Independent living status and health problems faced by elderly

Pages: 281-285
Rupal Hooda, Sudesh Gandhi, and Manju Mehta (Department of Family Resource Management, COHS, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana)

Ageing is a natural phenomenon and an inevitable process. In the developing countries, number of older people not able to look after themselves is estimated to increase fourfold by the year 2050. Due to limited mobility, muscular weakness or other physical and mental health problems, the persons who are very old loses the ability to live independently. A study was conducted on 100 elderly people of Hisar district of Haryana state those were living independently. It was reported that half of the respondents (51.0%) were in age group of 70-80 year. Most of them were (99.0%) from general caste, married (74.0%) followed by widow and widower (13.0% each). Living in own house (93.0%), i.e., two-storied house (73.0%), income ranging from Rs. 25,000-50,000/- (50.0%) followed by up to Rs. 25,000/- (42.0%). Maximum (38.0%) of respondents were living with their spouse independently followed by 36.0 percent living with spouse but near wards family and living alone (21.0%). More than half of them (44.0%) were living alone by their own choice while 56.0 percent had their children living away from them. The data pertaining to health problems of elderly showed that Majority of the respondents were suffering from various health problems related to eye (90.0%) followed by ortho diseases (89.0%) and other problems like dental problem (82.0%) and aches (76.0%). Gastro, neuro problems (68.0% each) and aches (42.0%) were higher in female while heart (67.0%) and respiratory problems (63.0%) were higher in males.