1.
Moumee Jesmin
– Research Scholar, St Xavier’s University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
2.
Panchali Dasgupta
– Clinical Research Coordinator, ABS Clinical Solutions, India.
Abstract
With the increasing elderly population across the world, few topics are more pressing than their mental and social health problems today. This topic is increasingly relevant given the global growth of the elderly population, as it addresses the mental and social health issues of the elderly in today’s society. This paper analyses the social and mental issues encountered by elderly people based on a survey of 100 elderly people in Kolkata, India, and a literature review from the Indian context, Bangladesh, South Asia, and developed countries. A well-structured set of 20 questions was developed to collect data on the emotional well-being, socialisation, family relations, and mental status of seniors. In examining secondary sources, one observes a great disparity between the West, which has developed mental health facilities, and South Asia, where the traditional family system remains the only form of care. In Bangladesh, the situation is becoming critical due to the lack of formal facilities for elderly care.
Keywords Elderly Mental Health, Old Age Homes, South Asia, Western Countries, Ageing, Social Isolation
