Executive Summary The project titled, ‘Elderly’ Perceived Needs Assessment Survey (EPNA Survey)’ was conceived with a view of generating a baseline for HelpAge India’s (Hi) interventions in the states of Himachal and Uttarakhand. The other objective was to create a research base for advocacy for the older people as HI adopts a rights based approach to age care. The EPNA Survey is a cross sectional study into the health and social needs of the older persons, their health care seeking behavior and lifestyle factors affecting health. The study also seeks to find answers to how to address the needs of older people in their own understanding. The project involved literature review, devising the sampling plan and designing of the questionnaire. Validation of the structured questionnaire was done in the field by the local Senior Citizens Associations who also made it culturally suitable. Fieldworkers were recruited and trained to collect data in the field. The uniqueness of the fieldwork was that elders themselves were employed to interview the elders who participated in the study. The data was analyzed using Software Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The perspectives for data analyses were the social status, living status, health status and healthcare seeking behavior. The psycho social needs were expressed in terms of emotions experienced and concerns of an elder. The awareness about several issues concerning elders was assessed and also how they felt one could address their needs. The other angle examined was to compare the two hill states: Shimla and Dehradun. The proportion of elders living alone was comparable to the rest of the country as found by the TNS study for HI. However, the proportion of elders living with only their spouses for company is relatively higher probably because of the units chosen for survey being regarded as retirement destinations. In terms of healthcare, modern is the first line of treatment in both Shimla and Dehradun. However, in Dehradun, Ayurveda takes the lead as the system of choice for the second line of treatment. The psycho social needs are worse in Dehradun with anxiety and boredom being the most often felt emotions and the severity and frequency worse in Dehradun. The need for an adequate pension was overriding across the two stations. In Dehradun, the elders want an alternative medicine dispensary in their own area in the govt. system. In Shimla, the demand for recreation facilities came up from the urban areas. The elderly wish to continue working and the demand to create suitable opportunities was there across income categories.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 04:42:49 +0000
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