A TERM PAPER REPORT ON OLD AGE: PHYSIOLOGICAL

AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS

SUBMITTED BY

GROUP ‘A’

BPH 5th SEM, 14th BATCH

SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQURIEMENT IN

SUBMITTED TO

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

NATIONAL ACADEMY FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES

PURBANCHAL UNIVERSITY

OLD BANESHWOR, KATHMANDU

2022

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NAME OF GROUP MEMBERS

S. N NAME SYMBOL NO. SIGNATURE

1. Asmit Katuwal 650782

2. Diwas Kumar Sharki 650786

3. Karuna GC

4. Susmita Kumari Singh 650812

5. Aakriti Yadav 650781

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 APPROVAL SHEET

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor degree in Public Health from
National Academy for Medical Science (NAMS), Purbanchal University, Nepal. This report
entitled, “A TERM PAPER OLD AGE: PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
NEEDS” who hereby recommended for acceptance and approval for final approval.

Proposal Approval

__________________ ___________________

Mrs. Vijaya Laxmi Shrestha External Examiner

Supervisor (Mr. /Ms. _______________)

NAMS College Date: _____________

Date: ______________

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

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We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all those who provided us the possibility
to complete this report. We would like to give our gratitude to Vijaya Lakshmi Shrestha our
teacher and term paper supervisor whose contribution in stimulating suggestions and encour-
agement helped us to coordinate our project especially in writing this report.
Furthermore, we would also like to acknowledge with much appreciation the crucial role of the
principal Mr. Ram Bahadur Shrestha, who gave the permission to use all required equipment
and the necessary materials to complete the task. We would like to specially thank my class-
mates and friends who helped us in doing this report. We would also express our thanks to
head of Public health department Mrs. Vijjya Laxmi Shrestha. We have to appreciate the
guidance given by other supervisor as well as the panels especially in our report presentation
that has improved our presentation skills thanks to their comment and advices.

Group-A

Bachelor in Public Health

5th Semester, 3nd Year, 14th Batch

National Academy For Medical Science

ABBREVIATIONS

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BPH=Bachelor of Public Health

NDHS=Nepal Demographic and Health Survey

UN= United Nation

WHO=World Health Organization

GO= Governmental Organization

INGO= International Non-Governmental Organization

NGO= Non-Governmental Organization

CBS=Central Bureau of Statistics

MoHP=Ministry of health and population

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 ABSTRACT

Old-age is usually the period between retirement and death. It is a period of physical and so -
cial loss, loss of children, spouse, friends, job, property and physical appearance. The needs
and problems of the elderly vary significantly according to their age, socioeconomic status,
health, living status and other such background characteristics. In 2020, there are an esti-
mated 727 million persons aged 65 years or over worldwide.
Needs of aging can be addressed in physiological, psychological and social needs. As of
2019, over 2 million people living Nepal are aged over 60 which is almost 9% of the coun-
try's total populations. The proportions of older people is expected to double to 18.6% in
2050 with 36 million people aged over 60. The Government of Nepal has introduced the uni-
versal old aged allowances program since 1994/95. It is a non-contributing social assistance
to the all-Nepali elderly citizens. In the context of Nepal, old aged allowances at starting
point was Rs. 100 and increased to Rs. 500, Rs. 1000, 1500 and Rs. 2000 and now Rs. 3000
to all elderly citizens, with 70 years or more. Similarly, government has launched many
schemes for the safety and welfare of elderly people. Moreover, every young population
should fulfill their responsibility towards their elderly people.

TABLE OF CONTENT

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NAME OF GROUP MEMBERS.................................................................... 2
APPROVAL SHEET...................................................................................... 3
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.................................................................................4
ABBREVIATIONS......................................................................................... 5
ABSTRACT.................................................................................................... 6
CHAPTER 1........................................................................................................ 8
1.1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................... 8
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY..................................................................... 9
1.3 METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................... 9
CHAPTER 2………………………………………………………………………………………............10
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION......................................................................... 10
CHAPTER 3...................................................................................................... 14
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS…..............................................14
REFERENCES.................................................................................................. 15

CHAPTER 1

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Old age is the final phase in the life of human being. Among several stages, two stages are of
almost significance in the life of human being. The first stage is childhood and the second
stage is old age or the period of aging, which needs a lot of adjustment and care. Therefore, it
is a very critical period in the life of the human being. According to Malcolm H. Morris, the
old have been defined as a dependent group whose members could not and should not work
and who need economic and social assistance that – the younger population is obliged to
provide. Old age is usually the period between retirement and death. It is a period of physical
and social loss, loss of children, spouse, friends, job, property and physical appearance.
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According to Robert Kastenbaum “Oldness is however a state of mind when the person
express his incapacity to work”. The transition of being a fully employed member of the
community to being retired is called old age a period that is the mostly painful period of life.
In course of time, there is a decline in the number of functioning cells of various organs of
the old people, so that the performance is reduced. The aged have two important needs
namely Physiological and psychological.

Physiological needs are the base of the hierarchy of needs .These are the biological
requirements for human survival. The physiological needs are sufficient nutritious food, clean
clothing, comfortable housing, sound sleep, good health and sanitation, occupational
adjustment, adequate income, leisure and good transportation service.

Psychological needs are satisfaction of various psychological needs and experiences, relative
freedom from unpleasant tension and anxieties as well as free from financial burden. They
need more love, affection, sympathy, so that they do not feel neglected but respected. They
need good companion and part-time employment so as to keep them engaged.

The needs and problems of the elderly vary significantly according to their age,
socioeconomic status, health, living status and other such background characteristics. In
2020, there are an estimated 727 million persons aged 65 years or over worldwide. This
number is projected to more than double by 2050, reaching over 1.5 billion persons. The
share of older persons in the global population is expected to increase from 9.3 per cent in
2020 to 16.0 percent in 2050.

Sign of Old age

The distinguishing characteristics of old age are both physical and mental. The marks of old
age are so unlike the marks of middle age that legal scholar Richard Posner suggests that, as
an individual transitions into old age, he/she can be thought of as different persons "time-
sharing" the same identity. These marks do not occur at the same chronological age for
everyone. In addition, they occur at different rates and order for different people. Marks of
old age can easily vary between people of the same chronological age. A basic mark of old
age that affects both body and mind is "slowness of behavior". This "slowing down principle"
finds a correlation between advancing age and slowness of reaction and physical and mental
task performance. However, studies from Buffalo University and Northwestern University
have shown that the elderly are a happier age group than their younger counterparts are.

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 1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
GENERAL OBJECTIVE:

• To understand concept, Physiological, and Psychological needs of old age and aging sta-
tus in Nepal.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

• To understand the concept, and definition of aging.

1.3 METHODOLOGY
This study is a review based on secondary data source. Most of the data and information
are carried out by different websites, research and articles, WHO, census report and Na-
tional demographic and Health survey conducted by MoHP.

CHAPTER 2

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

Aging in Nepal

Nepal has adopted the definition of WHO, defined old as a person, above 60 years of age,
Aging is an emerging issue in Nepal. The older population of the country is increasing both
in terms of absolute number and as proportion of total population. It is accounted that 2.1
million elderly inhabitant constitutes 8.1 percent of the total population in 2011, which
increased from 5.8 percent in 1991. The Social Security System of Elderly Population in
Nepal elderly population in Nepal is growing steadily at the rate of 3.77 percent per year
which was three times higher than the annual population growth rate (1.35%) during 2001—
2011.

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Nepal has introduced a non-contributory social pension scheme since 1994/95 to ensure the
social security to the elderly citizens. The rate of Old Age allowance at the introduction Rs
100 and increased to Rs.500, Rs. 1000, Rs 2000 and now Rs.3000 to all elderly people above
70 years. This system is unique to Asia being the primary universal pension scheme in the
region and a model for other developing countries. The primary motive behind this scheme is
to promote long established tradition of taking care of elderly by their family. All the Policy,
Acts and Regulation for elderly have focused special attention on the promotion of the family
support for the well-being of the older people.

The government has pension scheme for retired public servants and their widows and
children. Old Age Home and day Care Centre: Established Pashupati Bidharasram and
Ashram for old people, day care center. Establishment of Senior Citizen Welfare Fund at the
Central level and District Senior Citizen Welfare Committee in the leadership of DDC and at
the VDC/Municipality The government has adopted The Jeshtha Nagarik Swasthya Upachar
Sewa Karyakram Karyanyowan Nirdeshika 2061 and has provisioned to establish Jeshtha
Nagarik Swashthopachar Kosh in each district to deliver health care services to the elderly.
Efforts will be made to make available of some concession in the fees for treatment in private
nursing homes and clinics. Started Social Service unit in 8 hospitals and geriatric ward in
three hospitals up to zonal hospitals, free health services for the treatment of some diseases.
Mobilization of NGO or Civil Society and coordinating with other agencies such as GOs,
UN, INGOs and NGOs a for welfare of senior citizen in Nepal. In public transportations, the
people above the age of 60 years are legally provided the discount of 50%.

Table 1

Nepal has experienced lower birth rate, and declining mortality rate with increasing life
expectancy. Similarly, other indicators of aging like old age dependency ratio, index of aging
and median age of population are gradually increasing over the year, which subsequently will
result in a greater proportion of elderly individuals in the population.

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Table 2

Nepal is in the phase of age structure transition with a large proportion of young working age
population. This phase is also commonly known as the phase of youth bulge, demographic
dividends or the window of opportunity. This present phase and the consistent increment in
the share of older age population over the year signifies that the elderly population will
continue to increase in the years to come. Nepal's population divided into three broad age
categories are presented in Table 3.

Table shows more than half of the population falls in the 15-59 years category, which con-
forms that the Nepali population is primarily young. The large proportion of youth also indi-
cates that the population is gradually aging over the years. In a few decades, the youth will
shift into the category of 60 and above, thereby increasing the proportion of the aged popula-
tion. Thus the decreasing population of children and the increasing proportion of the working
age and thee older population affirms that Nepal is undergoing age structure transition and
the population is gradually aging.

Physiological Need:

Food: Diet provided to the old age people should be nutritious, light, soft, palatable, and
easily digestible in small quantities at short intervals. Plenty of liquid should be given in

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between meals provided there is no fluid restriction. Food should not be rich in fat and
carbohydrate but in protein, minerals and vitamins. The food should be well cooked and
served with love and affection because elderly are very sensitive and choosy. The selected
food for elderly are milk, curd, cheese, egg, green leafy vegetables, pulses, ragi as they
contain calcium in large amount needed for elderly.

Clothing: The old people should be allowed to choose their own clothing. They should be
given freedom to dress themselves if they are capable of doing this. However, they should be
extended necessary assistance if they require. They should use loose cotton clothes, which are
neat and clean and comfortable as well.

Housing: The rooms they use should be well furnished, well ventilated with attached
commode latrine, toilet and bathroom. The floor should neither be too much polished nor
slippery. It should always be kept dry to avoid any possible accident. The rooms should be
beautifully decorated with good light arrangement, simple and comfortable furniture that are
suitable for the age.

Sleep: Comfortable soft and clean bedding with mosquito net should be provided to old
people. Their bed-sheet should be changed every 3 to 4 days. They should not be left alone in
the room at night. A side table should be kept near their bed for keeping spitting pot, glass
and water and medicine, torch light etc.

Health and Sanitation: Old people are easily prone to cold, pneumonia, bronchitis,
rheumatic fever, blood pressure and heart disease. Physical illness is the most obvious
problem. Therefore, care should be taken to prevent heart problem. Blood pressure, pulse
beat should be checked frequently. Their sanitary equipment like spitting pot, bedpan, comb,
brush should be washed properly with suitable disinfectant. Their hair, nails, eyes and teeth
should be cleaned properly.

Psychological Need:

Besides physical care, they need psychological care as well. In the old age, their nature
changes and they develop the tendency of irritation. They feel insecure as their lives become
miserable due to the loss of their spouse. It is therefore desirable that family members should
adjust with them and listen to all their grievances with care and attention.

They should discuss with elderly for one to two hours each day. Their words should be given
due weightage. They should be kept in high esteem and they should be respected by the
family members as far as possible. Their demands for love and affection should be fulfilled

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and their voice should be counted in all major decisions of the family. Grand children should
be motivated to foster more love and affection and respect for the elderly. The grandchildren
instead of the servant should be encouraged to look after them. Care should be taken to see
that they do not feel neglected, unwanted or rejected in the family as well as in the society.
Their financial needs should be satisfied by the family members.

The duties of family and society are to give more love, affection and sympathy to geriatrics.
The society has to carry out many developmental tasks for the geriatrics by which they can
pass their stage of life in a comfortable and relaxed manner. All possible majors should be
taken to keep them in cheerful mood.

CHAPTER 3

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1 CONCLUSION:

Above we have understand the concept, physiological and psychological needs of aging and
its status in Nepal. The older population of Nepal is increasing both in terms of absolute
number and as proportion of total population. Nepal has experienced lower birth rate, and
declining mortality rate with increasing life expectancy. Due to this Aging has become
emerging issue in Nepal. The primarily needs of older people are Physiological and
Psychological needs which need to be addressed for the proper welfare of elderly people.

3.2 RECOMMENDATIONS:

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Aging is the final stage of life. The needs and problems of older people have to be
addressed as well. They are our grandparents and pride of our nation. Therefore, I
will like to give following Recommendation:-

 All the countries should come forward jointly addressing the needs
and safety of older people.
 Food, health and other psychological needs should be taken in
priority rather than just advocating on their issues.
 Country should come up with different plans and policies like social security scheme,
elderly rights, provision of discounts in public places, concessions on fare, free
availability of medicines, shelter and old-age homes for needy one etc.

REFERENCES

 https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/india-2/old-age-physiological-care-and-
psychological-need/47680
 https://www.who.int/health-topics/ageing
 https://www.mohp.gov.np/
 https://www.dhsprogram.com/

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