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Foundation Course Semester 1 Unit 6 Growing Social Problems in India
Foundation Course Semester 1 Unit 6 Growing Social Problems in India
Semester 1
UNIT 6
GROWING SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN INDIA
Objectives
The chapter helps to identify the problems of the elderly. It throws light on the causes
of the problems faced by the elderly in day to day life. It tries to understand the effects of
these problems on the elderly person’s life.
Introduction
The Elderly or the Senior Citizens are the persons who are above 60 years of age. Due to
decreasing mortality rate in India, the population of Senior Citizens is increasing. Some of the
Senior Citizens are healthy and fit. People who are of 80 years of age are found to be still
working in movies, dramas, offices and other such arenas of life.
However many Senior Citizens are retired from their service and they suffer from various
major and minor health issues. Many of them are not looked after properly by their families.
The materialistic nature of the society is getting it more and more alienated towards the
problems of the Senior Citizens.
Decline in physical abilities: Back pain, Knee pain, decline in vision, hearing problem etc are
common physical problems of the elderly. It affects their routine life very much. Decline in
mental abilities: The Elderly lack self-confidence and they develop a sense of fear in the
mind. They face the problems related to the lack of short term memories while their long
term memories are intact.
Financial Burden: During the old age expenses are likely to increase due to medical treatment
for their health. Hospitalization and medical expenses are costly and for this the Elderly have
to depend on their children. Loneliness: The children of the elderly are busy with their own
life. They do not have time for their parents. Moreover, the death of spouse or change of
residence makes the Elderly more and more lonely.
Generation Gap: The values of the elderly and that of the young children at home do not
match. The Elderly try to dominate the youngsters and many times they directly interfere in
the matters of their children at home. This is not liked by the young generation at all. The
children may either revolt against their parents or they may simply ignore their parents. Thus
generation gap develops between them.
Crimes in Urban areas: Many elderly in urban areas live alone in flats. After their children are
out of home they are alone and advantage of this fact is taken by the criminals. They make
excuses and enter the premises of the building and they find out in which flat only elders stay
and by making excuses they will enter the flat and kill the elderly for ransom.
Limited mobility: The elders find it difficult to cope with the
fast life of the cities. They are not able to catch a bus or a train nor are they comfortable in
walking on the road. Thus their mobility is limited.
Inability to adjust with retired life: After retirement a sudden decline comes in income as the
salary is stopped and the elderly feels that he is a burden on his family. The elderly have to
depend upon their children for their well being. If they have a good pension or if they had
good investments then it is not difficult for them to handle the pressure of retired life.
Housing problem: The housing problem arises if they are bed ridden for various diseases. In a
metro city like Mumbai the housing problem are acute and the sick elderly have to face the
brunt of it. They have to stay in one corner of a room without adequate ventilation. Even they
are not allowed to meet with the guests or visitors.
Health Problems: Naturally if you are old then you have to face several health problems
associated with old age. Heart palpitation, hypertension, asthma, knee pain, joint pain, poor
vision, poor hearing, paralysis etc make the elderly a burden on the family.
Death of Spouse: In many societies marriage is considered as a boon to companionship and
love. What a person needs to live is the unbounded friendship and love of spouse. However if
one of the spouse dies living the other in the middle of life, then it creates a space in the life
of a person. Death of spouse increases the loneliness of the elderly.
2.
Health Factor: Health problems are a part and parcel of old
age. The problems like heart attack, respiratory problems,
cough, paralysis etc., are more common among the elders.
When the body becomes weak, resistance power becomes
low and the body becomes a homw for several deceases.
Psychological Factor: The psychological problems are
generally connected with retirement. A sudden change from a
respectable powerful official life to a retired life free of daily
tensionsmakes the people mentally weak. Frustration,
neuroticism, psychosis, schizophrenia, hallucinations, etc
psychological problems are developed in the elderly.
Neglect by family members: The family of a person matters
in old age. If the family is ready to look after them willingly then
the old age becomes easy. But if the family members think
that the elderly are a beast of burden then it affects the elderly
very severely. The prolonged illness will make the family
members think of the elderly as a burden especially when the
elderly is bedridden.
Generation Gap: The elderly find it difficult to accept the
values and standards of new generation. For example, the
son, daughter-in –law and grand children like pizzas, burgers
and pastas, they listen to pop music instead of classical Indian
music, they wear capris and jeans which is totally condemned
by the elderly. The elderly may express their disgust either
verbally or being completely silent over the issues. They may
even interfere in the activities of their grand children which is
often not liked by the grand child.
Financial Factor: Money is the root cause of the problems of
the elderly. Retirement brings with it financial burden. Health
problems make it more worse as a considerable amount of
money is spent on the medicines and treatment. These affects
the relationship with the family members.