Problems faced by senior citizens and the principles they need to adopt

‘As per information published by Helpage India, an organisation dedicated to social service, in the year 2013 India’s population was 121 crores out of which 10 crores were senior citizens. Although their proportion in total population is less, 66% of the senior citizens are not able to afford two square meals a day. 90% of them do not have social, economic and health security. 73% of them being illiterate their only means of livelihood is physical work. 39% of them lived alone cursing their life. ‘This article is elaborates the points discussed in this report.

1. Old age homes

Due to the mindset created because of nuclear family system, personality defects in individuals and economic problems, old age homes have become worrisome issue. At this age senior citizens are in the need of love, affection and care.

2. Society is disintegrating due to joint and nuclear family systems

A. The joint family system

‘Even before the thought process of social responsibilities with regards to senior citizens could get initiated, the social responsibilities themselves underwent changes. Till the joint family system existed, all needs were getting fulfilled internally through cooperation. Prosperity existed in the families to some extent. Each one was concerned about the other in the family.

B. The nuclear family system

This strengthened the belief in ‘me and mine’. Financial aspects might have triggered this leading to distancing within the families and consequently even accomplishing tasks which could easily happen with mutual co-operation became now difficult to achieve. In this way the disintegration in society increased in past few years.

3. In most educated families, for economic security,
the concept of one child becoming a norm and with blind following
of the western culture, only so called relations like ‘uncle’ and ‘aunty’
being known to the children resulting in disturbance of the social fabric

In most educated families for the purpose of economic security, the concept of ‘We two and our two’ has shifted to ‘We two and our one’. Objective of educating and upbringing of only one child, whether a son or a daughter, is seen in every household. There is nothing wrong in this, however, the bond between relatives have now become fragile. Going further people forgot the relationships amongst themselves. In addition, due to the influence of the western culture the superficial relationships of ‘uncle’ and ‘aunt ‘only became known to the children. Due to the relations like ‘cousin’ and ‘brother’ they completely forgot the maternal / paternal relations, resulting in disintegration of society.

4. Three principles those are important in the old age

A. To maintain good mental health the aged should always remain alert and make it a point to speak pleasantly, both within the family and in the society.

B. One should ensure that they do not cause trouble to others.

C. One should have a balanced diet, exercise regularly and keep ones ‘mind calm.

5. Mental boost is the most important aspect at the old age

With good mental health and enthusiastic thoughts, the mind remains refreshed even at the old age. Achieving this is not difficult at all.

6. Avoid negative thinking

Nature acts based on our thoughts. It is extremely important to keep the mind energetic at the old age because when the mind loses its zest the whole world seems futile. The aged should never think negatively that no one pays attention to them.

7. Adopting positive perspective, instead
of negative outlook, will make your future life cheerful

Always keep yourself busy and your mind happy. Try to do as much work as possible. Give up your ego and express love towards all. Narrate good experiences from your life to others, if necessary, guide others. Instead of a negative outlook of life if a positive one is harboured then your future undoubtedly will be happy. This attitude will also help reduce the gap between the two generations. It is quite easy for the elders to adopt such thinking. One can contemplate on this and try out various options.

8. Agony of senior citizens whose children are settled abroad

A. Feeling of loneliness

Today there are several senior citizens whose children are working abroad. In such senior citizens, feeling of loneliness gradually increases. They are only able to hear the babbling of their grandchildren staying abroad over the phone call. Their period of longing seems to be endless.

B. The feeling that their children have no time for them starts getting firmer.

Even at this age they are compelled to keep an account of their savings and expenditure. When they recollect their energized youth, they think that now their children have no time for them. Here the senior citizen needs to keep in mind that their life-partner too is aging with them.

C. If the aged make attempts to change with the
changing social scenario then it will make their life happier.

If you look around today then you realise that the society has changed, the movies, dramas, and the relationships shown in them have also undergone changes. What do we infer from all this? It may appear that all this has changed only for younger generation, but what about the elderly? When a senior citizen blends with this society without considering his age, he begins to accept that all these changes are applicable for him too.

9. Common problems of the aged

When the aged seek assistance from social organisations it is found that their issues mostly revolve around ‘neglect by the family’. This depends on whether the parents stay in the home of their children or vice versa. In most families this is the most provocative issue and induces tremendous mental stress on the other party. In many families the son pressurises parents to transfer the home to his name. At times he even troubles them. Though the parents are always advised not to transfer the living home to their son’s name, there are some children who terrorise parents who do not make the transfer.

10. To some extent the behavior of the elderly is responsible for the neglect

The elderly should behave in such a way that they will merge with the family lovingly. The young generation opines that they have their own problems to sort out including work stress etc. Neither are the elderly aware of this nor do they choose to understand it. Children have no free time and the elderly pine for their attention to overcome their loneliness. They keep reminding the children how much they have sacrificed for them. To some extent the elderly themselves are responsible for this state. Sometimes however the elderly get neglected due to anger or resentment towards them.’

– Mrs. Vimal Madhusudan Khachne (Reference: Monthly ‘Apeksha’, Deepawali 2013)