We would love to work for the rights of children or women or for the rights of human beings and other living beings. One of the global issues which need to be addressed is the ageing. We should be aware that the number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide is projected to more than double, rising from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050. The number of people aged 80 years or older is growing even faster.
Globally, babies born in 2022 are expected to live 71.7 years on average, 25 years longer than those born in 1950. Population ageing is an irreversible global trend. In 2021, 1 in 10 people worldwide were aged 65 or above. In 2050, this age group is projected to account for 1 in 6 people globally. The number of individuals categorized as older working-age (55 to 64 years) is projected to surge from 723 million in 2021 to 1,075 million in 2050, and eventually to 1,218 million by 2100
Seeing the data we could find that people worldwide are living longer. Today most people can expect to live into their sixties and beyond. Every country in the world is experiencing growth in both the size and the proportion of older persons in the population. Common conditions in older age include hearing loss, cataracts and refractive errors, back and neck pain and osteoarthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, depression and dementia. As people age, they are more likely to experience several conditions at the same time.
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared 2021–2030 the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and asked the World Health Organisation (WHO) to lead the implementation. On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons (resolution 45/106). This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the UN General Assembly.
“Older persons are invaluable sources of knowledge and experience and have much to contribute towards peace, sustainable development, and protecting our planet”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message on the occasion. This year’s theme is “Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations”.
When we look at it as career perspectives then we have two common words in front of us which include gerontology and geriatric care. Well, gerontology is the field of study that focuses on the physical, mental and social characteristics of older aged individuals, and how these factors affect the aging process of these individuals. This is an extraordinary field in healthcare that first and foremost deals with the treatment and avoidance of diseases in elderly individuals. We should learn that India will have over 300 million elderly people by the time the country celebrates its 100th year of independence in 2047.
There would be more demand for people who can provide geriatric care. Well, geriatric care is the process of planning and coordinating care of the elderly and others with physical and/or mental impairments to meet their long term care needs, improve their quality of life, and maintain their independence for as long as possible.
There are institutes that provide training though the number of institutes is limited in India. One must have patience and will power to work in this field as there are many challenges working with the elderly. There is no alternative to a positive attitude if anyone wants to shine in this field of career.
Ranjan K Baruah
Advisor of Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department of BTC, Kokrajhar
bkranjan@gmail.com.
