Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI) is organizing a one month Certificate Course for functionaries of NGOs and other age care projects, in association with National Institute of Social Defence, Old Age Care Division at Cochin from 30th March to 29th April 2009 at Ashirbhavan Ernakulam, Kerala.
We invite Social Workers, Counselors, Care takers and other functionaries who are within the age of 25 to 50, and having at least one year work experience in Old age care institutions or in other related programmes or projects working for the well being of the elderly.
Interested persons should contact the address below to confirm the participation as early as possible. The participants will be reimbursed the railway travel, to and fro by three tier AC on producing photocopy of the tickets. The Course materials, lodging and boarding will be provided free of cost during the course as per the guidelines of NISD. On the successful completion of this one month course, the participants will be provided with the Certificate of National Institute of Social Defence, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
Contact Urgently:
Mr.SAJU N V
ALZHEIMER'S AND RELATED DISORDERS SOCIETY OF INDIA
MADAVANA TEMPLE ROAD ,
VENNALA.
P.OPALARIVATTOM. N.H.BY PASS
KOCHI-28 KERALA, INDIA.
PHONE 0484 2808088HELP LINES: 09846198786/09846198471
Email:ardsicochin@gmail.com
web site: http://alzheimer-india.org
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Book :Gerontological Social Work
Gerontological Social Work: Knowledge, Service Settings, and Special Populations
Author: Robert L. Schneider, Nancy P. Kropf, Anne J. KisorEdition: 2Manufacturer: Brooks ColeNumber Of Items: 1Number Of Pages: 432
In this timely new edition of their respected book, Schneider, Kropf, and Kisor introduce readers to the many facets of working with the elderly. Gerontological Social Work provides medical and psychological data about the elderly, and outlines methods for effective practice with aged clients. Each chapter is written by a faculty member who has expertise in that particular area of focus.
Buy Here:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0534578071?tag=jan19-20
Author: Robert L. Schneider, Nancy P. Kropf, Anne J. KisorEdition: 2Manufacturer: Brooks ColeNumber Of Items: 1Number Of Pages: 432
In this timely new edition of their respected book, Schneider, Kropf, and Kisor introduce readers to the many facets of working with the elderly. Gerontological Social Work provides medical and psychological data about the elderly, and outlines methods for effective practice with aged clients. Each chapter is written by a faculty member who has expertise in that particular area of focus.
Buy Here:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0534578071?tag=jan19-20
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Workshop held for professional care givers for Dementia
On Friday 20th March (Alzheimer's Society of India) ARDSI, Mumbai chapter had organised a One Day Workshop for professional care givers for looking after Dementia Patient.Silver Inning Foundation supported this initiative.
20 professional care givers from a Bureau from Santacruz ,Mumbai attend this workshop.
Following Topic were covered:
What is Dementia and Alzheimer's
Communication Skill and Ethics
Nursing aspect
Activities for people suffering with Dementia
Care for the Self
The Workshop was interactive and talk were in local language - Hindi and Marathi.The participant were encouraged to ask question and practice some of the activty.They were also given information booklet in local language.
A small taken amount was charged from the participant.
Dr.Shirin Barodawala ,Prof Parul Kibliwala and Sailesh Mishra from ARDSI and Silver Inning Foundation respectively were resource person.Amruta Lovekar of SIF helped in Planning.
We at Silver Inning Foundation believe in creating a workforce and trainig people in basic Geriatric and Dementia Care.
In future we would organize similar session on regular basis,if you would like to get train or want to organize similar Training programme(1/2/3 day) then please contact at info@silverinnings.com ; sailesh2000@gmail.com .
Climate Change and the Fate of Grandmothers in Tanzania
The overwhelming scientific evidence pointing to both severe and subtle changes in the earth’s climate due to the ongoing warming of our atmosphere is increasingly undeniable.
For example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that by 2020, 75 to 250 million people in Africa will lack ready access to drinking water and crop yields of rain-fed agriculture could decrease by up to 50 percent, putting millions of people at increased risk of malnutrition. While such consequences of severe changes in weather patterns, including more severe droughts and floods, are easily documented, the social consequences of climate change are more diverse and less tangible. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that these consequences will be severe and lasting.
The experience of communities in the Kishapu district in north-central Tanzania offers just one example of how a changing climate can place stress on the social structures of a community. In this case, extreme drought exacerbated existing gender and age-based discrimination, resulting in the needless deaths of grandmothers throughout the district.
In 2006, the Kishapu district faced severe drought which led to food shortages. The drought led to water scarcity so extreme that communities would re-use water over and over again for hand-washing, bathing and cooking. Not surprisingly, the rate of child mortality from water-borne diseases increased dramatically. Without proper education to understand that the deaths were likely caused by dirty water, members of the community began blaming the deaths of the children on “witches” among them. Identifying a “witch” as a cause for a community’s ills is a common practice of traditional religion in Tanzania.
Already viewed as dispensable because they were no longer able to bear children, the grandmothers in the communities were quickly identified as “witches”. The redness of their eyes, caused by old age and the fumes from cattle-dung powered fire pits, helped community members conclude that they were possessed, and thus, witches. Many grandmothers in the Kishapu district were brutally killed by members of their own communities at the peak of the water and food crisis in 2006.
Donors, including the Tanganyika Christian Refugee Service (TCRS), responded with emergency aid in 2006 and continue to work with the communities to address the two underlying causes of the crisis – the lack of water and food. TCRS helped educate and train villagers on how to harvest rainwater with tanks and sand dams. They also educated local villagers about their district government processes so that they would be empowered to lobby their local representative for more resources and assistance. TCRS continues to work with the local villagers to establish a small agricultural school that they hope will be completed by 2012. And, perhaps most importantly, TCRS continues to educate the communities about the dangers of dirty water – a simple effort that may help save the lives of many red-eyed grandmothers in Kishapu.
Courtesy:http://www.globalaging.org/elderrights/world/2009/tanzania.htm
For example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that by 2020, 75 to 250 million people in Africa will lack ready access to drinking water and crop yields of rain-fed agriculture could decrease by up to 50 percent, putting millions of people at increased risk of malnutrition. While such consequences of severe changes in weather patterns, including more severe droughts and floods, are easily documented, the social consequences of climate change are more diverse and less tangible. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that these consequences will be severe and lasting.
The experience of communities in the Kishapu district in north-central Tanzania offers just one example of how a changing climate can place stress on the social structures of a community. In this case, extreme drought exacerbated existing gender and age-based discrimination, resulting in the needless deaths of grandmothers throughout the district.
In 2006, the Kishapu district faced severe drought which led to food shortages. The drought led to water scarcity so extreme that communities would re-use water over and over again for hand-washing, bathing and cooking. Not surprisingly, the rate of child mortality from water-borne diseases increased dramatically. Without proper education to understand that the deaths were likely caused by dirty water, members of the community began blaming the deaths of the children on “witches” among them. Identifying a “witch” as a cause for a community’s ills is a common practice of traditional religion in Tanzania.
Already viewed as dispensable because they were no longer able to bear children, the grandmothers in the communities were quickly identified as “witches”. The redness of their eyes, caused by old age and the fumes from cattle-dung powered fire pits, helped community members conclude that they were possessed, and thus, witches. Many grandmothers in the Kishapu district were brutally killed by members of their own communities at the peak of the water and food crisis in 2006.
Donors, including the Tanganyika Christian Refugee Service (TCRS), responded with emergency aid in 2006 and continue to work with the communities to address the two underlying causes of the crisis – the lack of water and food. TCRS helped educate and train villagers on how to harvest rainwater with tanks and sand dams. They also educated local villagers about their district government processes so that they would be empowered to lobby their local representative for more resources and assistance. TCRS continues to work with the local villagers to establish a small agricultural school that they hope will be completed by 2012. And, perhaps most importantly, TCRS continues to educate the communities about the dangers of dirty water – a simple effort that may help save the lives of many red-eyed grandmothers in Kishapu.
Courtesy:http://www.globalaging.org/elderrights/world/2009/tanzania.htm
Biological Clock Ticks for Men, Too.
Children born to older fathers perform less well in intelligence tests during infancy and early childhood, research shows, adding to the body of evidence linking paternal age to neuro-developmental disorders in offspring.
But children born to older mothers gain higher scores in the same tests, designed to measure the ability to think and reason, memory and concentration, and motor skills.
The University of Queensland researchers said the surprising results were a clear warning to the growing number of men in Western societies who are delaying parenthood until their 40s or older.
While public health messages have tended to focus on problems associated with ageing mothers, the study's lead author, Professor John McGrath from the Queensland Brain Institute at the university, said biological clocks were also ticking for men.
"The results were quite startling as it was thought that the age of the father was less of a concern compared to the age of the mother," Professor McGrath said. "Now we are getting more evidence of the age of the father being just as important."
The research, published in the medical journal PLoS Medicine yesterday, re-analysed data from one of the largest studies of children in the US, the Collaborative Perinatal Project.
More than 33,000 children were tested at eight months, four years and seven years on a variety of intelligence tests, and researchers factored in maternal age and socio-economic differences in the study.
The authors said in contrast to their father's age, children of older mothers performed better in intelligence tests, which could be put down to socio-economic factors or because these children experienced a more nurturing home life.
In an accompanying commentary, Mary Cannon from the Department of Psychiatry at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland argues that advanced paternal age has a wider range of effects on the health and development of a child than increased maternal age, which is largely confined to a heightened risk for Down syndrome.
Evidence shows older fathers are more likely to produce childhood conditions such as cleft lip and palate, childhood cancers and congenital heart defects, and neuro-psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism and epilepsy.
Professor McGrath said scientists suspected that older men were more likely to produce sperm containing an increased number of mutations, and these DNA errors are passed on to offspring.
Unlike women, men remain fertile and continued producing sperm even in old age.
"These mistakes then pile up and increase the risks of problems in the children, and it is possible that these mistakes will carry on into the next generation," Professor McGrath said.
But a professor of psychology at Curtin University of Technology, David Hay, cautioned against blaming a genetic mechanism, saying a more mundane explanation such as the limited time older fathers may have to interact with their children could be the cause.
"They may have less energy and possibly more work commitments and, of course, there may be older children which dilutes further their time to spend with the young child," he said.
Courtesy:http://www.globalaging.org/health/us/2009/clock.htm
But children born to older mothers gain higher scores in the same tests, designed to measure the ability to think and reason, memory and concentration, and motor skills.
The University of Queensland researchers said the surprising results were a clear warning to the growing number of men in Western societies who are delaying parenthood until their 40s or older.
While public health messages have tended to focus on problems associated with ageing mothers, the study's lead author, Professor John McGrath from the Queensland Brain Institute at the university, said biological clocks were also ticking for men.
"The results were quite startling as it was thought that the age of the father was less of a concern compared to the age of the mother," Professor McGrath said. "Now we are getting more evidence of the age of the father being just as important."
The research, published in the medical journal PLoS Medicine yesterday, re-analysed data from one of the largest studies of children in the US, the Collaborative Perinatal Project.
More than 33,000 children were tested at eight months, four years and seven years on a variety of intelligence tests, and researchers factored in maternal age and socio-economic differences in the study.
The authors said in contrast to their father's age, children of older mothers performed better in intelligence tests, which could be put down to socio-economic factors or because these children experienced a more nurturing home life.
In an accompanying commentary, Mary Cannon from the Department of Psychiatry at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland argues that advanced paternal age has a wider range of effects on the health and development of a child than increased maternal age, which is largely confined to a heightened risk for Down syndrome.
Evidence shows older fathers are more likely to produce childhood conditions such as cleft lip and palate, childhood cancers and congenital heart defects, and neuro-psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism and epilepsy.
Professor McGrath said scientists suspected that older men were more likely to produce sperm containing an increased number of mutations, and these DNA errors are passed on to offspring.
Unlike women, men remain fertile and continued producing sperm even in old age.
"These mistakes then pile up and increase the risks of problems in the children, and it is possible that these mistakes will carry on into the next generation," Professor McGrath said.
But a professor of psychology at Curtin University of Technology, David Hay, cautioned against blaming a genetic mechanism, saying a more mundane explanation such as the limited time older fathers may have to interact with their children could be the cause.
"They may have less energy and possibly more work commitments and, of course, there may be older children which dilutes further their time to spend with the young child," he said.
Courtesy:http://www.globalaging.org/health/us/2009/clock.htm
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Living with Elderly Parents: Do You Regret the Decision?
You did it, didn’t you? You promised, long ago when your dad died, that you’d take care of Mom and she’d never have to go to a nursing home. You promised Mom – after her visit to a nursing home, one of the worst in the state, to visit a friend – that she’d never have to go to a care facility of any kind.
No, you would always take care of her. After all, she always cared for you. Or, even though she wasn’t a very good mother, and you never really got along, one cares for one’s own, right? Or, your mother was pretty healthy and doing okay and you were divorced and trying to take care of two children, so you moved in with your mother. She cared for the kids for awhile, but then began showing signs of strange behavior. You feared for your kids, your mother and yourself. “What have I gotten myself into?” You thought.
Many people are facing the fact that their sweet intentions have taken a sour turn. Certainly, for some, the decision to cohabitate with their elders works out fine. Two or even three generations residing in the same home can work. It can work when there is plenty of space so that everyone has some degree of privacy. It can work when there is respect for one another and a place to go when one has had enough family time. It can work when there is plenty of cooperation, planning beforehand and even some respite care for the elder, should that be needed.
Reality bites. For the vast majority (and I have no statistics, but am going by mail I’ve received from people asking for help, plus the very active forum here on Agingcare.com), things may start off okay, but they steadily go downhill. People feel hemmed in by a deathbed promise, or a promise made to a parent who was once in good health. They feel hemmed in by the financial needs of all generations. They feel hemmed in by guilt.
What do you do when you are in such a situation and want to get out?
A lot depends, of course, on why you are in the situation in the first place. Most caregivers intend the best for the people they are caring for. They don’t go to classes to find out how to navigate the elder care system, the financial burdens, the Medicare and Medicaid mazes. They take on the responsibility out of love and/or need. Or they are in such a state themselves, with dependent children and no job or money that they move in with a parent – even an abusive parent – and don’t know how to get away.
If you are in a sticky situation, but one where finances have been kept separate and a lot of planning and forethought went into it, you main problem is guilt. You promised to make this work, but dementia or just plain stubborn behavior on the part of the elder, is putting a strain on your marriage. It’s time to let go of the guilt and make other arrangements. It’s time to acknowledge that you did your best, and now you will, promise or not, talk with the elder and explore options such as assisted living, or if necessary, a nursing home. You lived up to the spirit of the promise. You tried. Now, it’s time to move on.
However, if you are in one of the stickier situations; one where you went into it in good faith, but the mingled living patterns and money patterns have become a financial and emotional nightmare, you may need legal help to get it straightened out. An estate attorney or elder attorney may be needed. I know, that’s expensive, and in these cases the cost may prohibit hiring your own attorney. You may have to go through state legal aid. But if you are in this type of situation, you need professional help to sort though the options – financial, legal and moral – so you can get on with your life.
The sooner you get the financial situation straightened out, the sooner you will be able to make other decisions. What belongs to Mom? What belongs to you and the kids? What kind of care can you get for Mom while you work at a job that not only gets you some financial independence, but temporarily gets you away from your mom’s bad temper? What kind of help do you need for your kids? Do they need counseling because they are too young to understand the verbal abuse handed out by a once loving grandparent who now has Alzheimer’s? Do you need help from social services or your kids?
In many instances you will need to contact social services in order to get help for the elder. In the process, if the situation is bad enough for your children, they may be able to help you find separate living quarters.
It would be wonderful if someone could wave a magic wand and fix the problem. Make Mom well. Get you a good job so you could move out. Have your kids totally understand the confusing nature of their lives, without professional help.
But that’s not realistic. The kids may need counseling. You my need it too. Perhaps, you can still cohabitate with your elder, but you will need to have help doing it. Or perhaps you need help getting out of the mess you are in. Whatever the case, living in a situation that everyone hates is not doing anyone any good. Not you. Not the elder. Not your children. The only way out is through. That means anxiety, work and determination. But you can do it. It’s the only way your life will change for the better.
By Carol Bradley Bursack
Source: http://www.agingcare.com/Featured-Stories/133798/Living-with-Elderly-Parents-Do-You-Regret-the-Decision-.htm?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=March+18%2c+2009&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2B-%2BMarch+18%2c+2009
No, you would always take care of her. After all, she always cared for you. Or, even though she wasn’t a very good mother, and you never really got along, one cares for one’s own, right? Or, your mother was pretty healthy and doing okay and you were divorced and trying to take care of two children, so you moved in with your mother. She cared for the kids for awhile, but then began showing signs of strange behavior. You feared for your kids, your mother and yourself. “What have I gotten myself into?” You thought.
Many people are facing the fact that their sweet intentions have taken a sour turn. Certainly, for some, the decision to cohabitate with their elders works out fine. Two or even three generations residing in the same home can work. It can work when there is plenty of space so that everyone has some degree of privacy. It can work when there is respect for one another and a place to go when one has had enough family time. It can work when there is plenty of cooperation, planning beforehand and even some respite care for the elder, should that be needed.
Reality bites. For the vast majority (and I have no statistics, but am going by mail I’ve received from people asking for help, plus the very active forum here on Agingcare.com), things may start off okay, but they steadily go downhill. People feel hemmed in by a deathbed promise, or a promise made to a parent who was once in good health. They feel hemmed in by the financial needs of all generations. They feel hemmed in by guilt.
What do you do when you are in such a situation and want to get out?
A lot depends, of course, on why you are in the situation in the first place. Most caregivers intend the best for the people they are caring for. They don’t go to classes to find out how to navigate the elder care system, the financial burdens, the Medicare and Medicaid mazes. They take on the responsibility out of love and/or need. Or they are in such a state themselves, with dependent children and no job or money that they move in with a parent – even an abusive parent – and don’t know how to get away.
If you are in a sticky situation, but one where finances have been kept separate and a lot of planning and forethought went into it, you main problem is guilt. You promised to make this work, but dementia or just plain stubborn behavior on the part of the elder, is putting a strain on your marriage. It’s time to let go of the guilt and make other arrangements. It’s time to acknowledge that you did your best, and now you will, promise or not, talk with the elder and explore options such as assisted living, or if necessary, a nursing home. You lived up to the spirit of the promise. You tried. Now, it’s time to move on.
However, if you are in one of the stickier situations; one where you went into it in good faith, but the mingled living patterns and money patterns have become a financial and emotional nightmare, you may need legal help to get it straightened out. An estate attorney or elder attorney may be needed. I know, that’s expensive, and in these cases the cost may prohibit hiring your own attorney. You may have to go through state legal aid. But if you are in this type of situation, you need professional help to sort though the options – financial, legal and moral – so you can get on with your life.
The sooner you get the financial situation straightened out, the sooner you will be able to make other decisions. What belongs to Mom? What belongs to you and the kids? What kind of care can you get for Mom while you work at a job that not only gets you some financial independence, but temporarily gets you away from your mom’s bad temper? What kind of help do you need for your kids? Do they need counseling because they are too young to understand the verbal abuse handed out by a once loving grandparent who now has Alzheimer’s? Do you need help from social services or your kids?
In many instances you will need to contact social services in order to get help for the elder. In the process, if the situation is bad enough for your children, they may be able to help you find separate living quarters.
It would be wonderful if someone could wave a magic wand and fix the problem. Make Mom well. Get you a good job so you could move out. Have your kids totally understand the confusing nature of their lives, without professional help.
But that’s not realistic. The kids may need counseling. You my need it too. Perhaps, you can still cohabitate with your elder, but you will need to have help doing it. Or perhaps you need help getting out of the mess you are in. Whatever the case, living in a situation that everyone hates is not doing anyone any good. Not you. Not the elder. Not your children. The only way out is through. That means anxiety, work and determination. But you can do it. It’s the only way your life will change for the better.
By Carol Bradley Bursack
Source: http://www.agingcare.com/Featured-Stories/133798/Living-with-Elderly-Parents-Do-You-Regret-the-Decision-.htm?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=March+18%2c+2009&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2B-%2BMarch+18%2c+2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Indian General Election 2009:Wake up call for Senior Citizens
An Appeal by Senior Citizens NGO to All Political Parties
Election for Indian Parliament the 15th Loksabha are going to be held in April & May 2009.Its a gigantic exercise for one of the world best known democracy.
But still after more then 62 yrs. of
One of the most neglected and ignored segment is of Senior Citizens. Elders are not considered as part of mainstream, there is unjust treatment to those who gain 60 years of age, they are suddenly considered ‘Retired’, good for nothing. Government and Civil Society are not bothered of this experienced and skill group of people.
Population of people above 60 years of age is estimated to be 86 million in 2008.The Life span has increased by 60% in 60 yrs.
The Indian subcontinent boasts of our ‘Great Joint Family’ ‘The Traditional Family’ System where we used to respect, care and love our elders, our parents. Due to Globalization and New lifestyle there is increasing number of Abuse, Neglect and Abandon case with regards to Senior Citizens.
Over and above a Step Motherly treatment by Federal and State Government is making situation worse for our Elderly. There is ministry for Women, Children, Youth, Environment; there is National Commission for Minority, Women and Population but the 7.5% of Elderly are represented by the congested and overloaded Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) .Senior Citizens is only part of NICE in NISD of MSJE.
The Indian government after many years of debate finally declared the National Policy of the Older Persons (NPOP) in January 1999, the International Year of the Older Persons. The policy highlights the rising elderly population and an urgent need to understand and deal with the medical, psychological and socio-economic problems faced by the elderly.However the Federal Government emphasis on Intra Ministry roles. It delegates roles to State government and NGO. The Central government has washed off its hand smartly giving responsibility to State government. Till date the NPOP is not implemented.
In a reply to one of the RTI application it was shocking to note that most of the ministry like Finance, Transport, Health, Education were not aware of NPOP, nor there was any concert plan. It is sad to note that still today there is NO uniformity of age for classification of senior citizens between different ministry and state government.
It has been more then 10 years now for NPOP but it has not been implement by Central government nor adopted by many states government.
With regards to protection from Law and Social Security there has been no tough initiative. In December 2008 Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act was passed by central government but still it has been not implement by many states and also those state who have implement the act, the local government has not made serious effort to make Tribunals and address the problems. There is need for pan-india political and social will.
Though there are handful of NGO and Association working for the cause of Senior Citizens, There is an urgent need for United Forum to fight for injustice and issues of seniors, there is need to address the problems and work United on solution for the benefits of Elderly.
A Private and Public partnership can be one way to provide innovation services and products. Psycho and social problems of the elderly needs to be attended urgently.
World over the Concept of Community base services and Ageing in Place is now promoted. The Welfare State concept is loosing its grip as government around the World can’t afford the expense. UN has now accepted the fact the Traditional Family are the best place to Age and best place to provide Care for Aged.
We Indians also should not expect much from Government except Laws, Protection and Innovative schemes for Social Security. Civil Society – People, NGO’s, Corporate should come forward and work for the welfare of Elders.
But all this will happen until Senior Citizens come together, Until Senior Citizens raise their voice. There is urgent need to be united and make a joint Call to all the Political Parties and Government for Separate Ministry for Senior Citizens. There is need for Proactive and Vibrant Ministry. We at ‘Silver Inning Foundation’ have been making this demand for last one year in various forums and conferences.
The growing population and voice of senior Citizens can’t be ignored. At present
This 13% huge and powerful and unrecognized segment of voters can’t be left alone, they can’t be ignored. Political Parties has to include projects and programmes for the benefits of Elderly in their respective Manifesto. Government has to address the issues and problem of ever growing population of Elderly. This is warning call to all political parties if you ignore elderly then this strong 13% will rise and will make days difficult for you.
Senior Citizens don’t be scared to ask your political party / leader what they have done for your and what are their plan for your welfare. Vote for those who will support your cause. Support those who will work for less privilege and who are non corrupt. You have to help yourself. Remember last Parliament had around 300 Member of Parliament (MP) above age of 60yrs and they have not spoken for you.
Following are the Recommendation and Demand for political parties and the Government for the befit of Senior Citizens:
- A separate and dedicated Ministry for Elderly
- Review of NPOP and make it ‘National Senior Citizens Act’
- Immediate implementation of Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act
- National Commission for Senior Citizens
- Uniform Age to be declared for classification of Senior Citizens, which should be 60
- Years
- Four Digit National Helpline
- To have different plan/policy for Oldest Old, people who are 80yreas plus
- Comprehensive Medical Insurance plan
- Comprehensive Social Security/Protection Plan, like tax when young
- Promotion of Multi-service community Gero-Care Centre
- Promotion of Intergeneration Solidarity / project and course in High Schools and Colleges
- Specialization of Geriatrics in Medical and Gerontology in MSW
- Geriatric Wards in Municipal and
- Professional Training
- Comprehensive Law to protect interest of Senior Citizens
- Promotion of CSR and NGO for Elderly
- Promotion of R & D for various aspects of Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Promotion of R & D for products and services
- Promotion of Private sector in Product manufacturing and Services
- To have National Nodal agency for Elder Abuse
- To promote Community services
- To promote Ageing at place
- To appoint Welfare officer or special cell in each Police Station for Elder Abuse, similar to Child welfare officer / Women cell
- Special Training and Awareness campaign for Empowerment of Elderly
- Promotion for Micro Credit facility
- Promotion of Life Long Learning and Recreation centers
- Promotion of organisation for Second career opportunity
- Promotion of programmes for Social Inclusion and Mainstreaming
- Promotion of Equal Opportunity and Non Discrimination
- To mark World Elders Day as National Event in all government department, private sectors and Educational institutions
- Promotion of Universal Design: Elder Friendly Infrastructure / City / Designs
- Monitoring and Guidelines for Old Age Homes, Care centers and service providers, to protect rights of Elderly
- National Dementia Policy
- Promotion of Old Age homes only for needy, its should be criminal offense if Elders are pushed into Old Age Homes
- To adopt Rights of Elderly like Child Rights
- To have guidelines of Ethics for media when they report and show Senior Citizens
- Guidelines for Police Station with regards to Senior Citizens
- Subsidy for Health care , Long Term Care and Medicine for those who cant afford
- Promotion of ICT and Technology
- Promotion of Health and Fitness from young age
- Promotion of Alternative and Indian Medicine for benefits of aged and all
- Promotion of Private sector in medical Service, Insurance and Care with protection of interest for Elders
Please remember that “Ageing is not 'lost youth ‘but a new stage of opportunity and strength”.
Let’s come together and Work for Society for All Age. Let’s support the cause and let Elderly live in peace with security and dignity.
About Silver Inning Foundation:
Silver Inning Foundation is registered ‘Not for Profit’ organisation dedicated for Senior Citizens and Its family. It is part of Silver Innings.Com www.silverinnings.com a comprehensive and dedicated Website for Elderly. It is one of the youngest and growing organisations launched on 10th April 2008.
About Sailesh Mishra:
Sailesh is Founder President of Silver Inning Foundation and has experience of around four years in the Elderly segment. He found that this segment is most neglected and ignored. He has left his well paid corporate job to work in the field of social work. He has won Karamveer Puraskaar 2008 and is Won UnLtd India Investee 2008 award. He has also undergone ‘International Training programme in Social Gerontology’ at INIA,UN at
http://silverinnings.blogspot.com/ .
Vital Statistics:
- Aged as per 2001 Census 76 Million: 7.5% of Total population (76 million) ,in 2008 it was estimated 86 million.
- Aged Male : 37 million: 7.1% of total population
- Aged Female 38 million: 7.8% of total population
- According to UN by 2050, nearly 20% of
- According to UN urban population in
- According to UNICEF Life expectancy in
Ø In 1951 42 yrs
Ø In 1970 49 yrs
Ø In 1990 58 yrs
Ø In 2005 64 yrs
Ø In 2008 68.6 yrs
- 63 % old population in 1991 (36 million) is in the age group 60-69years. Often referred to as young old or not so old, while 11 % (6 million) is in the age group 80 years and over i.e in the older old or very old category.
- Poverty among the Elderly: estimated that about 6 % of the poor persons, i.e. about 16.3 million persons above the age of 60 years and poor.
- Illiteracy: In 1981, among the elderly males, only 34.79 % were literate as against 46.89 % in the overall male population. Among the female elderly, only 7.89 per cent were literate as against 24.82 % in the overall female population.
- Employment: the employment of rural and urban elderly during the period from 1961 to 1981, there seems to be a marked downward trend -due to adoption of new technology or methods of production difficult for the elderly or work conditions have become harder and unsuitable for them.
- Dependency: Majority of the elderly in both rural (50.78 %) and urban (57.35%) areas are totally dependent on others for economic support. About 15.20 % of the elderly in rural areas and 13.71 % of the elderly in the urban areas are partially dependent on others.
- Living Arrangements: About 7.31 % of the elderly in rural areas as against 5.54 % of the elderly in the urban areas are living alone. This is quite contradictory to the popular notion that the rural families tend to keep their elderly relatives with them more than their urban counterparts.
- Health Problems and Physical Disabilities: 45 % of the rural elderly are chronically ill - 45.01 % men and 45.85 % women. In the urban areas, 44.82 % of the elderly (45.49 % women and 44.34 % men) are chronically ill. Cough and problem of joints are the most common health problems. As far as physical disabilities are concerned, in the rural areas, 5.4 % of all the elderly (6.8 % females and 4.4 % males) are physically disabled while in the urban areas, 5.5 % of all the elderly (6.7 % females and 4.7 % males) are physically disabled.
- Elder Abuse: According to a rough estimate, nearly 40 % of older people living with their families are reportedly facing abuse of one kind or another, but only 1 in 6 cases actually comes to light.Most elders are ill-treated by their own children, who have emerged as the largest group of perpetrators at 47.3 %. Neglect is the most common form of abuse at 48.7 % followed by emotional/psychological, financial exploitation, physical abuse and abandonment respectively. There is growing number of insecurity, injustice and abuse in Elderly in
- Dementia and Alzheimer's: In India according to study by Dr.Saji approx 2.6% people over 60 yrs of age suffer from some form of Dementia and out of this 50% suffer from Alzheimer's.
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