PERCEIVED AGEING AND ELDERS HEALTH

AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL STUDY OF OLDER PERSONS OF RAWALPINDI

Abstract

Culture and society always an important factor that contributed to build the
stereo types rather positive and negative that affect our everyday life. As with other social issues
ageing is also effected the cultural and societal stereo types. Concept of old age was not the
only creation of old age rather it was started when they were young and strong concepts were
developed and concreted with the passage of time as he get older and older. Objective: (1) To
explore what Older Persons (OPs) perceived about old age. (2) To find the cross relationship
between their concept of old age and their disease status. Methodology: Statistically calculated
sample of 384 OPs were randomly interviewed by taking their verbal consent after introducing
them about objective of study. Structured questionnaire was developed for data collection
purposes. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS. Results: among 384 respondents 31.3%
perceived old age as illness and disease, 15.9% consider it stress and depression, 25.5% were
of the view that old age is phase of social isolation and ignorance, increased dependency
was also recorded 9.1% and less social participation as 11.7%. Hypertension was reported
by 8.1% of the study respondents, Heart problem in 12.8% cases and Diabetes in 15.1%
cases. Conclusion: Awareness of religious education along with role of social institution plays
the leading role to reduce the intensity of negative stereo types and helps elders to develop
positive concepts about their last age will be supplementary measure for active, and healthy
and prosperous old age.