Ageing is a natural process that everyone experiences as they grow older. Most countries designate old age as 60 years or older. Senior citizens face various mental and physical challenges as they age, such as health problems, loneliness from lost loved ones, and doubts about the present and afterlife. Their care requires addressing not just medical and financial needs, but also spiritual well-being. As members of society, we should support senior citizens through day centers, allowances, healthcare, and by engaging their expertise through advisory roles. Families also play a key role in providing senior citizens with emotional support and a safe home environment. Governments establish social security programs and reserve public services and amenities for senior citizens' welfare.

1. Our Responsibilities Towards Senior Citizens
Lesson: 3.8 (1st Period)
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2.  Every living being is born, develops, grows old
and dies. This is the truth. Ageing is a natural
phenomenon. It is an inevitable process. We all
have to be old one day. It is a process of gradual
change in physical appearance and mental
situation that causes a person to grow old. As the
birth is an event and the pregnancy a process of
it, old age is an event and ageing is its process.
Different countries of the world term a person as
old, after crossing certain age limit, depending
on prevailing socio-cultural norms and values.
Most of the countries of the world have declared
sixty years of age while it is sixty-five in Nepal.
Besides, wrinkled face, grey hair, loosed teeth,
weak condition of sense are other characteristics
features of old age.
Lesson: 3.8 (1st Period)
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3.  The senior citizens have to cope with various
expectations on the part of younger generations
concerning example of happy and peaceful life and
the way to prepare themselves to enter the next
world. Old age is the age of long and wide world and
life experience. The elderly people experience many
mental problems. Some are;
 agitation (anxiety) due to health problems
 sorrows caused by departure from beloved ones or
things
 doubt concerning the nature of present and next life.
Hence, the ageing, old age and problems of senior
citizen are much more associated with spiritualism or
spirituality rather than merely with the medical,
economic and social issue. While behaving with the
senior citizens, it is important for us to keep in mind
that one day, we too will be old. We too will lose the
strength, vigour (strength) and capacity that we have
at present.
Lesson: 3.8 (1st Period)
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4.  Change in the structure of skin (wrinkle,
stretches, etc.)
 Weak joints
 Grey and white hair
 Fall of teeth
 Heart an lung problems
 Difficulty in walking
 Loss of sleep
 Indigestion
 Short-temperedness
 Loss of visibility, hearing and remembrance,
etc.
Lesson: 3.8 (1st Period)
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5. Responsibility of society :
 Society should take steps to establish Day care centers or homes
for the aged to give physical protection, medical assistance and
economic security. These centers should be well equipped and
spacious with all facilities.
 They should be given due protection by means of old age
allowance (Brida Bhatta) this year 3000, accident benefits, free
medical aids (up to 1 lakh health insurance) by the government
and to ensure economic security for salaried people, provident
fund, gratuity (privilege), life insurance facility should be
introduced.
 Societies should engaged old person in different social activities.
Their expertise and skilled should be given respect by giving
appointment as advisors or counselors. The society should ask
their advice in matters related to mobilization of public property,
making plans at local level bodies such as Village Bodies,
Municipalities and other organizations.
 Societies should make some arrangement for establishing clubs
or religious institution where the old people can spend their time
in religious discourses and can get a chance to for-get their
owes.
Lesson: 3.8 (1st Period)
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6.  Family is the one and only place, where the
senior citizens get emotional care and affection.
Therefore, they should provide emotional
support to the elderly members of their families.
 The living rooms of the elderly should be well
lighted especially the passage to the bathroom
should not be dark and the floor of the room
should not be very highly polished.
 They are more emotional and very sensitive.
Therefore, care should be taken on our speech
and manner so that it would not hurt them.
 Family members should need time. They want
our presence rather than our presents.
Lesson: 3.8 (1st Period)
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7.  Social Security of Service Men: Security of services
health facility, provident fund, disability allowance,
etc are available.
 Social Security Grant: Health programmes for senior
citizens, widows, disabled have been conducted from
2052 from 2076/77 onwards, the allowance has been
made Rs 3000 from Rs 100.
 Food Aid: Food aid programmes such food for work,
Tiffin Programme, Nutritious Diet Programme, etc.
 Conservation Programme: Elderly Houses,
Orphanages, Conservation Programme of Endangered
ethnic groups, etc
 Reserved Seat on a Public Bus
 Rights of senior citizens (Article 41 of Constitution of
Nepal, 2015): The senior citizens shall have the right
to special protection and social security from the
State. Lesson: 3.8 (1st Period)
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8.  Planning ahead can help solve some of the issues
before the situation becomes a last-minute of
sudden illness or injury.
 Using available technology, we need to make the
home safe for elderly people and anticipate
(expect) the expenses of providing care in
advance.
 Making the home safer by installing anti-scald
devices to protect sensitive older skin.
 Keeping your loved ones active towards elderly
people, exercise can help protect older people
from disease and reduce their functional age by
10 or 15 years. It can even result in big health
benefits for those who have been sedentary for
many years. It can delay the need for care and
keep them away form disease for longer.
Lesson: 3.8 (1st Period)
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9.  It is better to keep an eye on their physical and mental
health. If he/she has pains or medical issues, take tem to a
doctor immediately. If the pains/medical issues are serve
enough, it is imperative that you take them to hospital and
see what could be done for him/her right way.
 Watching for signs of weakness, extra forgetfulness, lack
of direction or other unsteadiness is an essence. So we can
support mentally, socially and emotionally as if they need.
 The elderly people are particularly vulnerable to scam so
make sure to discuss these and protect them.
 Caring for your loved ones at home can help them to feel
better an maintain strong family relationships while
allowing you to spend time with them and monitor their
health.
 The State compulsorily has to manage facilities about
public vehicle, hospital, social programmes, elderly home,
etc. by making laws. It should be strictly implemented in
all over the nation for the better provision of elderly care.
Lesson: 3.8 (1st Period)
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10.  Write any seven importance of senior citizens
in our society.
 “Senior citizens are retired but not tired”.
Express your views in four points.
 Write any four ways how societies can take
care of the elderly people?
Lesson: 3.8 (1st Period)
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11. Thank
You
Lesson: 3.8 (1st Period)
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