Celebrating International Day for Older Persons: Is it enough?

WHAT do we want? Do we want to die at an early age? Of course not. Then we should keep in mind that those who are called ‘young’ today will be called ‘elderly’ one day. None of us can deny this truth. It is very unfortunate that after serving/dedicating her/his whole life for the family, society and country an elderly becomes a burden not only for her/his family but also for the society and the state. Is it not the time to think about the older persons? Have we ever thought that they can also be a resource rather than a burden?
With the improvement of medical science, the life expectancy of people is increasing. That is why the number of elderly people is also increasing throughout the world. And it can be said that a demographic revolution is underway throughout the world. For instance, in 1950, there were 205 million persons aged 60 years or over in the world, which became almost 810 million by 2012. It is projected to reach 1 billion in less than ten years and double by 2050, reaching2 billion, and the vast majority of them will be in the developing world. Hence, it’s a serious issue to think about.
It is pertinent to note that there are marked differences between regions. For example, in 2012, 6% of the population in Africa was 60 years and over, compared with 10% in Latin America and the Caribbean, 11% in Asia, 15% in Oceania, 19% in Northern America, and 22% in Europe (UNFPA 2012). These are the statistics of the world. But it is a matter of great surprise that there is no recent concrete data of the elderly people in our country. According to Help Age country director Nirjharinee Hasan, 7% of the country’s total population is elderly people. And “by 2050 it will rise to 20%.”
Elderly people suffer very badly at their age. Many of them are ignored by their family. There are no policies related to elderly people in the development or health sectors. Are they “invisible” to the policy makers?
Our constitution says that “the state shall endeavour to ensure equality of opportunity to all citizens,” [Article 19(1)] So, the government should take necessary measures to ensure equality of opportunity. This applies to people of all ages, whether s/he is 16 or 60. But a 60 year old person may not have the same ability as that of a 16 year old. In that case, the government has the duty to provide him/her necessary support. But it is a matter of disappointment that in our country no government could create an elderly-people-friendly environment.
Against the above backdrop, the question is, is there any facility for the elderly in the public transports? Or in banks and hospitals (though some banks and hospitals keep space)? There are reserved seats for disable persons, women and children in the public buses, but no reserved seats for the older persons. If we look at the health sector, we can see so many super-specialist, specialist and sub-specialist doctors in various fields. But specialised treatment for senior citizens still remains ignored.
Treatment of the elderly is regarded as a specialised field all over the world. Specialised treatment of the elderly people is known as “geriatrics.” It aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in elderly people. Even though our neighbour, India, and other developing countries have already established separate geriatric medicine departments in both private and public hospitals, there are no such initiatives in our country.
The government must declare people aged over 60 as “senior citizens” and adopt effective policies for them and make an elderly-people-friendly environment. I appreciate the social safety net programmes for the elderly people, but they are not sufficient and, hence, should be increased. I understand that, because of resource limitations, the state has to work on priority basis. By using this logic, developing countries overlook the elderly people. Elderly people can also be resources rather than burdens. But have we ever thought about it?
According to WHO Brasilia Declaration on Healthy Ageing, 1996, “ageing is a development issue. Healthy older persons are a resource for their families, their communities and the economy.” The World Health Organization says: “In our fast ageing world, older people will increasingly play a critical role through volunteer work, transmitting experience and knowledge, helping their families with caring responsibilities and increasing their participation in the paid labour force.”
It will be biased to speak only about the state’s responsibility and blame it. What about our responsibilities as human beings? We are getting services (got/get) throughout the year from them, but in return, what are they getting from us? Each year, on October 1, through big headlines in the media, talk shows, and some rallies and meetings or seminars we celebrate ‘International Day for Older Persons,’ but what about the follow up? What happens after the celebration? A single day’s care for them. Is it enough? It’s time to question our conscience.