Research
Prevalence of Health Related Disability among Community Dwelling Urban Elderly from Middle Socio-Economic Strata in Serampore
The present study has been conducted in Serampore, West Bengal. The health of geriatric population is a present as well as future concern. This poses mounting pressures on various socio-economic fronts of the state, including pension outlays, health care expenditures, saving levels etc. This makes it necessary to look into the various aspects of their problems: Health, social rejection, economic, psychological and other allied aspects. In the traditional joint families, infirmities were taken care of by the individuals, immediate circle of relations and family members. Older people enjoyed a sense of honour and authority and had the responsibility in decision-making. However, in recent times, as a result of changing circumstances due to demographic transition, rapid pace of industrialization and urbanization, disintegration of joint family structures into unitary ones, the older people become more vulnerable to physical disabilities as a result of different morbidities and poor health seeking behaviour. This study will prove to be useful for the planners and policy makers in Government and private organizations and will help in enhancing the understanding of the problems of elderly people in the state.
Medico Social Study of Aged Persons: A Case Study from Serampore City
Ageing is a biological process, experienced by mankind. Ageing is a dynamic process, determined by the relative size of the younger and older. However, concern for Ageing of population is a relatively new phenomenon, which has raised due to significantly large increase in the number and proportion of aged persons in the society. The phenomenon of population Ageing is becoming a major concern for the policy makers all over the world during the last two decades. Ageing of population is affected due to downward trends in fertility and mortality i.e. due to low birth rates with long life expectancies. Life expectancy at birth is projected to continue to rise in the coming years all over the world. The aged population has specific health problems that are basically different from those of adults or young persons. Most diseases in the aged are chronic in naturecardiovascular, arthritis, stroke, cataract, deafness, chronic infections, cancer. Disease process is usually multiple. Availability and utilization of health services is an important determinant of the health status of population. The needs for health services tend to vary directly with the age of the individuals. The older the one gets, the more health care he needs. Although the aged people face multiple health problems, even then, they do not consider seeking medical aid and as a result, many conditions remain unreported and untreated till they become complicated. This emphasizes the need for strengthening of health care system for elderly population. According to Paul Wallace, all individuals should be prepared to face later years in life within their own limitation gloriously.
