Steps Urged for the Elderly’s Welfare

By Jamal Shahid, DAWN 

Pakistan

September 10, 2007 

We dread growing old. It’s probably the least favourite subject next to the topic of death — ravaged by illness and weakness, and becoming physically as well as emotionally dependent on children.

But in today’s fast paced world, even in a traditional cultural set-up like that of Pakistan where the responsibility to look after parents falls on children, it appears that economic constraints, high medical costs, work related demands and social appointments leave little chance to attend to the needs of elders.

This concern and the fact that government was doing very little for the welfare of senior citizens was probably on top of the list of speakers at a seminar on the problems of senior citizens in Pakistan organised by Pakistan Social Association (PSA) here on Sunday.

The seminar focused on bringing into harmony society by activating NGOs and stressing on helping elderly people to the level where instead of becoming a burden they could bring value to society.

Was Pakistan becoming a bad place for those who grow old? Could our generation be heading for an old age far worst than their parents?

Answering such questions, Dr Nasir Mahmood, national coordinator Health of Elderly Project (HEP) in the ministry of health said, “It’s becoming a serious issue. The fact that family ties are fading and traditional and religious links are weakening, elders seem to suffer most. Economic hardships make matters worse. Children don’t have time to sit and talk with their elders.”

And lack of attention gives rise to psychological problems like hypertension and depression, he said, adding that it got worse if an elderly was a diabetic, had high blood pressure or arthritis.

Dr Nasir said the issue of social welfare of senior citizens was still not fully recognised. But what really put off Dr Nasir was insufficient budget. “We have $34,000 of WHO’s money, not government of Pakistan’s money, to design awareness programmes that would go towards lessening the communication gaps between youngsters and the elders, training health workers and embarking upon a media campaign to help people learn that its not a problem but a fact of life.”

Although a survey by EHP showed that elders in Pakistan were mentally sound, there were no exact figures how many were homeless, how many committed suicide or how many were affected by the Oct 8 earthquake, he said.

He said at present there were 7.3 million elders above 60 in Pakistan. In 15 years this number will increase to 27 million. This means that one out of every four persons will be an elderly. And Pakistan is not preparing to deal with the elderly explosion.”

For Asma Akbar, a public health coordinator with Help Age International, an NGO; health issues are a matter of great concern. “There is no geriatrics in Pakistan. This, in my view is one of the biggest problems because a lot of people don’t take proper measures when caring for the elders.”

Sharing information from a recent study she conducted in a camp in Muzaffarabad, Ms Akbar said 70 per cent elders were unhealthy. Almost 60 per cent had multiple medical problems.

President PSA Zareen Ammar said, “We can’t retire them and make them sick. It is sad that senior citizens don’t have defined roles. We need to build their capacities because they can fill missing links in ethnicity, religions as well as contribute financially. And for that the civil society must come forward to make it possible.”

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