social workers to take care of the elderly. Also it is necessary to develop a core group of elderly volunteers who can contribute their talent, expertise and experience for the cause and develop service centers for the elderly welfare.
It is good that the Government has brought out legislation regarding the maintenance and welfare of parents in the Senior Citizens Act, 2007, which aims to provide more effective provisions for the welfare of parents and senior citizens, guaranteed and recognised under the constitution.
So let’s join our hands today to help the elderly and must realise that days are not very far when we all will reach the twilight stage as ageing is a normal biological process of life which is inevitable.
(reetaorissa@gmail.com)