Caring the aged - Sensitising the Youth

ENSURING BETTER TOMORROWS FOR

THE AGED….

Dr. Jayakara Bhandary M.Department of BotanyDepartment of Botany

Government College, Karwar - 581301Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka

[email protected]

Presented at the

Principals Meet/ Seminar on Value Education in Schools on Age Care

Organised by

HelpAge India

Increase in life expectancy…

Life expectancy –Males• 42 years in 1951-60• 58 years in 1980-90• 67 years in 2011-16• 67 years in 2011-16• At 60, 15 yearsFemales• 58 years in 1980-90• 69 years in 2011-16• At 60, 16 years

More population aged….

• 8 crore now• 10 crore in 2013• 19.8 crore in 2030• 32.6 crore in 2050 - 21% • 32.6 crore in 2050 - 21%

of total population

Current Condition of the Aged …. Gloomy!

• Food - 5.5 crore no two meals a day

• Exclusion – 3 crore • Exclusion – 3 crore lonely

• Finance - majority have to work to live

• Health – 1.2 crore blind

The Worse….. yet to come….• Modern life styles –working couples• Pressure-Fissure in family - Changing

family values • Child care at the cost of Parental care• Gratification of personal desires Vs moral

responsibilitiesresponsibilities• Personal Privacy / Right based,

individualistic outlook• Myths, negative images, stereotypes

about aged………Senior citizens….. Secondary citizens!

Caring the aged….

• Constitutional Duty (Article 41 of Directive Principles of State Policy)

• Section 125 of CPC – Right of parents to be supported by children

• UNO resolution on Principles for • UNO resolution on Principles for Older Persons( 1991) –Independence, Participation, Care, Self fulfillment, Dignity

• Senior citizens Bill- 2007 • HP Maintenance of

Parents/dependants Bill 1996

Caring the aged…

Policy statement by Indian Govt. • Concern of the aged is the

concern of the nation.• Ensure living last phase of life • Ensure living last phase of life

with dignity, peace and purpose• Choices and opportunities for

independent, active, creative, productive and satisfying life

How to Achieve? Ensure?

• Strengthening Family/societal support

• Sensitisation of the young about old age situation and careold age situation and care

• Strengthening inter-generational bonding

• Dispelling myths, negative images

Catch them YOUNG….….. For the OLD

• Issues of Old age Situation/ Old age care need to be integrated into academic curriculaacademic curricula

• Curricular / Extra-curricular Activities / Value- moral Education

• No separate Classes. Part of the objectives behind forming of curricula / functioning of the school.

Value (based) Education…

If a man cultivates values in his conduct, he may still err a bit. But he may not be far from the standard of truth - Confucius.

Children of the Global Village – midst of a value Children of the Global Village – midst of a value crisis (Personal, Social, Cultural) .

Education for Employment, money making. NOT man making.

Providing Life Value models a must

Universal Values:

• Peace• Truth• Love • Non-Violence• Non-Violence• Righteous Conduct. • ……….. For / towards the

AGED.

Models…

Remember…• Imposing/preaching right or wrong – not

effective/ rejected.• Values are caught (from parents, teachers, • Values are caught (from parents, teachers,

peers), not taught.• Actions speak louder than words

Possibilities….

• Knowledge- Lessons on process, causes and consequences of ageing, old age care, family/social responsibilities, etc, at appropriate levels/ strategies (Story telling ?)

• Experience – Activities to interact with aged • Experience – Activities to interact with aged (Introduce ur grandparents, Day out with aged..)

• Value modeling – Skills and tools to evaluate / decide their actions

• A day / week for the Aged? (Intn day Oct. 1)

Old age in curricula…

• Better tomorrow’s for the aged

• Tomorrow’s ageing • Tomorrow’s ageing may be better

• Preparing for Active ageing/ Ageing with success

Greying gracefully

Thanks