Social Status of Elderly People in Health Perspective: A Comparison of Rural and Urban Area

Abstract

Ageing is natural and inevitable consequence of human life. Once born, there is no scope for man from old age. Old age bring both physical ailments and social problems. Major social problem of the old people is their adjustment to their surrounding social world in general and their immediate families in particular. Old people very often feel neglected and forgotten. This gives rise to anger, sorrows and frustration leading to tension in the family. This study was undertaken to understand the health status of elderly people and to gather some information about their perceived health needs using the information over Thakurgoan district. The study has covered both quantitative and qualitative information. Necessary data were collected through interviews and intensive observation, questionnaire and the case study techniques were used with one assumption that these will provide a better insight into the experience of care giving and care receiving processes than a survey alone could do. Herein, an attempt is made to describe the situation and major health problems faced by the elderly from 80 (20 men 20 women) elderly population of aged 60 and above in one urban and one rural communities of Thakurgoan. The survey findings indicate that elderly men and women lack access to land and agricultural resources. Access to resources, and therefore livelihood strategies, have changed for both older men and women. Most of the elderly populations are landless and they earn very little from land. The findings from the study show that poor older people in rural areas faces very difficult circumstances as they attempt to meet their basic needs. Many elderly persons have only homestead land but no agricultural land. The health status of elderly population is poor and they lack access to basic health care. About 80 percent of the elderly population suffered from health problems. Almost every one suffered from at least one disease during three months prior to the survey. The average duration of suffering from diseases ranged from 3 years to 9 years. The vibration analysis shows that age, sex, access to treatment and income is associated with the health problems of the older population.