Book On ELDERLY CARE' Released

By 1 2 1 News Reporter

Chandigarh 11^th August:- Many books are available in the market on 'old age' or 'elderly'. Most of these are sociological analyses of the situation of elderly. Many do not go beyond the study of some old age homes. Some are based on the PhD theses on this subject by the lead authors. This book does not fit in either of these stereotyped categories. Rather, it has deliberately adopted a mixed approach. The book has 63 chapters  with 435 pages. It has been published Century Publications,, New Delhi.It is priced @ Rs 800/-. It is edited by  AJ Singh, Dr Sukhpal Kaur  and Dr Jugal Kishore. Most of its leading 60 contributors are from  three apex academic institutions of India (PGIMER & Panjab University Chandigarh ; Maulana Azad Medical College,New Delhi).

The book touches upon the 'Health Promotion' aspects of elderly care too ! It discusses the concept of 'An Eledrly Friendly City'. It also covers "Insurance Schemes for Elderly".It deals with the issue of "Social Support for Elderly" as well as  with " Elderly Abuse". Currently raging debate on "Euthanasia" has also been included as a chapter.There are chapters like " Stress & Coping Startegies for Elderly'.Special problems of bedridden elderly are also discussed. Due weightage has been given to the take of Indian philosophy on old age.  Spirituality, yoga and Ayurveda approach to old age have also been illustrated.

Old age also ushers in loads of issues, some good and some bad, for the individual, their partners, family and the State.  With the population of the world aging fast, special policies for elderly welfare are the need of the hour. These are in different stages of evolution  in different countries.Every society had devised ways to handle the aged and the problem related to aging. Brief comparative analysis of the elderly care scenario in some Western countries has also been given in the book.This will provide the readers a bearing as to where do we stand in India as far as elderly care is concerned.

In modern society, the dominant role of family in elderly care is  gradually being taken over by the State. Over last 200-300 years, as the nation-state concept has emerged and matured, the role of the government in private lives of citizens has taken different shapes in different societies. To complicate the issue further, the globalization forces are set to change (and turn upside down) the equation between the State and the individual/family. This will also have gross implications for elderly care scenario worldwide.