AGING AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM

Who are elders or older persons? What is global aging? Aging in sri lanka? Statistics How aging become a problem Vulnerabilities Emergencies Emergencies affect older person An older person needs: What can we do?

A Person who become 60 years old are called as elders.

Old age conceder as a final stage of the human being.

This is the age time to retire a old person. A person who need a support from others in

aging time. Old persons are 3 types

1. young old (60-69 years)

2.Old (70-79 years) 3.very old (80+

years)

There will be over 2 billion people over 60 in 2050. This is 22% of the global population, an unprecedented doubling of the present 11% of the population that is over 60.

In Asia, the number of people aged 60 or over will surpass the number of children aged 15 and under by 2045

Sources: Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision,

9.36% of the population or about 2 million people in Sri Lanka are aged 60 or over

(Central Bank 2008) Expected to increase to 18% (or almost

1 in 5) by 2020 and 27% in 2040 (or almost 1 in 4)

Sri Lanka has the fastest ageing population in Asia

More sheltered homing is needed (Old People's Home) which is usually paid for by the goverment which puts allot of strain on the tax money.

Public transport is also needed to be better as an ageing population usually cannot drive, so the local amenities will also need to be better. This is more cost for the government.

As pensioners are not economically active, they are dependent on the active to bring money in to give to the government, having an ageing population means that the dependant to economically active ratio is very low.

• More money is needed to be spent on medical things such as doctors, as older people have more health issues.

• This again puts more strain on the governmentYoung people move away from the country if it is old as it is not young and exciting, this means that the population considerably falls, leaving the country with empty houses so crime rates rise

• Government have to pay some amount of many for the elders home and day care centers every month.

Source: Department of Census and Statistics, Statistical Abstracts, Sri Lanka; Estimates derived from De Silva, 1993, Population Projections.

Senior citizens as assets to society ‘Many Helping Hands’ approach

Individual Healthy lifestyle Financial planning

Family Community Government

Tax relief Public housing scheme Tribunal for Maintenance of Parents

Protection Aging and heath Social and psychological support Livelihood

• Social and economic marginalization often means older persons are less protected from the hazards of a crisis

• Language and literacy barriers and social isolation may limit capacity to grasp and respond to public information • Poverty frequently means older people have unsafe housing in high risk areas and are unable to relocate

• May be omitted or unfairly treated in distribution of cash or other benefits

• Can be more vulnerable to violence, theft and abandonment when resources are limited

• Decreased mobility, sight, hearing and muscle strength, greater vulnerability to heat and cold

• Minor conditions can become major handicaps that overwhelm older persons' ability to cope (related to a reduction in the capacity of the immune system in older people)

• More difficulty in accessing services and less able or willing to flee quickly or to protect themselves from harm

• Chronic diseases common in older age can worsen without adequate routine assessment and medication

• Older persons' can suffer nutritional and fluid deficiencies if their food intake decreases or lacks sufficient nutrient density, and they don’t get regular and sufficient drinking water.

• Family members may have died or become split up leaving older persons without support • • Families struggling to survive may be forced to

neglect or leave behind older members significantly affecting their safety and well-being

• Outreach programmes and home visits can be life-saving to isolated older people

• Crisis-related symptoms of psychological trauma may be at least as common among older persons as their younger counter-parts

• In many countries older persons must continue to earn their living

• Arbitrary exclusion of older persons from income generating activities, food- or cash—for-work programmes and micro-credit is common

• Livelihood recovery programmes are often planned without considering the capacities of older persons

• Older persons may be more affected during conflict because they are often custodians of land that is ravaged or occupied

• Older widows are often among the most marginalised

Family support Good surrounding and environment Nutrition for health Caring and sharing Emotional bonds protection

• Provide social and emotional support

• Provide healthcare and social services

• Encourage them to remain physically, mentally and socially active

• Free health checks• Recreational activities