free time to care for the aged, limited living space, high cost of living, long working hours), lead to reduced support within the immediate and extended family. Sometimes concepts like privacy, space, independence, materialism, focus on self are also responsible for the inability to adequately care for the elderly. Thus many elderly persons are left to fend for themselves at a time when family support is most necessary for them. Ageing has become a major social challenge and it is necessary to provide for the economic and health needs of the elderly and to create a social milieu which is conducive and sensitive to emotional needs of the elderly.
The above description should not make you think that there are only problem and difficulties in old age. Many old people continue to live fulfilling lives. In many families the elderly are well respected and continue to find fulfillment. O ne positive feature concerning the elderly population is that most or more years old are economically active, presumably because they are engaged in sectors for which there is no specific age of retirement.
What is needed is to recognise the elderly as a human resource and their rich experience and residual capacities be put to optimum use for the benefit of national development. Their ability to lead healthy and fruitful lives should be ensured by the Government. The government adopted the National Policy for Older Persons in . A ctivity Divide the class into two groups.
Let one group discuss the situation of elderly in their neighbourhood. The other group should discuss how the elderly can contribute to family and society. Let the discussion of each group be presented to the class through a group leader.