Mahadeep Singh Jamwal
Historically, for generations India had a prevailing tradition of the joint family system of undivided family, consisting of two or three generations living together in the same home under one roof. The system prevalent throughout the Indian subcontinent, particularly in India; the family headed by a patriarch, usually the oldest male, who used to make decisions on social and economic matters on behalf of the entire family and exercise authority. The family income used to flow into common pool from which resources were drawn to meet the needs of all. It was a system of complete care of all members of the family irrespective of their age and their contribution into the common pool of the income. There used to be importance of protocol in the family contributing towards discipline and elderly people were matter of pride. With urbanisation and economic development, we witnessed a break up of joint family culture into more nuclear like families. The beauty of Indian culture of the joint family stand shattered now and with the descent of the joint family concept and with more and more seniors remaining active for much longer, preferring to live close to their own family members, lifelong friends and communities, and with more children. But we find that the prevailing system has led to negligence and avoidance of older age people, and they are most sufferers and are facing acute hardships of life in their concluding journey of life to death. Changing value systems, economic compulsions of the children, neglect and abuse has caused elders to fall through the net of family care. We strike to a question that, what are the options today for the elderly when they reach that stage of becoming dependent? If one realises his duties towards their elders, the ethics called for caring for the elderly is to love hem and keep them active. They are required to be given a care on following parameters:
* Watch to the signs of weakness, extra forgetfulness, lack of direction or other unsteadiness.
* Mental health is often overlooked, but it is an important part of caring for an elderly person. Keep an eye out for signs of depression such as lack of interest, listlessness or deep feeling of sadness or anger. This can be most difficult time for elders so make sure to monitor their mental well-being as well as their physical health.
* Always be respectful to the elderly. Even they have aged and may be losing their health; they are still people with emotions and ideas. Aging is simply a part of natural cycle.
* Find out the area of mutual interest.
* Be prepared for resistance from elderly person. Resistance is the most common challenges people face when caring for the elderly. Elderly people might feel the loss of independence, physical loss or mental loss. This can lead them to feeling frightened, vulnerable, guilty and/or angry and cause resistance in accepting the care.
* We all have to sometime of our life, take care of our elderly parents.
Owing to this phenomenon the governments all over the continent have promulgated many social schemes, exclusively for the older age people to provide an atmosphere and circumstances of living a happy life by the older age people devoid of total dependence on their family members. An international organisation ‘The Global Age Watch’ is keeping a vigil about the welfare schemes launched by the various governments, which contribute to taking care of elderly people and rise in the life expectancy of elders and it release annual index based on survey conducted on 96 countries, with their order of better care and welfare schemes. The Global Age Watch Index ranks countries by how well their older populations are farming. Global Age Watch index for 2015, released speaks of concern of countries caring for the elderly people and Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Canada, Netherland, Iceland, Japan, USA and United Kingdom occupying first ten positions and China at 52, Russia at 65, Bangladesh 67, Nepal at 70, India at 71, Nigeria 86, Iraq 87, Uganda 88, Rwanda 89, Zambia 90, Tanzania 91, Pakistan 92, and Afghanistan 96 occupying last among 96 countries listed. The global results are depicting that top caring countries for elderly are industrialised nations; Africa is overrepresented at the bottom, with 10 lowest places. All other lowest scorers all share a background of conflict.
The countries doing best in the Index have social and economic policies supporting the older people’s capabilities. And do not rely on families to support their relatives own. India has second highest population of elderly people n the world, projected to rise to 12 per cent of the total population by 2020. W are an aging population. 80 per cent of our elderly are in rural areas with 40 per cent below poverty line and over 73 per cent illiterate. Scarily, about 90 per cent of them have no official social security (i.e. no PF, gratuity, pension, etc). 73 per cent of deaths among the elderly are related to heart diseases, smoking and cancers. 20 per cent of doctor’s visits, 30 per cent of hospital days and 50 per cent of bedridden days are ascribed to elderly patients.
Rapid urbanisation has overtaken the traditional value-system of our people and shifted their socio-economic priorities. Sons and daughters find no time for the senior citizens in their family. The elderly, who have provided their services and support, feel unloved and neglected at this phase of their life. Their deteriorating physical health and other geriatric illness add to their difficulties. Their often poor financial condition, lack of affordable health care and the general neglect by the society has propelled many NGOs to step in and bring in elder welfare programmers and advocate for elder friendly policies. Some of the NGOs prevalent in India and located in various cities are as under:
* All India Senior Citizens’ Confederation (AISCCON) operating from Mumbai is the largest national organization brings together and represents senior citizens across India. It has Federations/Associations affiliated to it from 14 states in India.
* The Federation of Senior Citizens Organisation of Maharashtra (FESCOM) is working for the welfare of society in general and senior citizens in particular.
* Help Age India is a leading Non-Profit Organisation in India caring for disadvantaged elderly senior citizens and raising resources to protect the rights of India’s elderly and provide relief to them through various interventions.
* Dignity Foundation operating from Mumbai for the cause and care of the elderly persons and is running day care center and Old Age Homes.
* Harmony for Silvers Foundation is the concern of Tina Ambani working to enhance the quality of life of elderly in India.
* Silver Inning Foundation is a social Entrepreneur organization working for cause of elders. It is also contributing towards creating Elder Friendly World where aging becomes a positive and Rewarding Experience.
In our State we have a fully fledged Social Welfare Department, as a citizen charter to develop a society which offers conducive and stimulating atmosphere for the growth and development, in a safe and protective environment, ensuring dignified life to all the vulnerable groups such as children, women, elderly people, and persons with disabilities, members of SC, ST and OBCs.. For elderly it works in providing social security to elderly people. The main schemes are;
* Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS) is a state sponsored scheme and under the scheme men above the age of 60yrs. And women above the age of 55 yrs are paid pension at Rs. 200 pm including some other categories’.
* Under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), the schemes applicable to provide monetary pensions to elderly are Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), and Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme(IGNWPS).
All measures under taken by government or NGOs are not enough to provide a solacing life to elders and we have to realise that elders is our force and guides to give a right direction owing to their experience of life. Before parting the inspirational message to world leaders and governments of Archbishop Desmond Tutu to ensure all ages are counted. “As we get older, our rights do not change. As we get older, we are no less human and should not become invisible” deserve to be adhered. There is a message from Clint Eastwood, an American actor, director, producer, composer, businessman and politician to the aging persons that “As we grow older, we must discipline ourselves to continue expanding, broadening, learning, keeping our minds active and open”. Who are responsible to take care of elders happened to be our parents, surely we, so few lines of a inspirational song should be taken as a ‘Mantra’ for attaining salvation and they are “Maat Pita Key Charno Mein Charoun Dham Hai, Aaja Aaja Yahi Mukti Ka Dham Hai”.
