Functional limitations in old age a study of elderly population of Dharmasala block of Jajpur District of Odisha

Abstract

Population Ageing is a process in which the proportion of older newlinepeople (60+) in the total population increases while that of the younger newlinepopulation declines. It is a transition from high fertility and high mortality newlineto a condition of low fertility and low mortality. Demographic data newlinesuggests that in 1950,. there were 205 million persons aged 60 or above newlinethroughout the world. Fifty years later, this number increased three times to newline606 million. In 2050, the number is projected to reach 2 billion (World newlinepopulation ageing, 1950-2050, population Division, United Nations). Three newlineimportant aspects of this population shift deserve attention. First: newlineprogressive ageing of the older population. The 80 or over age group is newlinegrowing faster than any younger segment of the older population. This is newline3.8 percent, twice as high as the annual growth rate of population over 60 newlineyears of age, i.e., 1.9 percent. Second: feminization of older life. The newlinefemale share of older population increases with age. In 2000, population newlineaged 60 or over was 81 male per 100 female. It is projected that by 2050, newlinethe global sex ratio of the aged population is to rise from 85 male to 100 newlinefemale at ages of 60 or above, to 81 male to 100 female at ages 65 or newlineabove, and 61 male to 100 female at ages 80 or above. Third: in the newline1 newlinemajority of poorer countries ageing is predominantly a rural phenomenon newlineand it is in the villages where the consequences of ageing are likely to be newlinemost felt (Libor Stloukal, May 2001). Of the 67 developing countries, in 53 newlinecases the proportion of elderly in rural areas is a greater than the newlinecorresponding figure for cities. A report suggests that as per 1991 census newlinethe ratio of urban to rural aged in India was 1:2 (Libor Stlou kal, 2001). newline newline