Every third senior citizen in India abused, mainly by son: Study

  

Indian sons, and their wives, aren't treating their aged parents well. A study on abuse of India's elderly, conducted across 20 cities and involving over 5,500 older people, has found that almost 1 in 3 (32%) have faced abuse. The son has been found to be the primary abuser in 56% of cases, followed by the daughter-in-law in 23% cases.

The study, to be presented to President Pranab Mukherjee on October 1, celebrated globally as the International Day of Older Persons, said more than 50% of those abused had faced it for more than five years. More than half (55%) of those who were abused did not report it to anyone. Around 80% of them did not report the matter to uphold family honour.

Delhi actually witnessed an exponential increase in abuse of the elderly. In 2011, Delhi's abuse of the elderly rate stood at 12%. In comparison, 29.82% elderly people in Delhi said they faced abuse in 2012.

The study, conducted by Help Age India, found that abuse was highest in Madhya Pradesh (77.12%) while people in Rajasthan (1.67%) were most well behaved with the elderly in their family. Nearly 30% or 1 in 3 elderly persons reported abuse in Maharashtra while the abuse rate was just above 1 in 4 (27.56%) in Tamil Nadu. It was 60% in Assam, 52% in UP, 43% in Gujarat, 42.86% in Andhra Pradesh and 40.93% in West Bengal.

The study also brought out some shameful figures for Delhi. While nearly 30% of Delhi's senior citizens had faced abuse, the primary perpetrator of abuse was the son in 60% cases, followed by the daughter-in-law in 24% cases. In Delhi, 76% of those abused did not report it, while of those who felt abused, 69% had felt disrespected with 35% facing it daily.

Around 86% of elderly felt that the most effective measure to control elder abuse was through sensitizing children and strengthening inter-generation bonding and 14% felt increased economic Independence was the solution.

The study said that in India, the family has been the mainstay of social support. "Even in this age and time, 58% of older persons in India are living with the family. The findings of this report also affirm confidence in the ability of the family to care for its older members," the report said.

The National Policy on Older Persons has also recognized the importance of family for the wellbeing of older persons and has decided to have programmes to promote family values, sensitize the young on the necessity and desirability of inter-generational bonding and continuity and the desirability of meeting filial obligations.

"State policies will encourage children to co-reside with their parents by providing tax relief, allowing rebates for medical expenses and giving preference in the allotment of houses. The policy also says that short-term staying facilities for older persons will be supported so that families can get some relief when they go out," the study said.

The report made an interesting recommendation. In order to prevent elder abuse, it said there should be nationwide programmes in schools and colleges for sensitizing children and young adults towards the ageing and the aged, sensitization of healthcare workers to recognize and develop a protocol for treatment, develop a robust social security system that not only ensures income security to the older persons but also gives them opportunities for income generation.

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How to Stay Socially Engaged as You Age

As you get older, normal changes in your brain can make it more difficult for you to learn new information or remember things. In people who have dementia, this intellectual impairment becomes so severe that it interferes with their lives. Sometimes cognitive decline cannot be avoided, but in other cases, keeping your mind stimulated or interacting with your peers may help ward off dementia and depression, another common senior health concern.

One recent study from the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago found that highly social seniors had a 70 percent lower rate of cognitive decline than their less social peers. Another study, by researchers at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, discovered that Internet use was associated with a 30 percent decrease in depressive symptoms.

Tips for Staying Socially Engaged as You Age

There are plenty of ways to stay socially connected and intellectually stimulated:

Nurture your social network. Make an effort to maintain your close personal relationships with family members, friends, church members, neighbors, and other important people in your life. Even if they’re not close by, you can still keep in touch by e-mail or Facebook. According to data from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, the 74-plus demographic is the fastest-growing group across Web-based social networks. Use of sites like Facebook and Twitter among Internet users 65 and older grew 100 percent between 2009 and 2010, from 13 percent to 26 percent. Many assisted living centers have even begun offering technology classes to get seniors online and in the social-networking loop.

Play "mind" games. Regularly doing crossword puzzles and playing chess and other intellectually stimulating games keeps your mind active and, if you play with others, helps you stay socially connected to your peers. Scientists believe that both your body and your mind follow the principle "use it or lose it." So think of these games as fun ways to exercise your brain.

Join a club. Contact your local senior center and ask around to see if there are any clubs in your area you would be interested in becoming a part of. Attending regular book club, garden club, or art club meetings is a great way to meet new people and establish rewarding relationships with people who have similar interests.

Go back to work. Many people experience stress after they retire, feeling they have lost part of their identity. If you are longing to work again, consider taking a part-time job, which can help keep your mind stimulated and give you a sense of greater contribution. Civic Ventures and the Work Search program offer assistance to older people who want to get back into the workforce.

Volunteer in your community. If you want to have a feeling of purpose or contribute to a greater cause, find a way to volunteer in your community. You can find out more about volunteer opportunities through organizations like Senior Corps, a government-run organization that connects seniors with local and national organizations in need of volunteers. Recent studies show that older individuals who volunteer have a reduced risk of death compared to their counterparts who do not.

Offer family assistance. If you have grandchildren or other young family members you would like to see more of, offer to babysit regularly. Chasing around after children is a great way to keep you physically active and improve your sense of well-being.

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Cut down old age odds

Old age brings in a lot of worries, but the two most dreaded by all is the reducing health levels and marked changes in the facial features.  Though some segments are controlled by nature and not much can be done but for sure their effect can be minimized and subdued. Well-nourished living habits, thorough maintenance and a stress free lifestyle can sure make it a win situation. The following are a few simple measures which when religiously adopted can keep odds at bay and make one feel and appear younger:

Do hydrate yourself enough on daily basis. A water intake of about 2 to 3 liters is integral. The water supply to the body keeps the levels up to the mark and moisturizes internally

Never let your face is left on without any moisture. Even after washing the face pat it dry and then apply a good moistening agent to keep the skin at bliss. A cleansed, washed skin type would guarantee a flawless complexion in long run. It should be a habit as only long term measures can help

Avoid excess of tea and coffee though two cups a day are fine but any more can be troublesome.

Always opt for options that are rich in anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants rich foods curtail the ageing factors making one look much younger. Fruits, green leafy vegetables, fresh salads, green tea and herbal methods should be a must. Experts suggest having at least two fruits on daily basis or two bowls of salads full of lettuce, broccoli, bell peppers, and tomatoes.

Vitamin rich fruits and vegetables. These small but very important percentages of diet are quite apt to turn things your way. So never to neglect them and intricate wise in the diet form. Also many think supplements can satisfy the needful but taking a natural form is much more beneficial.

Lycopene in tomatoes is wonderful for skin repairs and promote a healthy skin type. A raw tomato a day would be fine to meet up the demand.

Mineral rich foods like oil seeds, legumes, nuts all are a must. Often females give up on the nut section thinking them a high calorie version but the nourishment they aid is miraculous and necessary. Obviously moderation is needed but abstinence is not advisable.

The green color of the plants derived from chlorophyll is essential to keep your skin fresh. Green leafy vegetables stuffed with chlorophyll cleanse and keep the tone on.

Anti-ageing juices are a prevalent variety these days prepared with tomatoes, cucumber, aloe Vera, mint, and wheat grass form a perfect blend and an anti-ageing tool. The juice would be only beneficial if prepared fresh without any preservatives and consumed on daily basis.

As mentioned above as well never to give up on oils they are very much needed by the body for complete functioning

Always keep yourself into some physical activity. It is necessary to keep things going your way.

Yoga and meditation with some breathing exercises will help you keep young and also stress free.   

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Suggestions to Remain Healthy

 To remain healthy in old age, control your weight, blood pressure and diabetes, eat four to six portions of fruit or vegetables daily, do not smoke, avoid salt, drink alcohol in moderation, walk daily, maintain muscle strength and flexibility with exercise and sleep for six or seven hours a night .

  Adopting healthful habits can significantly alter the course of aging and prevent common diseases.   Here are some suggestions to remain healthy in old age:

 * Drink enough water:  It cleanses your body machinery and helps your heart in functioning well. Drinking of enough water will keep away chances of kidney stone and urine problem. It will also keep you looking young and active along with natural glow on your face.

 * Exercise regularly:  Vigorous physical activity may stop you from looking and feeling old, it may even help you live longer. Whether you're 30, 60 or 90, endurance enables you to do what you want to do. A study by McMaster University researchers has shown that there is no substitute for exercise when it comes to keeping old age at bay. Research from Tel Aviv University has found that endurance exercises like a jog or spinning class can make us look younger. Exercise unlocks the stem cells of our muscles. These exercises increase the number of muscle stem cells and enhance their ability to rejuvenate old muscles. Endurance exercises also improve the levels of 'spontaneous locomotion' — the feeling that tells our bodies to just get up and dance. Ageing is typically associated with a reduced level of spontaneous locomotion.

 * Well balanced diet: Well-balanced diet plays a very important part in keeping you healthy in old  age. Avoid taking rich food like sweets, high stuffed and fried.  You should add calcium rich diet as it will strengthen your bones. Add fruits, vegetables and greens in your daily diet to maintain your health in old age. 

 * Be happy and engage in recreational activities:  During old age, Factors like social isolation, low income and depression affect health in old age. Loneliness is a common problem in old age and leads to related problems. During this time, it becomes all the more important for seniors to take on some activity which occupy their time.

  * Exercise your brain by participating in mentally stimulating activities such as reading, writing, doing puzzles and play to learn the Chess Game.

 * Keep your eyes and ears fit by regular checkup.  Vision and hearing tests by specialists should be a regular part of your anti-aging plan. Sight-threatening diseases that are more common with age, including cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration can be controlled or halted if caught early. Hearing loss, the third most common chronic condition can contribute to cognitive decline, depression and social isolation,    To reduce your risk of eye disease, avoid tobacco smoke, wear sunglasses, maintain a healthy weight and control high blood pressure and blood sugar levels. To reduce the risk of hearing loss, consider using earplugs in noisy places.

 * Check your BP: Always contact with your doctor to keep blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels under control even as you get into your 70s and beyond.

 * Control your overweight. You should be especially vigilant against creeping weight gain. Obesity is the gateway to many ailments, such as heart diseases, diabetes and arthritis.