India has not yet come out with an appropriate policy framework to provide social security for the elders, points out Radhakrishna Rao (INFA) 

Ageing, which is an inescapable reality of the human existence on the planet earth, plays a crucial role in the global demographic transition. According to projections by the UN Population Division, there will be two elderly persons for every child in the world by 2050. This implies that the aged 60 and above, which currently constitute less than 20% of the population will account for 32% of the population by 2050. 

Another disturbing revelation made by the UN agency is that future fertility levels in the most developing countries is expected to fall below 2.1 children per woman, the level needed to ensure the long-term replacement of the population at some point in the 21st century. As for the developed countries such as Japan and Germany, rapid graying of the population could result in an acute manpower shortage, requiring the services of the "guest workers" to run the engines of economy in these industrialized countries. 

Clearly, the changing balance between the age groups would make the aged more of a burden on society, as large proportion of the resources meant for developmental activities would need to be diverted to take care of the needs of the elderly population groups. Significantly, for countries like India and Thailand, it will take only 25 years for their aged population to get doubled. 

As things stand, the rapid spread of modernization, growing urbanization and crumbling of joint family system have conspired to increase insecurity and loneliness among the geriatric population. However, India has not yet come out with an appropriate policy framework to provide social security for the elders. Lack of family support, poor financial status, physical and mental disorders and guilt of being dependent on others are some of the problems nagging the elderly population in India, and other countries around the world. 

In fact, an in-depth study by the New Delhi-based All India Institute of Medial Sciences (AIIMS) says that elderly women are affected more by dementia, depression and psychosomatic disorders than their male counterparts. According to this study, the population structure of the elderly is dominated by poorly educated women, economically dependent on children without any tangible authority or status in the family. 

Of course, an ageing society will give rise to special problems from health, family and social angels. For instance, there will be an increasing demand for geriatricians with knowledge and expertise required to handle and treat the elderly population. From the family side, the elderly population looks forward to emotional support, love and affection. But unfortunately, the concept of a welfare state where many of the needs of the ageing population are taken care of by the state is being criticized by agencies, such as the World Bank, which are keen that governments provide only minimum levels of social security to the elderly population groups. 

As sociologists point out, the biggest enemies of the geriatric population include solitude, loneliness, isolation, neglect and a sense of not being wanted. In order to combat loneliness, the elderly population should interact with their friends, families and neighbours. Regular exercise and intake of a balanced diet will go a long way towards helping the elderly population maintain its physical fitness and mental poise. 

Giving up alcohol, quitting smoking, avoiding stress and indulging in rest and relaxation are some of the other vital steps to turn the old age into a veritable blessing. In fact, in recent years, there has emerged a new professional group of geriatric animators who are well equipped to deal with the special problems of the senior citizens. 

In addition to shelter, medicare and nutritional problems, the elderly population in India is also buffeted by a multi-dimensional socio-psychological pressure. Sometime back, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, while referring to the ageing population had observed: "Trees grow stronger over the years, river wider and like with the age, human beings gain immeasurable depth and breadth of experience and wisdom. That is why older persons should not only be respected and revered but they should be utilized as the rich resource to society that they are". 

Unfortunately, very little attention has been focused on the pitiable plight of the elderly population in rural areas of the country. Field studies pertaining to the problems of the aged in rural India reveal that deteriorating health and economic insecurity are the most pressing problems facing the elderly population in the villages. 

As pointed out by a sociologist, inspite of their poor physical and mental health, the aged males are forced to work to eke out a living. Similarly, in the absence of financial support from family and old-age pension schemes of the State governments, the plight of ageing population in the rural backyards of the country has assumed serious dimensions. In the ultimate analysis, what matters for the elderly is that whether they would be able to spend the last days of their life with support in terms of shelter and nutrition either from family or society. 

On another front, an increasing number of older persons are falling prey to geriatric diseases such as rheumatism, arthritis, osteoporosis, dementia, cardiac complications and mental depression. A paper on the mental health of the ageing population by Dr. Vikram Patel and Martin Prince, points out that in the developing world, including India, the aged with psychological problems do not get the required medical attention. In particular, the study found that while dementia is considered a normal process of ageing that a doctor cannot help much depression is rarely diagnosed or treated. 

As programme for the aged should deal with their physical, psychological and emotional needs. For loneliness and a sense of guilt on being dependent on the family continues to haunt them with sustained vigour. As such sociologists suggest that the aged should be made to involve themselves in creative and developmental programmes.