GERONTOLOGY
PRACTICE IN DAILY LIFE : Lt Col. (RETD) M.G.ATHAVALE : PUBLISHER : MRS SUMATI
ATHAVALE: PAGES 232 : RS 250/-
Lt Col. Athavale served the Indian Army for
34 years before he took up a second innings after retirement. He decided to
study the science of ageing and put the knowledge that he gained into practice
for the benefit of all senior citizens. For more than two decades, he has been
working for the cause of the elderly. He is a member of many associations
connected with Ageing and the welfare of senior citizens.
Elderly people in India as elsewhere in the
world face complex health issues and financial problems besides familial pressures,
loneliness and physical and emotional abuse. In our country, there is a large
rural population of senior citizens both men and women for whom many of the
benefits and conveniences available to the urban population are sadly missing. Importantly,
access to emergency health services and opportunities for second career are not
available to them thus compounding their problems which makes them financially
and emotionally very vulnerable.
The author is of the view that the age
range between 60 and 80 is the golden period of a person’s life. The author’s
interactions with this age group in his hometown Pune and his study of gerontology
and the many research studies conducted by him have convinced him that the
sunset years need not necessarily be gloomy and traumatic. This is the message
he has been trying to spread to the increasing number of senior citizens in his
hometown and elsewhere.
The book has two parts. The first part
explains the meaning of Gerontology (Study of old people). It is the study of the social, psychological,
cognitive, and biological aspects of aging. This
subject has not yet got the prominence it deserves in the field of education
and in medical care. Research on Gerontology which is significant in developed
Western countries is minimal in India where the demography is rapidly changing
with an expected senior citizens’ population of 320 million by 2047 from about
100 million currently. In this section, the author writes on some of the
research done locally on gerontology, the status of senior citizens of India
with respect to other developed countries and the role of senior citizens in
society. He espouses the need for a strong Senior Citizens’ movement to bring
about rapid changes in legislation and Government policy leading to betterment
in the life of the elderly and an Action Plan on Ageing in line with our age-old
culture. The elderly, says the author, are valuable human resources and their
strengths and experiences must be leveraged effectively for common good. The
author gives many examples of how most people are unprepared to face the sunset
period and that by proper long term planning, attention to finances,
maintaining good health, remaining socially active and pursuing studies on new
subjects and doing social work, a phenomenal change can be brought about in
one’s life which is bound to make the post-retirement period productive,
successful and satisfying.
The second part of the book is about
converting gerontological knowledge into daily life usage consistent with our
lifestyle, ethos and culture. Long term planning encompasses health planning (physical
and mental health), emotional, spiritual and social health, financial planning,
choosing the location where one wishes to retire, and importantly covering oneself
with medical insurance. The author has given practical suggestions for
effectively handling security issues, loneliness and elderly abuse. There is a
full chapter devoted to “Wills” and the concept of the “living will” and
another on “Day Care Facility”.
Geriatrics which focuses on health care of elderly people and aims
to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older
adults seems to be getting more attention than gerontology. While gerontology
is a social issue, geriatrics has commercial overtones. Both are vital for productive
and successful ageing and deserve equal importance and consideration.
The book has an
attractive cover page and may members of the author’s family have contributed
to the overall excellence of the book. The author has
provided a great deal of statistics on the elderly population and the
demographic changes that are taking place. This would be of particular interest
to students of gerontology and those who are doing research on this subject. Though
the book will have a niche audience as it addresses the problems of a particular
age group, it should be of equal if not more appeal to those who are in the
threshold of retirement and those who want to be part of a Senior Citizens
movement. Policymakers at the Centre and State levels would also benefit from
reading this book and they will hopefully initiate policies for the betterment
of senior citizens who are an ignored set of people today.
The red lights are
flashing and the alarmbells are ringing. The author highlights the plight of
the elderly with facts and figures and draws attention to the powers that may
be to take the warning seriously. Those policymakers who ignore the writing on
the wall will make the country pay heavily in the years to come with unpreparedness
for facing a mammoth demographic challenge.
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