ELDERLY WOMEN'S ISSUES

ELDERLY WOMEN’S ISSUES

       The problems faced by elderly women are fundamentally different from those of elderly men and there should be a sub-plan with women- oriented programmes with in a broad policy aging, according to PKB Nayar, chairman, Centre for Gerontological studies.

    In a theme paper presented at a national consultation on empowerment of elderly women held here recently, he said elderly women everywhere suffered from multiple marginalization because of their gender, poverty, higher rate of widowhood and possible higher morbidity. So their issues have to be approached from a different perspective. “All over the world, widow hood is more among women than men, more so with increasing age. Morbidity being a companion” of old age, the longer years of a woman’s life make her more vulnerable to diseases for longer periods. Yet, older women’s issues continue to be treated on a par with those of old men without adequately and appropriately appreciating their problems, contexts, concerns and needs” Older women faced a higher risk of chronic illness and disability and they also suffer from degenerative diseases like osteoporosis and cervical cancer. Post menopausal conditions and diseases are another set of diseases peculiar to women. The situation is compounded by the fact that most women suffer their illness stoically and refrain from seeking medical attention until they can no longer bear with it. Public policies and service provisions have failed in ensuring older women’s physical functional and mental health. Frailty, economic dependence and social worthlessness often made elderly women an unwelcome lot. A sub-plan within the policy on aging was necessary to ensure social justice to elderly women on a par with elderly men.

Prof. John Kurakar