Feminization of Ageing - Are we Prepared for Future

Abstract

The process of aging is natural. Ageing brings a reduction in physical, mental and social abilities in an individual’s participation in the society due to various reasons like physiological degeneration of tissues and organs, fatigability, economic dependence and social limitations. The problems of ageing are not homogenous at all places but they vary with country profile, gender, residence, socio-economic status, health, social security mechanism and prevalent socio-cultural norms etc. Living longer also means longer life in a state of declining health and disability. Worldwide the proportion of elderly (people aged 60 years and more) is increasing. India also is not untouched by this ongoing demographic transition. The proportion of elderly in India has reached 8.6% in census 2011 with a total population of 103.9 million in the country. This is second largest percentage of elderly globally contributing to 15% of the world’s total population of elderly. India now fits in the United Nation’s definition of an “Ageing Nation” where the proportion of people over the age of 60 years is more than or equal to 7 percent of the total population. The problem of this shift will also be affected with the fact that more than two-thirds of the world’s oldest (85 years and above) population are women. The elderly females are 9% of Indian population than that of 8.2% of males. It is due to the fact that life expectancy of females is higher which means they survive longer than their male counterparts. It indicates that there will be more elderly females in the country in future. This feminization of ageing population