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Ageing is exactly the organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age. The state of Pakistan is caught in the complicated web of various socioeconomic and political problems. In such scenario, efforts to voice the rights of elderly seem a bit surprising and out-of-priority box. Objective: The paper attempts to serve as an eyeopener for the policy makers both in public and private sectors to interrelate the factors deemed imperative for taking concrete steps to redress the menace arising out of ignoring ageing and dropping it from the national development agenda. Materials and Methods: Structured interview schedule was developed to collect information on Older Persons' health, economic and psychological status. In this regard, an extensive questionnaire was designed and pretested vigorously. Study Design: This paper is extracted out of the base-line exploratory study. Setting: Rawalpindi city. Period: Oct 2013 to Dec 2013. Results: 69.3% OPs reported various diseases, 19.7% respondents never visited the doctor. 25.1% respondents' last visit to the doctor was between six months to more than a year. 15.3% visited the doctor for a medical treatment. Older persons with no permanent income made them more vulnerable to suffer various illnesses. Conclusions: Pakistan is not an aged-friendly country that even lacks a policy at national level for the welfare rights of older persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culture and society always an important factor that contributed to build the stereo types rather positive and negative that affect our everyday life. As with other social issues ageing is also effected the cultural and societal stereo types. Concept of old age was not the only creation of old age rather it was started when they were young and strong concepts were developed and concreted with the passage of time as he get older and older. Objective: (1) To explore what Older Persons (OPs) perceived about old age. (2) To find the cross relationship between their concept of old age and their disease status. Methodology: Statistically calculated sample of 384 OPs were randomly interviewed by taking their verbal consent after introducing them about objective of study. Structured questionnaire was developed for data collection purposes. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS. Results: among 384 respondents 31.3% perceived old age as illness and disease, 15.9% consider it stress and depression, 25.5% were of the view that old age is phase of social isolation and ignorance, increased dependency was also recorded 9.1% and less social participation as 11.7%. Hypertension was reported by 8.1% of the study respondents, Heart problem in 12.8% cases and Diabetes in 15.1% cases. Conclusion: Awareness of religious education along with role of social institution plays the leading role to reduce the intensity of negative stereo types and helps elders to develop positive concepts about their last age will be supplementary measure for active, and healthy and prosperous old age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Older Persons (OPs) are the knowledge and experience banks who hand over their life experiences to run society to the youth to further take up the society for the continuity of life and its progressive upward mobility. Objective: The aim of study was to explore the interrelationship of older persons' health care and social protection in the light of United Nations Principles for Older Persons in Rawalpindi city. Study Design: Cross Sectional Study. Materials and Methods: Structured questionnaire was developed to collect information on Older Persons' health, economic and psychological status. In this regard, an extensive questionnaire was designed and pre-tested vigorously. Place & Duration of Study: The data collection was done in various union councils of Rawalpindi city. The study duration was three months and lasted from September 2013 to December 2013. Results: Family is concerned about the welfare of OPs but the financial liabilities. In 82.8% cases children were found to be caring whereas in 17.2% cases kids were totally forgetful. 46% OPs were primarily nursed by their spouses and 34% by sons or daughters. 44.3% OPs still managed their financial affairs. In 66% case no secondary financial facility was provided by the government. 28.9% cases were those where OPs requested help from other sources. Conclusions: The Islamic Jurisprudence, Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and UN Principles demand the governments and states to intervene in the situation and make sure that the OPs are enjoying equal access to independence, (social) participation, care, self-fulfillment and dignity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]