What is ageing ?

In simple words, ageing is the process of gaining maturity with the passage of time. In the context of demographic study, ageing is defined as the increase in elderly share of totally population. Biologically, ageing is the process of losing physical, mental, and other bodily strengths with respect to time. The development of science and technology has improved the health condition of human beings. Many diseases are eradicated and people have increased their life expectancy. 

Therefore, the percentage of elderly population is increasing in the world. Ageing has become a global issue of demographic studies nowadays. It is a natural process assisted by medical and technological advancement achieved by human beings. In developed countries like Japan, elderly share has become very high leading to remarkable increment of dependent population. 

Causes of Ageing 

There are different causes of getting older. Some of them are as follows; 

a) Reduction in physical strength and power 

Due to the lack of nutritious food, loss of digestive function, and lack of proper exercises and rest, people lose physical strength and power. Ultimately, it causes ageing in them.

b) Increase in mental stress and tension

Nowadays, people have multidimensional stress in their life. They take too much mental burden. Increase in such mental stress affects physiological phenomenon adversely releasing harmful toxins in human body. It causes ageing.

c) Gradual loss of immune power

Immune power is the strength of human body to fight against foreign germs and toxic materials. With the passage of time, immune power is lost and prevalence of diseases increases. It assists in  the process of ageing.

d) Onset of chronic and acute diseases

Diseases obviously decrease the natural function of human body. If there is an onset of disease in any part of the  body, it leaves negative effect in that part . It results in decrease in strength and function too. Thus,  the onset of chronic and acute diseases accelerates ageing.

Changes in Ageing

As people grow older, there appear several changes in them. These changes can  be divided into five parts. The changes in ageing are:

a) Physical changes

• Wrinkle and dry skin 
• Gray hair
• Loss of sensations (touch, hearing , vision, taste, smell sensations)
• Stoop  backbone
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue, tiredness
• Difficulty in respiration

b)Mental Changes

• Loss of creativity
• Loss of memory
• Inefficiency in solving problems
• Feelings of loneliness 
• Inclined affinity towards paraphysical existences like God and soul 
• Anxiety
• Lack of decision power

c) Social changes

• Lack of adjustment with new social trends
• Lack of understanding new social norms and values
•  Change in the social position and dignity
• Increase in social prestige and respect
• Involvement in religious and social works
• Lack of involvement in social works and activities.
• Increased feeling of loneliness.

d) Emotional Changes

• Quick tempered behavior.
• Lack of interests and curiosities in new matters
• Loss of happiness, lack of participation in recreational activities

e) Economic changes

• Loss of income sources 
• Lack of financial resources 
• Increased economic security 

e) Economic changes 

• Loss of income sources 
• Lack of financial resources 
• Increased economic security 

Problems of Ageing 

Old age is very sensitive and feeble period of life. In this age, people face several problems related to mental, physical, social, and economic aspects. Some of the problems can be mentioned as follows: 

a) Old people feel themselves neglected from the family and society. They are not honored in society or gradually lose their position and prestige in the society. SO is the case in family, their children move away from them one after another. 

b) Old people need more rest and freedom from social problems and family tensions but people have to face more and more family burden and problems as they grow older. Hence, there are more family burdens in elderly stage. 

c) Elderly people need less but nutritious food). But, because of low income in their old age, they cannot manage nutritious food. If they do not get adequate support from others, they become vulnerable due to malnutrition. 

d) Elderly people need more care and affection from their family members but in practice they become lonely. 

e) Elderly people need more hygienic food, clothes, and other factors for their livelihood but decreasing physical strength makes it difficult for them to manage these things. 

Elderly people cannot participate actively in income generating activities. After crossing sixty years of age, government employees get retirement and they are not allowed to continue their job. It is because their working efficiency decreases at old age and it is not wise to use them for better productivity in works. Ageing is a universal  problem. Every country has been facing this problem more or less. The problem is serious in developed countries as well as in developing countries too. In developed country, people are more individualistic and busy. There is a system of nuclear family. As a result, children move away from their parents after their marriage or when they become adult. At last, only the spouses remain alone in the family in their old age. 

Naturally, old age is not only the age of decreasing strength but it is also the age of decreasing economic capacity and growth of mental tension. the elderly people feel lonely and neglected by their children. So, their life becomes tiresome, boring, and a life of burden for themselves. The advancement of medical science has increased the percentage of elderly population. As a result, especially the developed countries are facing the problem of management of ageing population. Developing countries are not an exception in this case. The  censuses of different time show the increasing ration of elderly population in developing countries too. It has not only created social problem, but also shows negative effect upon economic activities of the country. 

Caring of elderly people 

As we discussed among problems and concerns about elderly people, we must be careful in caring them in families. The following measures must be followed to provide proper care to them in families. 

1. It is the duty of the state to take care of elderly people who are destitute and neglected from their family. 
2. Society should give proper respect to the elderly people and use their knowledge and experiences in constructive works.
3. Young generation should be loyal to and careful about their parents and grand parents. They should  be close and inquisitive about their problems.
4. Family should create friendly and affectionate environment towards elderly members.
5.  Elderly people should have frequent health check-ups.
6. They should  be involved in entertainment and recreational activities for relaxation. Family members must assist them in such activities. 
7. By nature, elderly people like to involve in religious activities. Therefore, family or community must help in creating religious environment and functions for them.

Importance of Elderly People

Elderly people are the bases of our present life. Despite the fact that they are physically weak, we can get several advantages from them. Some of the importance of elderly people are listed below:

1. Elderly group of people possesses enormous knowledge and experiences of life. We can learn useful life-skills from them.
2. They are the sources of inspiration for us. Looking at their struggle and success, we can modify our activities at present.
3. Child care is easy in the joint families with elderly members. They contribute indirectly in the economic development by freeing adults to involve in income generating activities. 
4. They are the most important tool of the society in inheritance of social norms and values.
5. They help in propagation of knowledge and information about historical events of long-term significance.

Topics covered: what is ageing, ageing, problems of ageing, short notes on ageing, brief description on ageing, definition of ageing, Ageing, changes during ageing