Older People and Social Security System in Nepal

Research Article

Gerontol Geriatr Res. 2022; 8(2): 1075.

Older People and Social Security System in Nepal

Chalise HN¹*, Bohora PK² and Khanal TR³

¹Central Department of Population Studies, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal

²Faculty of Education, Sanothimi Campus, Bhaktapur, Nepal

³Tahachal Campus, Faculty of Education, Tahachal, Kathmandu, Nepal

*Corresponding author: Hom Nath Chalise, Central Department of Population Studies, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur Nepal

Received: August 24, 2022; Accepted: September 27, 2022; Published: October 04, 2022

Abstract

Population aging is the global phenomenon irrespective of level of development of the country. But, there is dearth of research focusing different issues of elderly in Nepal. This paper discusses aging trends and some aging issues of Nepal focusing the social security in the changing social context of Nepal. For the purpose of this paper research article found through google search and freely available to download or paper author has access is used. Population aging is directly related with the fertility and mortality of the country. Latest trend shows both fertility and mortality are decreasing and average life expectancy as well as proportion of older population is increasing in Nepal. Statistics shows elderly population proportion is increasing and expected to reach 10% of total population in the 2021 census. Aging has resulted problems on social-cultural, economic, demographic, labour, health and care of the elderly. The social security of the elderly is major concern with aging population. But the government has not given adequate priority to the issues of elderly and their social security as well. Government needs to identify the issues of elderly and need to develop sustainable policies for the quality-of-life increasing aging populations.

Keywords: Aging trend; Elderly population; Social security; Quality of life, Health issues; Social-cultural issues; Nepal

Background

Population aging is a global issue of importance. Population ageing has been recognized as one of the four global demographic “megatrends”—population growth, population ageing, international migration and urbanization—with continued and lasting impacts on sustainable development. Over the next three decades, the global number of older persons is projected to more than double, reaching over 1.5 billion persons in 2050. All regions will see an increase in the size of their older population between 2019 and 2050 [30]. All countries in the world are are in the midst of this aging revolution— some are at its early stages and some are more advanced. Aging is taking place irrespective of level of development of the country [10]. Study shows aging is going to take place rapidly in South Asia in the coming decades [30].

Since the International Plan of Action on Ageing in Vienna, Austria in 1982, interest in the study of the elderly has increased. Twenty years later, the Second World Assembly on Ageing6 was held in Madrid, Spain in 2002 [33]. The Second World Assembly outlined an action plan at national and regional levels to increase awareness of aging issues and develop concrete plans of action for aging. However, advances have been few and far between in much of the developed world and virtually overlooked in developing countries like Nepal [6]. The rapid aging of populations around the world presents an unprecedented set of challenges: shifting disease burden, increased expenditure on health and long-term care, labor-force shortages, dissaving, and potential problems with old-age income security [31].