No country for old people
A growing percentage of old and ailing population in the country has not yet sensitized our people to the plight of the aged. Statistics show that this number is on the rise, and soon we will have almost 30% Indians above the 60+ mark. Yet we remain callous and unconcerned, as if it is a problem in someone else's backyard.
What is even more alarming is that among the aged population, there is a rise of those afflicted by dementia, schizophernia, depression, alzimer's, and other age related mental diseases. Not to mention diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, kidney problems, oesteoporosis, arthritis and other chronic physical diseases. These people need specialized medical treatment, and often just a litte humane concern and attention. A shocking number of lonely deaths of old people have been reported in the recent past.
But we as a society have failed them. We are so caught up with pandering to our young, that our old get sidelined and ignored. Most public places are for the young and the mobile, not for the infirm. Our entertainment and enjoyment zones are exclusively aimed at catering to the youthful brigade. What have we done for the aged?
As far as medical facilities are concerned, the less said the better. Hospitals and rehabilitation centres are woefully short in number, and appalling in service. Most of our senior citizens languish in poorly serviced hospitals, waiting for relief from pain and agony. Their relatives also wash hands off them after a certain period of time. With families becoming nuclear, no body wants to take the burden of the infirm. Where will they go?
There's much that needs to be done for those who are in their twilight years. Society should think about their plight and become more humane towards them. Corporates could sponsor more specialized care centres for the mentally and physically disabled old. The government gives a senior citizen discount for many public services, but that does not take care of their medical needs. What about opening more rehab centres and hospitals? What about old age residential facilities with dedicated and humane staff? How about training medical and support staff to attend to the specialized needs of the old and unfit?
The least we can do is to make their last days peaceful and less agonied. From the dutiful Shravan Kumar who carried his parents on his shoulders in the olden ages, to the present generation who couldn't care less, we have come a long distance. Whether we have really progressed or not is a big question.
What is even more alarming is that among the aged population, there is a rise of those afflicted by dementia, schizophernia, depression, alzimer's, and other age related mental diseases. Not to mention diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, kidney problems, oesteoporosis, arthritis and other chronic physical diseases. These people need specialized medical treatment, and often just a litte humane concern and attention. A shocking number of lonely deaths of old people have been reported in the recent past.
But we as a society have failed them. We are so caught up with pandering to our young, that our old get sidelined and ignored. Most public places are for the young and the mobile, not for the infirm. Our entertainment and enjoyment zones are exclusively aimed at catering to the youthful brigade. What have we done for the aged?
As far as medical facilities are concerned, the less said the better. Hospitals and rehabilitation centres are woefully short in number, and appalling in service. Most of our senior citizens languish in poorly serviced hospitals, waiting for relief from pain and agony. Their relatives also wash hands off them after a certain period of time. With families becoming nuclear, no body wants to take the burden of the infirm. Where will they go?
There's much that needs to be done for those who are in their twilight years. Society should think about their plight and become more humane towards them. Corporates could sponsor more specialized care centres for the mentally and physically disabled old. The government gives a senior citizen discount for many public services, but that does not take care of their medical needs. What about opening more rehab centres and hospitals? What about old age residential facilities with dedicated and humane staff? How about training medical and support staff to attend to the specialized needs of the old and unfit?
The least we can do is to make their last days peaceful and less agonied. From the dutiful Shravan Kumar who carried his parents on his shoulders in the olden ages, to the present generation who couldn't care less, we have come a long distance. Whether we have really progressed or not is a big question.
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