Social Gerontology

Abstract

The process of ageing begins when we are born. As we age, our brains and bodies expand, grow and mature. Over our youth, numerous elements, including our own personal qualities, our family history, how we are raised, where we grow up and who raises us, impact our development. Similarly, we continue to develop in our whole adulthood through our health, attitude and conduct, and through our relationships with our families, friends and surroundings. Therefore, conversations about ageing are short-sighted and limited to physical health issues and decreases. Aging is a complicated process that is impacted by many different societal and personal variables. Gerontology is the scientific study of ageing, including biological, psychological, social and ageing aspects. The variables that influence the way we age are wide and diverse: Biological variables include genetic history and physical health whereas mental health, cognitive level, mental health and general welfare are psychological effects and social elements vary from personal interactions to societally organised cultures, policies and infrastructures. In Islam, the elderly are believed to be very highly esteemed. But unfortunately, even though Pakistan is said to be a Muslim country the treatment that most of the elderly get is very dismal. This kind of bad treatment towards the elderly can be because of a variety of reasons. These can be either social or economic reasons. This research aimed to learn more about the vast array of problems faced by the elderly in the city of Lahore. The main aim of this research was to explore the economic challenges faced by aged men in our society. Analyse the life experiences and social problems of aged men and to investigate the health related issues that the elderly men face and what are the main causes of them. This research was qualitative in nature. I further utilized case study method to understand the nature of the work. The total sample size of my research was 30 participants. Rapport building is the first step of the fieldwork. In this step, the researcher makes friendly relationships with the elderly participants. He or she will look at their behavioral patterns and how they view and deal with the world around them. It can be a sense of mutual understanding with another individual or community. In qualitative research, key informants play an important role during fieldwork. The key informants did not consent to their names being used anywhere in the thesis. The participant observation method was used for the vi collection of data. Formal and informal discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted with the participants. The languages of the city of Lahore were Punjabi and Urdu. It is concluded that there are several challenges that the elderly face. These range from their economic issues like having low income, having pension as the only source of income, being dependent of the income of others, lack of job opportunities and high expenditure on health to social problems such as disputes within the family, decision making powers, lack of social participation, being isolated and not being able to get married in the old age. There are certain health related issues that are also faced by the elderly like having various diseases and not having any sort of medical insurance or money for getting proper treatment.