The Status of Elderly People in Nepal: An Analysis of Socio-Economic and Demographic Characteristics of Elderly People Living in Gaidakot VDC, Nawalparasi

Abstract

The dissertation work entitled “Status of Elderly Population in Nepal; An Analysis of Socio-economic and Demographic Characteristics of Elderly Living inGaidakot VDC, Nawalparasi”. The study aimed to explore the socio-economic and demographic status of elderly people in study area. It is descriptive type of study basedon primary data. In demography, age distribution of population has significant place because of its two-fold relationship. One, it is associated with the picture of future population and another it reflects the dependency pattern of the whole population.With changing socio-economic and demographic situations, both developed and developing countries have experienced of ageing population. The population ageing is primarily a result of decreases in the proportion at younger ages, as a result of falling fertility rates in developing countries. When the fertility and mortality levels continue to descend to much lower levels, the life expectancy increases in the region and then the age distributions resemble every close to those of more developed region. Ageing is world wide burning issue. But the trend and level of this issue is different between developed and developing countries. Elderly people in developed countries live with high standard life and social respect, security, welfare, dignity where as in developing countries seems to be vice versa and even they are facing various obstacles to the hand to mouth problem. Like other developing counties,Nepal also experiences its age population since 1950s. Nepal does not have high proportion of the elderly persons, but its population is under the process of ageing.But comparing such situation of ageing population, country does not have any visible and clear road map. It is high time for Nepal to consider the issue pertaining to older population of Nepal and to focus on the challenges of the twenty-first century with regard to those issues. Some effort has made with the purpose of saving states face from international community; however, these efforts are limited on paper and weak in implementation; Likewise, the status of elderly varies in terms of socio-economic and demographic characteristics. Elderly people are passing their life in critical and pitiable condition due to below poverty line, unpaid economic V activities, carelessness of responsible sectors etc. Human life is defined as ‘Cycle’, if live birth alive at the end stage of life he/she will certainly catch such type of human life stage. Elderly contributes to their offspring in every aspect in their adulthood,but at last they obtain various kinds disgusting behaviour from their off springs. The new century will be one of the rapid populations ageing throughout the world. While increasing longevity is a great human achievement, it will bring with it greater demands for care and support as the oldest age groups expand. This dissertation tries to analyze the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of elderly people living in Gaidakot VDC of Nawalparasi district.Anyway, the main findings of this study is summarized in one paragraph. The majority of elderly people are found in 60’s age group. Overwhelming majority of Brahmin live there compared to other caste /ethnicity. This study also shows there is nobody unmarried respondents of both sexes. Hindu religion followership are more than other religion and literacy rate of male is more than female. Similarly, son daughter in law are main facilat or of elderly people. Most of the elderly are engaged in agriculture and income level is very low. Likewise, least majority of elderly get age dallowance, in case of health status, physical disabilities is the main health problem of elderly in this area and overwhelming elderly reported free health check system for solution of such type of health problem. Therefore,it is hoped that it will encourage family, community, government, policy makers, professional, NGOs and development agencies for giving appropriate attention towards ageing issues in timely.