A Study on Needs and Services of the Urban Elderly

Abstract

Due to the breakdown of extended family for urbanization, increased market price, social inconsistency in livelihood, abusive family structure, various health problems, exclusion from income generating activities and lack of social safety measure create the challenges in livelihood of urban elderly. Purpose of the study refer to identify the socio- economic, physiological and psychological needs and also to explore the existing & expected services & recommendation for urban elderly in the family and community level. The study followed both qualitative and quantitative research method based on a survey of 120 male and female urban elderly who were convenient to question’s response. Data were collected from the aged 60 years and above (both men and women), Dhaka city, Bangladesh. In the study, need incorporates the problems and challenges who are having physical health problems, psychological challenges, limited access to employment and resources, living problem, socio- cultural neglect, right and power conflict, isolation and loneliness, insufficient Government and NGO support mechanism etc. The key findings of the study are family support structure for service provision of elderly is very much inadequate and inconsistence in urban community. GO and NGO has been taken some initiatives as existing service provision in Bangladesh like pension, gratuity, welfare fund, group insurance, provident fund from Government employee in retirement, Old age Allowances, Old Homes and Some sort of Social Safety Net programmes for elderly. The inconsistent support and very few number of beneficiaries in the community indicated the nature of service provision is not adequate. Some important recommendation of respondent reveals out from the study to create a healthy aged friendly urban. So the study would be the initiative to do something better for their proper livelihood through elderly need assessment and service provision by GO, NGO and community as well.