m phil cdps_intro_aging_nepal

12/7/2014 Hom Nath Chalise, PhD 1

Guest Lecturer for Mphil Students,

Central Department of Population

Studies, TU, Kirtipur

30th November, 2014

Hom Nath Chalise, PhD

Aging in Nepal: Socio-

demographic perspective


Overview

• Aging and typology

• Gerontology and Geriatrics

• Aging in Nepal

• Some research Issues

What is Ageing ?



What is ageing?

• Aging is a lifelong process of growing up

and growing old.

• It begins at conception and ends with

death. So, in this sense, we are all aging

from the time of birth.


Different meaning of aging

• Growth and development: In our infant

years

• Maturation: In our teenage and young

adult years

• Senescence: After age 30, our physical

body begins to wear out and our

functioning declines


Ageing

• Today, people are living longer than ever before due to advances in education, technology, medicine, food distribution, and sanitary conditions.

• So, nowadays, it is not unusual to meet people who are in their 70s, 80s, 90s, and some who are close to 100 years old.

• However, “adding the years to life,” does not mean that we are also able to “add more life to the extra years.”


Ageing

• In other words, living longer does not always mean we will also have better or a good quality of life in later years.

• Some older adults in late life are healthy and independent and are still very involved in their family and community lives.

• Then again, it is not unusual to see older persons who can get very ill and are not able to get themselves out of bed.


Types of ageing

Physical/Biological Ageing

• Biological Aging involves the loss of cells over

time.

• With biological aging, tissues and organs are

less likely to function efficiently, the body’s

ability to repair itself slows down, and the

immune functions decline, making the body

more prone to infection.

• A person who keeps fit and gets regular check-

ups can appear biologically younger than

someone who is the same age but does not

keep fit.12/7/2014 Hom Nath Chalise, PhD 9


Physical/Biological Ageing

• Biological Aging involves the loss of cells over time.

• With biological aging, tissues and organs are less likely to function efficiently, the body’s ability to repair itself slows down, and the immune functions decline, making the body more prone to infection.

• A person who keeps fit and gets regular check-ups can appear biologically younger than someone who is the same age but does not keep fit.


Chronological Ageing

• Chronological Aging is the number of years a person has lived so far. An 85-year-old lady is chronologically older than a man who is 75 years old.

• However, chronological age may not match a person’s biological, psychological, or social age. For example, the 85-year-old woman may be an active volunteer, while the 75-year-old man could be homebound.

• Sometimes we say, “he looks younger than his age,” or “she does not act her age.” In these cases, the biological, psychological, and social age do not match the chronological age.


Psychological Ageing

• Psychological Aging involves changes in

memory, learning, intelligence, personality,

and coping.

• An older person who is mentally active

and is able to deal with new situations can

be said to be psychologically young.


Social Ageing

• Social Aging refers to changes in roles and relationships as we age.

• For example, it is not unusual for older people to gain new roles, like becoming grandparents. Or they may change roles, from an employee to a retiree.

• With role changes in later years, society may expect people to behave in certain ways.

• So, for some people, it may not be proper for “grandma” to go roller skating or bungee jumping because “these are things that young people do.”

• The social age of a person in a given context can be very important because it shapes the meaning of aging for the person, and this can make aging a positive or negative experience.

Gerontology and Geriatrics



What is Gerontology?

• Gerontology is derived from Greek word

“Geron” meaning old man and “logos”

meaning speech, so literal meaning of

gerontology is 'to talk about old age'.

• In simple language, Gerontology is a study of

old people.

• It has three core or foundation discipline -

biology, sociology and psychology.

However many other disciplines demography,

education, law and ethic, the humanities,

business and management, and economics.


What is Geriatrics?

• Geriatrics is derived from Greek word “geron” meaning old man and “iatros” meaning healer.

• Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that focuses on health care of the elderly.

• It aims to promote health and to prevent and treat diseases and disabilities in older adults.


Gerontology

• The field of gerontology was developed relatively late, and as such often lacks the structural and institutional support needed (for example, relatively few universities offer a Ph.D. in gerontology).

• Yet the huge increase in the elderly population in the post-industrial Western nations has led to this becoming one of the most rapidly growing fields.

• Gerontology is currently a well-established and well-paying field for many in the West.


Gerontology and Geriatrics

• The term geriatrics differs from

gerontology.

• Gerontology is the study of the ageing

process itself.

• However "Geriatrics" is considered by

some as "Medical Gerontology".

Female Advantage in life

Expectancy


12/7/2014 Hom Nath Chalise, PhD 206.7

3.6

5.2

5.7

2.7

-0.5

6.9

5.8

13.8

8.7

6.9

6.6

11.9

Chile

China

Egypt

Mexico

Syria

Nepal

Spain

United States

Russia

Hungary

Japan

France

Belarus

Female Advantage in Life Expectancy at Birth: 2006

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007.

(Difference in years between females and males)

Developed countries

Developing countries

Aging Trend in Nepal


Introduction (Elderly)

• Elderly: 60 years and above

• Aging research is in infancy

• Population aging is a recent phenomenon

• More than 85% live with their children

• Culturally seniors are respected

Demographic transition in Nepal

Year TFR IMR CDR Life Expectancy

Male Female

1952 - 255 36.7 27.1 28.5

1981 6.3 - 21.4 42.1 40.0

1991 5.6 97.0 13.3 55.0 53.5

2001 4.1 64.4 9.6 60.1 60.7

2011 3.1 48.0 8.3 67.3 69.1

☞ Men live longer than women before 2001 (Chalise &

Brightman, 2006)

☞ In the last 6 decades life expectancy at birth increased by nearly 40 years

Men live longer than women(An exceptional country in the world)

•Preference for male rather than female children(Kinsela et al, 2005)

• Gender discrimination at each stage of life(Luther and Thapa 1999)

• Child mortality is 1.5 times higher for girls(DHS, 2001)

• Discrimination in nutrition

• Children's socialization pattern

• High maternal mortality rate (Chalise & Brightman, 2006)

Trends of aging in Nepal


5 5.2 5.45.7 5.8

6.5

8.1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1952 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011

Percentage of elderly in different census of Nepal

% elderly

Trends of aging in Nepal


0.410.49

0.62

0.86

1.07

1.5

2.1

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

1952 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011

Size (in million)

Trends of Aging

• Elderly Population increased by 425%

during 1952 to 2011

• Elderly Population increased by 43%

during 2001 to 2011.

• Population growth rate of elderly was

3.67% and National Population growth rate

was 1.35% during 2001 to 2011


Social Security System

Pension

•Government employees

•Retirement age 58 years for civil servants

•Less than 7% of elderly receive a pension (Chalise & Brightman, 2006)

•Majority of recipients are in Army or Police(Chalise & Brightman, 2006)

Non-contributory pension

•Universal

•70 years and older

•Widows 60 years and older

•Rs. 500 per month

•Small amount but popular

Care of elderly in Nepal

Care of elderly in Nepal

•Children

•Children (mainly sons): social responsibility

•Daughter-in-law: has burden

•No geriatric wards, no geriatrics health personnel

•Homes for elderly: Can you guess how many

elderly are taking shelter in such a home?


Some Research Issues

Research Issues

• Perception of old age by retired people

• Perception of old age by teenagers

• Social support of elderly

• Care giving situation of elderly

• Care giving burden

• Health status

• Depression

• Loneliness12/7/2014 Hom Nath Chalise, PhD 34

Research Issues

• Functional Disabilities among elderly

– ADLs:

– IADLs

• Self reported health status

• Social security of elderly


Some Publication related with

ageing from me• Chalise H N, 2013. Situation of Depression among Elderly Living in Briddashram (Old

Age Home) in Nepal. Advances in Aging Research , 3 (1): 6-11.

• Chalise H N 2013. Prevalence and Correlates of Depression among Nepalese Rai

Older Adults, Journal of Gerontology and Geriatric Research, 2013, 2 (4),

doi: 10.4172/2167-7182.1000130

• Chalise HN, Saito, T., & Kai I, 2010. Social support and its correlation with loneliness:

A cross-cultural study of Nepalese older adults. International Journal of Aging and

Human Development, 71 (2): 115-137.

• Chalise HN, 2010. Social support and its correlation to loneliness and subjective well-

being of Nepalese older adults. Asian Social Work and Policy Review, 4 (1): 1-25.

• Chalise HN, Saito, T., & Kai I, 2008. Situation of functional disability in activities of

daily living and instrumental activities of daily living among Nepalese Newar elderly.

Public Health, 122 (4): 394-396.


http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2167-7182.1000130

Some Publication related with

ageing from me• Chalise HN, Kai I & Saito, T, 2007. Significant variables of self-reported health: A

study of older adults from a developing country – Nepal. BioScience Trends , 1

(2): 102-107.

• Chalise HN, Saito, et al, 2007. Correlates of loneliness among older Newar adults

in Nepal. Japanese Journal of Public Health, 54 (7): 427-433.

• Chalise HN, Saito, T., Takahashi M & Kai, I., 2007. Relationship specialization

amongst sources and receivers of social support and its correlations with

loneliness and subjective well-being: A cross-sectional study of Nepalese older

adults. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 44 (3): 299-314.

• Chalise H N & Brightman J, 2006. Aging trend: Population aging in Nepal.

Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 2006 (6): 199-204.

• Chalise H N, 2006. Demographic Situation of Population ageing in Nepal.

Kathmandu University Medical Journal 4 (3): 354-362.

• Chalise H.N & Shrestha S., 2005.Situation of the elderly in the Himalayan

Kingdom of Nepal. Indian Journal of Social Work, 66(2):136-143.



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