OLD AGE

Table of ContentsEXECUTIVE SUMMARY2OLD AGE3PROBLEMS FACED BY SENOIR CITIZENS4Health Problems:4Financial Problems:4Rejection by Children:5EARLIER STUDY ON OLD AGE PROBLEMS6CONCLUSION OF THE STUDY8QUESTIONNAIRE9COLLECTION OF DATA10FALCON COMPLEX:11CAVALRY GROUND:12ANALYZING THE DATA13PERCENATGE REUSLT OF MODEL TOWN13PERCENTAGE RESULT OF FALCON COMPLEX:14PERCENTAGE RESULT OF CAVALRY GROUND15OVERALL PERCENTAGE RESULT OF THE SURVEY16PERCENTAGE RESULT:16CONCLUSION OF MY SURVEY17RECOMMENDATIONS18APPENDICE19COMPARISON BETWEEN FALCON COMPLEX, MODEL TOWN AND CAVALRY GROUND19OVERALL PERCENTAGE RESULT OF THE SURVEY20References:21

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThis report was given to us by our instructor Miss Atiqa Iftikhar. This report will first discuss the previous study regarding problems faced by old age. In this report we have discussed the major problems faced by the Senior Citizens. We made a questionnaire and distributed them in 3 different areas of Lahore so that we can get the view of different Senior Citizens living in different parts of Lahore. Our survey found out that there are 3 major problems faced by Senior Citizens. These were Health Issues, Financial Problems and Rejection by Children. Although our findings are different from the previous research and this report will give details in how does this study differ from the previous study.

OLD AGEOld Age (also referred to as one's eld) consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle. In most countries old people are called Senior Citizens as it is a more respectful way of calling an old person. Senior Citizens have limited regenerative abilities and are more prone to disease, syndromes, and sickness than other adults. The age of 65 is traditionally considered the beginning of the senior years. Old age is observed as an ineluctable, undesirable, problem-ridden stage of life that we all are compelled to live, marking time until our final exit from life itself. Many people get extremely fearful when they become old. Distinguishing old age with fear is in fact a rather recent phenomenon. It seems to intensify as each day passes and the world become more difficult and less comprehensible. Senior Citizens are at a stage, where one needs to learn certain things afresh and get hold of new skills, mind-sets and socialization norms. There is often a common physical decline, and people become less active. Following are some of the changes faced by the senior citizens:1) Loss of hair.2) Change of hair color to white.3) Wrinkles on the skin.4) Slower reaction times.5) Reduced ability to clear thinking.6) Lessened hearing.7) Decrease in eyesight8) Difficulty recalling memoriesWhen a person experiences these changes he is considered to be a Senior Citizen no matter what his/her age is. It is strange no one wants to grow old but every one want to live long. Old age is unavoidable and every person has to experience if he/she wants to live long.

PROBLEMS FACED BY SENOIR CITIZENS

Problems faced by Senior Citizens are known as old age problems. Senior Citizens mostly face health problems and fear rejection by their children.Health Problems:Senior Citizens face a lot of health issues. These health problems make it difficult for Senior Citizens to go through their daily routines. Due to this, they need some ones help to do their work and this makes them a liability for other people. Some of the common health problems faced by the senior citizens are as follows:1) Heart Disease.2) Eye Problems.3) Joint Pains.4) Alzheimers disease.5) Diabetes.6) Lessened Hearing.Financial Problems:Other than health issues, some Senior Citizens face financial problems. This is due to the fact that most Senior Citizens dont want to work after retiring. There are several reasons that prompt this action. Some Senior Citizens are not physically fit to carry on working after the age of 65.According to some Senior Citizens, they feel that they have fed their children all their life and now its their turn to return the favor. And due to this reason they are not willing to work after retiring.

Rejection by Children:Another major problem faced by Senior Citizens is the rejection from their children. Some Senior Citizens complain that their children do not support them and due to this it becomes difficult to go through daily life routines. As people become old they start to become a liability on others as their body is not in a condition to complete most of their tasks. When this stage comes Senior Citizens expect their children to become their backbone but most Senior Citizens are not so lucky to have their children as their backbone. A lot of Senior Citizens complain that their children ignore them and the main reason is that they dont want their parents to become a liability on themselves.

These are some of the major problems faced by Senior Citizens and due to these problems its getting difficult for them to live their life.

EARLIER STUDY ON OLD AGE PROBLEMS

The research of 90s shows that when a person crosses the age of 65, he was considered old but a later study in the 21st century shows that a normal person who passes the age of 66 is considered to be old.When a person starts reaching closer to the average life span, he experiences some health problems which are mainly eyesight weakness, lessened hearing, heart problems, joint pains etc. A recent research on Senior Citizens health shows the following results1) 75% of Senior Citizens have eyesight weakness.2) 68% of Senior Citizens have joint problems.3) 83% of Senior Citizens have heart problems and 91% Senior Citizens say that they have had independent treatment for their heart problems.4) It has also been found that 77% have Alzheimers disease.5) 61% of Senior Citizens have hearing problems.6) 68% of Senior Citizens face hearing problems.

Another research on the financial needs of Senior Citizens shows that most Senior Citizens receive pensions which are sufficient for them but not for everyone. Following are the results of a research conducted by University of Waterloo on financial problems of Senior Citizens:1) 95% of Senior Citizens dont want to work while 5% say that their body does not permit them to work.2) 38% of Senior Citizens are happy at the amount they received as their pension but 62% say that their pensions are not sufficient.3) 43% of Senior Citizens are financially supported by their children but 57% say that they are left entirely on their own to earn money.4) 97% of Senior Citizens are getting benefit from Government schemes launched for the welfare of Senior Citizens but they think that this is not enough.A research shows that most Senior Citizens lack confidence and this prompts them to think that there is no reason for them to live. To find the reason behind the lack of confidence of Senior Citizens and no reason for them to live, a study was conducted by Ayr College Scotland and it experienced the following result:1) 81% of Senior Citizens live alone. It has been found that when a person lives alone for some time there is too much redundant time and too much time for belligerent. This promotes them to think that they have no reason to live.2) 19% of Senior Citizens live with their children. It has been learnt that in old age children become the chief of the house and Senior Citizens are usually shunted sideways. This promotes lack of confidence.3) Of the 19%, 88% of Senior Citizens say that their children dont take them with themselves. This is also a reason which promotes lack of reason to live.4) 92% of Senior Citizens say that they are not taken in confidence when a decision regarding the family is made.These all reasons makes Senior Citizens lose their confidence and promotes lack of reason to live.

CONCLUSION OF THE STUDYBased on the previous researches it can be stated that 66 is considered to be the age when a person is called Senior Citizens. It can also be said that even though Senior Citizens face different health problems but the most common of these health problems:1) Heart Disease.2) Eye Problems.3) Joint Pains.4) Alzheimers disease.5) Lessened Hearing.These are some of the most common health problems and these problems prevent Senior Citizens from going through their daily routines.It can also be said that most Senior Citizens dont want to work after retirement because they receive pension but still they complain that their pensions are not enough. Most Senior Citizens are getting benefits from Government Schemes for the welfare of Senior Citizens but they still complain that Government should do more to help them.According to the researches it can be said that maximum Senior Citizens live alone and this reduces their confidence because they start to think that if they were important their children would not have deserted them and this promotes them to think that there is no reason for them to live.

So I have made my hypothesis which will help me in collecting the data, analyzing the data and then making a conclusion and from the conclusion we will be able to see that whether the result of my research will match the result of the above study.

QUESTIONNAIREAfter making my hypothesis, I have made the following questionnaire which will help me in collecting the data required to check whether my search result matches the above result.1) What do you think was the age when you considered yourself to be a Senior Citizen?a) 55 b) 60 c) 652) What was your biggest fear from the following before you became a Senior Citizen?a) Closure of income b) Neglected by children c) Health issues3) Do you still want to work after your retirement?4) Have you invested in National Saving Scheme?5) Are you receiving pension?6) Is your pension sufficient?7) Do you think reforms should be introduced by the Government to help Senior Citizens live a better life?8) Do you live alone or with children?9) Are you included in Families decision?10) Do your children ask you to join them whenever they go somewhere?11) Are you suffering from Alzheimers disease?12) Has your eyesight gotten weaker since you became a Senior Citizen?13) Do you face heart problems?14) Do you feel pain in your joints?15) Do you feel any difficulty in listening?

This questionnaire will be provided to Senior Citizens living in Model Town, Falcon Complex and Cavalry Ground. This will tell us about the problems faced by Senior Citizens. This will also help us in discovering that which one of the above mentioned problems is more dreadful.The data collected through this will be analyzed for conclusion and for taking necessary steps to help Senior Citizens.COLLECTION OF DATAMODEL TOWN:10 people participated from Model town in this survey and the result is as follows:1) 8 out of 10 Senior Citizens say that at the age of 60 they considered themselves to be old while the other 2 say 65 was the age when they got old.2) 6 out of 10 Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was health issues. 3 Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was rejection by children while 1 says that his biggest fear was financial problems.3) 7 out of 10 Senior Citizens dont want to work while the other 3 say that if their body permits them then they will gladly work.4) 4 out of 10 Senior Citizens have invested in National Saving Scheme.5) All 10 Senior Citizens are receiving pensions.6) 7 out of 10 Senior Citizens feel that their pension is insufficient.7) All 10 Senior Citizens agree that reforms should be introduced for the welfare of Senior Citizens.8) 6 out of 10 Senior Citizens live with their children while the other 4 live alone.9) 4 out of 10 Senior Citizens are included in family decisions.10) 6 out 0f 10 Senior Citizens are asked by their children to join them in their outings.11) 9 out of 10 Senior Citizens are suffering from Alzheimers disease.12) 8 out of 10 Senior Citizens say that their eyesight has gotten weaker.13) 8 out of 10 Senior Citizens are facing heart problems.14) 9 out of 10 Senior Citizens have pain in their joints.15) 6 out of 10 Senior Citizens have problem listening.

These were the results of Senior Citizens living in Model Town.

FALCON COMPLEX:10 people participated from Falcon Complex in this survey and the result is as follows:1) 9 out of 10 Senior Citizens say that at the age of 60 they considered themselves to be old while the 1 Senior citizen says 65 was the age when he considered himself to be old.2) 5 out of 10 Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was health issues. 3 Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was rejection by children while 2 Senior Citizens says that their biggest fear was financial problems.3) 8 out of 10 Senior Citizens dont want to work while the other 2 say that if their body permits them then they will gladly work.4) 6 out of 10 Senior Citizens have invested in National Saving Scheme.5) All 10 Senior Citizens are receiving pensions.6) 6 out of 10 Senior Citizens feel that their pension is insufficient.7) All 10 Senior Citizens agree that reforms should be introduced for the welfare of Senior Citizens.8) 7 out of 10 Senior Citizens live with their children while the other 3 live alone.9) 4 out of 10 Senior Citizens are included in family decisions.10) 7 out of 10 Senior Citizens are asked by their children to join them in their outings.11) 8 out of 10 Senior Citizens are suffering from Alzheimers disease.12) 9 out of 10 Senior Citizens say that their eyesight has gotten weaker.13) 6 out of 10 Senior Citizens are facing heart problems.14) 9 out of 10 Senior Citizens have pain in their joints.15) 5 out of 10 Senior Citizens have problem listening.

These were the results of Senior Citizens living in Falcon Complex.

CAVALRY GROUND:10 people participated from Cavalry Ground in this survey and the result is as follows:1) 8 out of 10 Senior Citizens say that at the age of 60 they considered themselves to be old while 2 Senior citizens say 65 was the age when they considered themselves to be old.2) 6 out of 10 Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was health issues. 2 Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was rejection by children while 2 Senior Citizens says that their biggest fear was financial problems.3) 9 out of 10 Senior Citizens dont want to work while the 1 Senior Citizen says that if his body permits him then he will gladly work.4) 4 out of 10 Senior Citizens have invested in National Saving Scheme.5) 8 out of 10 Senior Citizens are receiving pensions.6) 7 out of 10 Senior Citizens feel that their pension is insufficient.7) All 10 Senior Citizens agree that reforms should be introduced for the welfare of Senior Citizens.8) 5 out of 10 Senior Citizens live with their children while the other 5 live alone.9) 3 out of 10 Senior Citizens are included in family decisions.10) 4 out of 10 Senior Citizens are asked by their children to join them in their outings.11) 7 out of 10 Senior Citizens are suffering from Alzheimers disease.12) 8 out of 10 Senior Citizens say that their eyesight has gotten weaker.13) 9 out of 10 Senior Citizens face heart problems.14) 8 out of 10 Senior Citizens have pain in their joints.15) 8 out of 10 Senior Citizens have problem listening.

These were the results of Senior Citizens living in Cavalry Ground.

ANALYZING THE DATAPERCENATGE REUSLT OF MODEL TOWNFollowing is the percentage result of MODEL TOWN:

1) 80% Senior Citizens say that at the age of 60 they considered themselves to be old while the other 20% say 65 was the age when they considered themselves to be old.2) 60% Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was health issues. 30% Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was rejection by children while 10% say that their biggest fear was financial problems.3) 70% Senior Citizens dont want to work while the other 30% say that if their body permits them then they will gladly work.4) 40% Senior Citizens have invested in National Saving Scheme.5) 100% Senior Citizens are receiving pensions.6) 70% Senior Citizens feel that their pension is insufficient.7) 100% Senior Citizens agree that reforms should be introduced for the welfare of Senior Citizens.8) 60% Senior Citizens live with their children while the other 40% live alone.9) 40% Senior Citizens are included in family decisions.10) 60% Senior Citizens are asked by their children to join them in their outings.11) 90% Senior Citizens are suffering from Alzheimers disease.12) 80% Senior Citizens say that their eyesight has gotten weaker.13) 80% Senior Citizens are facing heart problems.14) 90% Senior Citizens have pain in their joints.15) 60% Senior Citizens have problem listening.

This is the percentage of results of MODEL TOWN.

PERCENTAGE RESULT OF FALCON COMPLEX:Following is the percentage result of falcon complex:1) 90% Senior Citizens say that at the age of 60 they considered themselves to be old while the 10% Senior citizen say 65 was the age when they considered themselves to be old.2) 50% Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was health issues. 30% Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was rejection by children while 20% Senior Citizens says that their biggest fear was financial problems.3) 80% Senior Citizens dont want to work while the other 20% say that if their body permits them then they will gladly work.4) 60% Senior Citizens have invested in National Saving Scheme.5) 100% Senior Citizens are receiving pensions.6) 60% Senior Citizens feel that their pension is insufficient.7) 100% Senior Citizens agree that reforms should be introduced for the welfare of Senior Citizens.8) 70% Senior Citizens live with their children while the other 30% live alone.9) 40% Senior Citizens are included in family decisions.10) 70% Senior Citizens are asked by their children to join them in their outings.11) 80% Senior Citizens are suffering from Alzheimers disease.12) 90% Senior Citizens say that their eyesight has gotten weaker.13) 60% Senior Citizens are facing heart problems.14) 90% Senior Citizens have pain in their joints.15) 50% Senior Citizens have problem listening.

These were the percentage results of Senior Citizens living in Falcon Complex.

PERCENTAGE RESULT OF CAVALRY GROUNDFollowing is the percentage result of Cavalry Ground.1) 80% Senior Citizens say that at the age of 60 they considered themselves to be old while 20% Senior citizens say 65 was the age when they considered themselves to be old.2) 60% Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was health issues. 20% Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was rejection by children while 20% Senior Citizens says that their biggest fear was financial problems.3) 90% Senior Citizens dont want to work while the 10% Senior Citizens say that if their body permits them then they will gladly work.4) 40% Senior Citizens have invested in National Saving Scheme.5) 80% Senior Citizens are receiving pensions.6) 70% Senior Citizens feel that their pension is insufficient.7) 100% Senior Citizens agree that reforms should be introduced for the welfare of Senior Citizens.8) 50% Senior Citizens live with their children while the other 50% live alone.9) 40% Senior Citizens are included in family decisions.10) 40% Senior Citizens are asked by their children to join them in their outings.11) 70% Senior Citizens are suffering from Alzheimers disease.12) 80% Senior Citizens say that their eyesight has gotten weaker.13) 90% Senior Citizens face heart problems.14) 80% Senior Citizens have pain in their joints.15) 80% Senior Citizens have problem listening.

These were the percentage results of Senior Citizens living in Cavalry Ground.

OVERALL PERCENTAGE RESULT OF THE SURVEYPERCENTAGE RESULT:Based on the above collected and analyzed data we can make a n overall percentage result of our research which would help us in understanding the problems being faced by Senior Citizens.Following is the overall percentage result:1) 83% Senior Citizens say that at the age of 60 they considered themselves to be old while 17% Senior citizens say 65 was the age when they considered themselves to be old.2) 57% Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was health issues. 27% Senior Citizens say that their biggest fear was rejection by children while 17% Senior Citizens says that their biggest fear was financial problems.3) 80% Senior Citizens dont want to work while the 20% Senior Citizens say that if their body permits them then they will gladly work.4) 47% Senior Citizens have invested in National Saving Scheme.5) 93% Senior Citizens are receiving pensions.6) 67% Senior Citizens feel that their pension is insufficient.7) 100% Senior Citizens agree that reforms should be introduced for the welfare of Senior Citizens.8) 60% Senior Citizens live with their children while the other 40% live alone.9) 40% Senior Citizens are included in family decisions.10) 57% Senior Citizens are asked by their children to join them in their outings.11) 80% Senior Citizens are suffering from Alzheimers disease.12) 83% Senior Citizens say that their eyesight has gotten weaker.13) 77% Senior Citizens face heart problems.14) 87% Senior Citizens have pain in their joints.15) 63% Senior Citizens have problem listening.

CONCLUSION OF MY SURVEYAfter conducting my survey and after analyzing the data collected it can be seen that there is some difference between my result and the result conducted by different universities.According to the previous search, when a person crosses the age of 66 he is considered to be a Senior Citizen. But my research shows that the average age of old age is 60. Another difference is that according to pervious search 68% Senior Citizen face joint problems while my search shows that 87% face joint problems.The previous research suggests that 81% of Senior Citizens are living alone while my research suggests that only 40% of Senior Citizens live alone. My research also suggests that 60% Senior Citizens live with their children as compared to 19% according to the previous researches. Old research also suggests that 92% Senior Citizens are not included in family decision makings but my research shows that only 60% Senior Citizens are not included. My research shows that 57% Senior Citizens are asked by their children to join them whenever they go out while previous research shows that only 22% Senior Citizens are asked by their children to join them.My survey also shows that 80% Senior Citizens dont want to work after retirement as compared to 95% suggested by previous researches. According to previous researches, 97% Senior Citizens have invested in Government Schemes for the welfare of Senior Citizens but my research shows that only 40% Senior Citizens have invested in these schemes.The major reason between the difference of my research and the previous research is that all the previous researches have been conducted by foreign countries where most Senior Citizens live in special houses and most of them are not supported by their children but the culture in Pakistan is different. In Pakistan, people care about Senior Citizens much more and Senior Citizens are given a lot of respect. Instead of putting their parents in special houses, most of the Senior Citizens are being taken care of by their children and are supported by their children.So I can say that my hypothesis is wrong as research conducted in other countries on Senior Citizens is different as compared to research conducted in Pakistan.RECOMMENDATIONSThe Government should introduce reforms for the welfare of Senior Citizens. The pensions should also be increased to match the rising price hike. The Government should make awareness among the Senior Citizens, through advertisement, about the National Saving Scheme so that maximum number of Senior Citizens can avail it. People should respect their elders and take care of them as their parents had when they were young. They should not forget the kindness and caring of their parents. As it was their parents who looked after them when they were young, now old age is the time when children should take care of their parents. As far as the health issues go, no one can defy the laws of the nature. After some time every human being has to encounter these and the only way to make it less painful for our Senior Citizens is by giving them time, attention and by giving them love and affection.

APPENDICECOMPARISON BETWEEN FALCON COMPLEX, MODEL TOWN AND CAVALRY GROUND

OVERALL PERCENTAGE RESULT OF THE SURVEY

References:The first page of the term paper which tells the definition of old age is taken from Wikipedia and www.squidoo.com.The review was taken from a research conducted by Talha Imran studying in University of Waterloo Canada and by Adeel Sarwar studying in Ayr College Scotland.

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