This paper attempts to identify the service requirements for the aged in Bangladesh. As aging is a matter of social concern, this study identifies the problems and limitations of the services provided for the aged. Secondary data were used to conduct this study. Findings show that being sympathized to the elders, some government and voluntary institutions are taking part to mitigate their sufferings that are mostly inadequate and cumbersome to the elders. This could be attributed by the disorganization of the services, social myths and prejudice, social structures, negative attitude towards the aged and value conflict. Expansion of community care services for the aged, social security programs, counseling, awareness campaign etc. are the few recommendations by which this problem could be addressed.

1. 1
Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3117272
[Md. Jahangir Alam, Md Ismail Hossai, Nazrul Islam, and MZ Mamun. (2006). Service
Requirements for Aged in Bangladesh. Southeast University Journal of Business Studies, Southeast
University, Vol. 2(2), Jan-June 2006, ISSN 1815-3262.]
SERVICE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AGED IN BANGLADESH
Md. Jahangir Alam
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology
University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000
Md. Ismail Hossain
Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work
Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet-3114
Dr. Nazrul Islam
Associate Professor, Department of Management and Business
BRAC University, Dhaka 1212
Dr. MZ Mamun, Professor
Institute of Business Administration
University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000
Abstract
This paper attempts to identify the service requirements for the aged in Bangladesh. As
aging is a matter of social concern, this study identifies the problems and limitations of
the services provided for the aged. Secondary data were used to conduct this study.
Findings show that being sympathized to the elders, some government and voluntary
institutions are taking part to mitigate their sufferings that are mostly inadequate and
cumbersome to the elders. This could be attributed by the disorganization of the services,
social myths and prejudice, social structures, negative attitude towards the aged and value
conflict. Expansion of community care services for the aged, social security programs,
counseling, awareness campaign etc. are the few recommendations by which this
problem could be addressed.
1. Background
Aging is something that happens to all.
It is natural and virtually inevitable
process. Medical treatment, health care
and continual innovation in medical
science may linger our life span but no
one can finally escape from it. Due to the
developments in medicalintervention, the
numbers of aged people have gradually
increasing all over the world. Since, the
elderly people loss their physical
strength and capability,they have to lead
their lives depending on others, which
demands more care forthem.
Aging refers to the aspect changes in
biological psychological process through
the transmission of life in childhood,
adolescence, adulthood and old age. The
term aging refers simply to the process
of growing older. It is the aggregate
result of the detrimental processes at
cellular, sub-cellular or organ level that
are associated with the passage of time.
It is the end of the life cycle. It is, of
course, a biological reality which
(despite medical intervention) has its
own dynamic largely beyond human
control (Mark Gorman, 1999: 7). Aging
causes a functional deterioration and
vulnerability and creates physical

2. 2
Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3117272
changes. With the increasing of his age,
older people become incapable to carry
out their normal functioning. Aging
comprises four dimensions: physical,
psychological, population and social.
Social thinkers are mostly concerned
about social aging because they can
contribute to the aged in this context.
Social aging is a multidimensional and
dynamic force. It includes the transition
into and out of roles, expectations about
behavior, societal allocation of resources
and opportunities, negotiation about the
meaning and implications of
chronological age and the experience of
individuals’ traveling the life course and
negotiating life stages (Morgan &
Kunkel, 2001:7).
2. Theoretical Perspectives on Aging
Sociologists give their special attention
towards the aging. They tried to explore
the problems by emphasis is on specific
aspect of aged. Although the major
sociological perspectives focus on
different issues, they all show, how such
seemingly individual problems are
inextricably bound up with the social
order in which we live. The existing
theoretical perspectives are briefly
discussed in the following section.
2.1 Functionalist Perspective
The eminent proponent of functionalist
perspective, Emile Durkheim, Talcott
Parsons, Merton and Nisbet conceives
that society is made up of interrelated
parts, social institutions, and each
institution has a function or role to play
in keeping the society running smoothly
and, together the institutions operate to
meet the society’s basic needs which are
referred to as functional requisites
(Curran, 1996: 16). If there causes any
change, society is thrown off balance
because its institutions have not had
sufficient time to make corresponding
adjustments. Consequently, society
becomes disorganized, functional
requisites go unmet and various social
problems arise. Coleman (1990) says
that social problems arise when society
or some parts of it becomesdisorganized.
(Coleman, 1990:13).
According to functionalist, Aging is of
course resulting from social changes that
specially occur in institutional system.
They argue that in the earlier aged are
nursed and cared by their families. In
traditional society, older people
supposedly enjoyed high status and
family members meet their physical and
emotional needs. But modernization
caused great changes in the family
patterns. Due to the increases in
professional mobility, family members
go their work places departing their joint
family and older people get deprived of
proper nursing.
Modernization also increased the
medical facilities instead of traditional
health care system that extends the
lifetime and enormously increases the
older people. On the other hand,
Modernization brings about change in
production system. Aged people are not
capable to adjust themselves with those
systems as they are losing physical
strength. So, financial crisis is
accompanied with them. Government
has been taking increased financial
responsibility for elderly but there is also
a great deal of disorganization that plays
a vital role for intensifying this problem.
From this perspective, aging problem
can be resolved or reduced through the
reorganization of societal institution that
traditionally cared for the elderly or to
develop new agency that can do so more
effectively. Aged homes, nursing homes,
elderly allowance, free medical care

3. 3
services, recreational centers, old
assistance programs and so on are few
example of such institutions.
2.3 Conflict Perspective
The major alternative to functionalist
approach to the study of aging isconflict.
Functionalist assumes that society is held
together by the agreementof its members
on a common set of values, attitudes and
norms. On the contrary, conflict theorists
assume that society maintains the
authority backed by the use of force. A
society always in conflicting situation
and such conflictsometimes is positive
for the society butmost often it leads the
society in crisis.
According to conflict theorists, for
example, Ludwig Gumplowiez, Karl
Marx, Frideric Engels, Gustav
Rozenhofer and George Simmel, society
is always in conflict through the conflict
among various groups in the society
based on their beliefs, attitudes, norms,
wealth and prestige. Our aged people are
also suffering from such conflicts that
are prevailing between our aged and
younger groups. Young groups hold
some stereotypes and myths that are
unproductive and useless, as they have
withdrawn themselves from different
societal roles due to their physical
deterioration. So, they always treat them
as useless, incompetent, irresponsible
and dependent and think that they are the
burden of the society. Young groups
always keep themselves away from the
elderly and they are reluctant to care the
elderly. Hence, most elderly people are
lonely, isolated and in a miserable
condition.
Young people are mostly dynamic. Their
values, ideas, and beliefs are different
from the older. They become
accustomed with modern culture. But the
older are comparatively static. They
never tolerate the culture that induces the
young. Older people always try toimpose
their opinions to the young that lead to
conflict. Thus, the older people perceive
them powerless and feel insulted that
increases their mental sufferings.
Conflict theorists suggest for taking
political action in response to this
problem.
2.3 Labeling Perspective
Another major theory on aging is
labeling. Though this theory is
developed to explain the deviance, it is
also a subject aging. According to this
perspective, social groups create rules
and judge the behavior of others
according to these rules. From this
theory no act is inherently deviant.
Deviance is always a matter of social
definition. Deviance occurs when some
members of a group or society label
others as deviant. Moreover, the groups
with the greatest power make the rules
and those with little power are forced to
accept them (Becker, 1963).
According to labeling perspective, they
are aged because they are labeled. Our
society holds some prejudices and myths
that aged are incapable, inefficient,
unproductive, and degenerative. They
are dependent. They have less
contribution to the nation. They are
sexually incapable, etc.. Such labeling
damages older people’s self-concepts
and may cause them to feel ashamed or
embarrassed. They have to face many
difficulties from these prejudices
(Curran, 1996: 241). As they are labeled,
they estrange themselves from their
respective institutions. Although they are
capable to serve, they are bound to
withdraw themselves according to rules.
Societal institutions are no longer
attached with them. In Bangladesh,

4. 4
majority of people retires at 57 years of
their age. Most people remain alive for
more 15 to 20 years after their
retirement. They are capable but
unproductive due to the lack of structural
arrangement. This situation is termed as
structural lag and productive aging.
Structural lag occurs, according to Riley
and her colleagues, because human lives,
including the timing of life courseevents,
change more rapidly than social structure
and institutions (Riley et al,1994).
2.4 Deviant Behavior Perspective
Deviance is non-conformity to social
norms. Deviance refers to behavior or
characteristics that violate significant
social norms and expectations and are
negatively valued or stigmatized by large
number of people (Robertson, 1980).
Anomie theory is the pioneer of deviant
behavior perspectives. According to
Merton’s anomie theory, deviance is
most likely occurred when there is a
discrepancy between culturally
prescribed goals and socially approved
means of achieving them. Merton argues
that culture determines the thing people
should want (goal) and the legitimate
ways (means) of obtaining these things
(Merton, 1966:194). This theory implies
that when a person cannot meet his goals
by structural means, he leads to commit
deviant behavior. According to this
theory, when the existing societal
institutions, e.g.; family, aged homes, old
age allowance, nursing homes, fail to
meet the basic needs of the older people,
they express deviant behavior like
suicide, beggary. Beggary is most likely
frequent in Third world country like
Bangladesh whereas suicide is in
developed societies. A study conducted
on aged beggar reveals that about 43.1%
people have no income source and about
86.3% are involved in (Atikur, 2000:
89).
3. Needs and Problems of the Elderly
With the advancement of age, some
physiological changes take place in
human being. Most studies reveal that
there is direct connection between
increasing of age and diseases. Among
those who have grown old, are followed
by symptoms of Arthritis, rheumatism,
high blood pressure and heart diseases
very often. Furthermore, there is a
diminution of sensory system functions
such as vision and hearing. Stress and
deprivation are also coupled with
deterioration of brain functioning. The
physiological and psychological aspects
of aging are so closely entwined that it is
impossible to separate them completely.
Social and environmental influences
strongly affect the body. Emotional
disorder aside from psychosis among the
elderly is also a considerable factor.
In traditional societies, older people are
treated as resources and they are
respected by all. They are used to get a
special care from their family members.
In twentieth century, industrialization
and urbanization have brought about a
dramatic change in traditional extended
family. The size of the family is
becoming smaller day-by-day because
migration from rural to urban areas
(Table 1).

5. 5
Table 1: Household Size in 1991 and 2001
Particulars March, 1991 Jan, 2001
Number of household (crores) 1.94 2.54
Average household member 5.5 4.8
Source: Preliminary Report, Population Census 2001, BBS.
crowded housing, limited financial
Many older parents are sending their
children out Bangladesh for study, job
and even for settlement. Some youngand
adult children are leaving their older
parents behind (despite the fact that their
parents do not like it) and settling down
either in the urban centers of Bangladesh
or in over-seas countries (Habibur,
1999:151). The ability of families in the
urban context is seriously impaired, with
resources and increasing employment of
women. So, the older people are living
separately from their children and
grandc
hildren. A study reports show that
about
55 percent are living in their own
arrangement (self), slightly more than 25
percent with their sons and around 11
percent with their daughters (Kabir,
1994: 33) Table 2.
Table 2: Living arrangements
Living arrangement Frequency (%)
Self 55
With their sons 25
With their daughters 11
Source: Kabir, 1994: 33
Psychologically they feel very
depressed, as they become isolated from
family members. Commenting on a
seminar paper, social and health status of
the aged in Bangladesh irrespective of
whether they resided in urban or rural
areas, a significant portion of the elderly
men lived in a solitary life, singly. More
than two third of the elderly men lived in
nuclear families where they were likely
to be the main breadwinners (CPD,
2000:15). In poor family, the elderly face
a problem in getting their food, clothing,
shelter, security, love and meaningful
employment and or leisure activities like
people for all ages. They pass their daily
lives, ending of their life, with fear and
frustration due to the lack of sufficient
social security programs. They meet
their basic needs depending on others.
Table 3 shows the old age dependency
ratio in Bangladesh.
Table 3: Old Age Dependency Ratio
From Census report Population Projection Report
Year Dependency Ratio Year Dependency Ratio

6. 6
1911 8.18 1995 8.9

7. 7
1931 5.82 2000 9.4
1951 8.29 2010 11.0
1981 11.72 2020 13.9
1991 11 2025 16.2
Source: Population Projection of Bangladesh (1975-2025) by G. Rabbani and S. Hossain,
BBS, 1981, p-38-50.
About 44.3 percent people live under
poverty both in rural and urban areas
(Table 4). So their family members are
unable to meet the basic needs of the
older people. The majority of the older
people in Bangladesh can not meet their
basic needs including food, health care,
clothing adequate shelter and access to
income or employment opportunities.
Food is the top priority need for older
people in both rural and urban areas
(Help Age International, 1999: 137).
According to a research report, 77
percent older people do not have enough
income to meet their basic needs and
71.4 percent are dependent on their
siblings for financial assistance for their
livelihood (Kabir, 1994). In well off
family, most elderly suffer from
psychological breakdown. Social
alienation, loneliness, tension,depression
are also associated with them.
Table 4 Poverty and Absolute Poverty According to Calorie Intake (%)
Type Area 1983/84 1991/92 2000
Poverty National 62.6 47.5 44.3
Rural 61.9 47.6 42.3
Urban 67.7 46.7 52.5
Absolute National 36.8 28.0 20.0
poverty
Rural 36.7 28.3 18.7
Urban 37.4 26.3 25.0
Source: Preliminary Report of Household Income and Expenditure Survey, 2000, BBS.
dependent, sexually incapable,
In recent time, Elderly abuse is
alarmingly visible in rural poor family.
Elder people suffer from the
mistreatment of family members and the
society. Our society holds some myths
and prejudices towards the aging, that
they are unproductive, unenergetic,
Intellectually impaired, inefficient and
unskilled and so on. Although much of
the early works of social gerontologist
was influenced by age bias, focusing on
the physical psychological and social
decline in the aged, most recent research
has been instrumental in debunking

8. 8
prevalent myths about aging and old age
(Kart, 1985:28). Their sons and
daughters, daughter-in-laws, spouses,
grandchildren and others abuse them.
Adult children are the most likely
perpetrators of abuse (30%) as compared
with spouses (14.8%). In most of the
cases, their young children make a
nuclear family due to the disagreement
of their wives with their parents. They
rarely communicate with their parents if
they possess wealth or property. Victims
of the elderly are most likely to be
female as they have no or little property
than their husband. Boudreau have
mentioned some forms of elderly abuse,
like, verbal assault, isolation, threat,
reduction of personal freedom, theft of
money or property, hazardous living
conditions, lack of supervision,
withholding of food, and inducement of
fear (Boudreau, 1993:145). National
Aging Resource Center on Elderly
Abuse (NARCEA) reports that most
frequent types of elder abuse (37.2%) are
followed by physical abuse (26.3%),
financial or material exploitation (20%)
and emotional abuse (11%) (NARCEA,
1990:1).
By and large, it is an un-denying fact that
the elderly people, all over the
world, both in affluent and poor
societies, are to survive in a situation,
very much opposed to their desire. They
feel very depressed as they pass their
daily lives singly. They also find social
attitudes hardening towards them.
4. Service Required for the Aged in
Bangladesh
Aged people are increasing in alarming
rate day by day. If we don’t take
initiatives, it would be more complicated
and fatalistic. According to U.N, the
world is experiencing an age quake.
Every month, one million people turn
into the age of 60. By the year 2001, one
of every 10 persons will be over 60. By
2030, several industrial countries will
have one third of their population over
60 (U.N, 1999). In Bangladesh, Eighty
thousand new elderly people added to
the over 60-age group every year
(ESCAP, 1999). Today, 60 years old
people make up 6 percent of the
population of Bangladesh. While this
percentage is smaller compare to
developed countries due to the large size
of the population, which represents
approximately 7.3 million people
(Samad, 1998) Table 5.
Table 5 Elderly Populations from 19911 to 2001(Thousand)
Year Total Population Elderly Population 60+ Perce
ntage
Male Female Total Male Female Total
1911 16106 15419 31525 704 671 1375 4.36
1931 18303 17281 35584 653 491 1144 3.21
1951 21937 19995 41932 1023 834 1857 4.4
1981 44919 42201 87120 2751 2154 4905 5.6
1991 57314 54141 111455 3298 2748 6045 5.42

9. 9
1996 62714 59411 122125 5262 4486 9748 7.98
2000 62735 60415 123151 NA NA NA NA
Source: Statistical Year Book 2000, BBS, June 2002, P-25-26.
6. Perceiving this dreadful situation of
Furthermore, projection indicates
that the number of older people in
Bangladesh by 2025 will reach at 8.5
million, which will be 10.1 percent of the
total population (BBS, 1981) Table
aging in Bangladesh, a number of
Government and non-government
organizations have taken someprograms.
Table 6 Projected Elderly Populations from 2000-2025 (Thousand).
Year Total Population Elderly Population 60+ Percenta
ge
Male Female Total Male Female Total
2000 65808 62301 127909 3544 3703 7247 6.18
2005 70662 67203 137865 4144 4375 8519 6.18
2010 75551 72012 147563 4901 5232 10133 6.87
2015 80526 76807 157333 5839 6212 12051 7.66
2020 85576 81179 166755 6998 7452 14450 8.67
2025 90403 87375 177776 8562 9059 17621 10.09
Source: Population Projection of Bangladesh (1975-2025) by G. Rabbani and S. Hossain,
BBS, 1981, P-38-50.
Traditionally, most of the aged people in
our country especially in the rural area
are cared and nursed by their family
members, religious institutions (mosque,
temple) and systems (Jakwat, Donation).
Still they are nursed and cared mostly by
their families as an oldest primary unit of
our society. Recently there has been a
change due to the breakdown of
traditional extended family pattern.
Moreover, most of the families in rural
area are living under poverty line. In
maximum cases, their family members
became unable to meet the demand of the
older people due to the extreme
poverty. So it is the immense need to the
rural aged poor for Government and
voluntary assistance.
After the independence, Bangladesh
government initiated some programs like
pension, gratuity, welfare fund, group
insurance, and provident fund for retired
government officials and employees.
Since 83 percent of the population in
Bangladesh lives in rural areas, only a
negligible fraction of the total elderly is
covered by formal pensions. Considering
the rural helpless, disable destitute poor
aged people, government have
introduced elderly allowance (Boisko

10. 10
Bhata) program in 1998 that covers 10
aged people in each ward and 403,110
aged people can be benefited from this
program across the country. The
different corners have largely praised
this program. Although this is a meager
amount and the recipients are very few in
numbers, this is a very good start and
pioneering effort by the government
(Habibur, 1999: 144). In addition to this,
government is imparting the services to
the aged, mostly women, through
vulnerable group development (V.G.D)
and vulnerable group feeding (V.G.F)
programs. Very recently, government
has set up six aged homes (Santi Nibas)
in six divisions for rendering shelter,
lifel
ong health care, medicare and
recreational services for these people.
Along with government programs, some
non-government organizations, like,
Bangladesh Association for the Aged
and Institute of Geriatric Medicine
(BAAIGM), Retired Govt. Personnel
Welfare Association, Retired Police
Officers Welfare Association,
Rehabilitation Center for Aged and
Child, Senakalyan Sangstha, etc. are
imparting their services towards the
elderly people in Bangladesh. Resource
Integration Center (RIC) and Bangladesh
Women Health Coalition (BWHC), two
member organizations of Asia Training
Center on Aging (ATCOA), are
implementing a pilot project on
development of women health and
status. Rotary Club, Lions Club, Girls
Guide, Zayeda Dream Care Mothers
Home, Apon Ghor, Nijer Ghor, Antore
Apon, etc also are taking part in aging
care services.
5. Limitations of the Service Providers
Though some initiatives have been taken
for the welfare of the elderly people,
there also have been some constraints
and limitations that are undermining the
services those are as follows:
i) Government is operating the
pension scheme for the retired
Govt. employees who are the
little portion of the total number.
Among them elderly women are
very little because women
experience higher rates of
unemployment while they are
deprived of being the
mainstream labor force, they are
set to traditional care giving
responsibilities. They are
dependent on their husbands’
benefits and receive a monthly
check equal to half of their
husbands’ amount after their
death. It is also mentionable that
they cannot get their pension
instantly. They have to wait
more than one year for
bureaucratic complexities to get
their pension and other
allowances.
ii) There is also seen a
shortcomings of institutions
where the elderly can invest
their savings. There were some
Government savings programs,
where they could invest their
money. These programs are
decreasing.
iii) A social security program has
become the backbone of old age
economic assistance in the
developed country. But we are
far away from that sort of
program. Very recent, in 1998,
Government has introduced
elderly allowance and widower
and destitute women allowance
program from where 403110
people can be benefited in each
program. Moreover they get

11. 11
only taka125 each per month
certainly the amount is very
little. Due to the paucity of this,
it can play a little role for the
development of the aged and
destitute women.
iv) Aged people mostly suffer from
various complicated physical
diseases. Though they need extra
care and services, there also be
seen a little Government
initiatives from where they get
the medical services. On the
other hand, due to our prejudice,
we think the cost for elderly is
meaningless, as they live no
more days. Doctors and nurses
are also less interested to take
their higher studies and
specialization in this field and
also be reluctant to care them
that also eventually increase the
sufferings of the older people.
v) Ninety five percent of the
elderly and ninety percent of the
disabled elderly live at home and
rely entirely on their family
members. The typical caregiver
for the impaired older is female.
Spouse caregivers are more
frequently women caring for
husband, more daughters than
sons care for elder persons and
more women than men assist
other relatives and friends
(Montgomery, 1990:36). When
older people can no longer care
for themselves and their families
cannot provide the needed
services, institutional care is the
most frequent alternative
(Friedlander, 1997:248).
Institutional services are not
sufficient here. Though some
institutions have been set up by
the government initiative, these
institutions often face a crisis in
absence of the elderly. Most of
the older people and their family
are not aware about the services.
On the contrary, the institutions
that are working for them are
most often proprietary that is run
for profit, they hold high amount
of service charge making most
of the people far from these
institutions. This institution also
experiences the shortage of
skilled manpower to care for the
aged. Professional knowledge is
mostly unavailable among them.
There is also found lack of
motivation and counseling in
both of the government and non-
government agencies.
6. Social Workers’ Roles with the
Elderly
Social work is a scientific knowledge-
based helping service for the
disadvantaged and problematic group.
Social workers face a number of
challenges as we move in to the 21st
century. One of these challenges is to
provide appropriate, timely and sensitive
social services to the elderly.
Professional social worker can do more
in elderly care. Professional philosophy
and training gives social workers a
holistic view of human problems and
comprehensive approaches to those
problems. They can help the elderly
more effectively. They can enhance their
helping hands towards the elderly in
policy formulation, conducting research
and designing services. Social work
advocacy is most viable option in elderly
care. Social work advocacies have two
perspectives as case advocacy and social
advocacy. Case advocacy is on behalf of
single individual whereas social
advocacy is for an aggregate population
of clients. It is mostly political because

12. 12
ethical responsibility of social work to
society is political. They can also involve
themselves in both teaching and
promoting social and case advocacy in
service to the elders. They can
effectively use their advocacy strategy
among the students to change their
attitude towards the elderly people. In
the 21st
century, as the number of elders
increases, serving future elders will
involve greater participation from the
private sector with the formation of an
effective public-private partnership.
Social workers will play a coordinating
role among corporations, universities,
senior citizen centers and members of the
aging network.
7. Conclusions and Recommendations
From the preceding discussion, it is clear
that aging is not only a concern for the
individual and his or her family; it is also
a matter of social concern. The existing
services are quietly inadequate and
insufficient. Disorganization in the
services, our social myths and prejudice,
social structures and systems, negative
attitude towards the elderly and value
conflict are also intensifying the elderly
problems. Proper action, mentioned in
the following, can reduce their sufferings
in a little.
i) Community care services(service
arranged by the community
itself) should be expanded to care
for the elderly. To ensure this
services, we have to take proper
steps to re-arrangeor set up new
and alternative institutions that
can take care to the aged, such as,
aged homes, nursing homes,
health complex, day care center,
recreational center, and so on. In
doing so, Government can make a
dialoguewith individual solvent
donors
and voluntary organizations and
should provide them technical
and logistic support in this
regard.
ii) A large scale social security
programs, like, pension, old age
allowance, health insurance, etc.
are inevitable to help the elderly.
iiii) Micro and macro level counseling
programs should be taken for the
elderly and community
respectively. It can help the
community to give up their
myths and inspire them to initiate
the services and also the elderly
people would be convinced to
take the services from the newly
introduced institution.
iv) Awareness campaign should be
expanded through the massmedia
so that the family members and
community be aware about the
existing services and be more
sympathizedtowards the elderly.
v) Government should take some
programs in making their
involvement and to use their
inner potentialities that would be
helpful to reduce their mental
sufferings created from
loneliness and isolation.
vi) Their grandchildren mostly abuse
elders. So our family
relationship should be
strengthened and give emphasis
on awakening children’s respect
to the elders. Family can make a
vital role to make them loyal and
dutiful.
vii) Elderly people feel free to stay in
their own residence because most

13. 13
of their neighbors are familiar to
them. Hence home-based care
should be given importance
instead of institutional care.
Considering this, Local self-
government can recruit ‘Paid
Home Helper’ who can serve the
aged people in their home. Some
developed country like, Norway,
Sweden, Finland, Denmark, have
already introduced such
programs.
viii) Government should adopt social
welfare policy and programs for
the aged. Social legislation can
ensure their rights. Research
work on this field is also
required.
8. References
1. Asia Training Center on Aging,
ATCO News, Issue-13, July200.
2. Abdus Samad, and M,SamadAbedin,
Implications of Asia’s Population
Future and the Elderly : the case of
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3. Atikur Rahman, A.S.M, Beggary on
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Dhaka University Patrica, Dhaka,
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4. Becker, Howord. S, Outsiders:
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5. Curran, Daniel. J and Renzetti,
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6. Coleman, James. William, and
Cressy, Donald. R, Social Problems,
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7. Center for Policy Dialogue, Report-
23, Aging in Bangladesh: issues and
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8. ESCAP Population Data Sheet, 1999.
9. Friedlander, Walter. A, Introduction to
Social Welfare, 5th
edition, Prentice
Hall of India, 1997, P-248.
10. See Frances A. Boudreau, Elder
Abuse, Family Violence: prevention
and treatment edited by Robert. L.
Hampton & others, Sage Publication,
1993, P-145.
11. Gorman,Mark (1999), Development
and the rights of older people, The
aging and development report:
poverty, independence and the
World’s older people, London:
Earthscan Publications Limited.
12. Habibur, Rahman. M, International
Year of the Older Persons and the
Cases of Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Journal of Geriatrics, Vol-36, No-
1&2, Nov-98 to Oct.99, P-144.
13. Help Age International, A situation
of older people in Bangladesh,
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Vol-37, No-1&2, Nov1999-Oct
2000, P-137.
14. Kabir, Humaun (1994), Local level
policy development to deal with the
consequences of population aging in
Bangladesh, United Nations, P-
executive summary –vi.
15. See Kart. C. S (1985), The realities
of Aging, Boston: Allyn and Bacon,
White Bourne (1990), Sexuality in
the aging male< Generation 14
(Summer): 28-30.

14. 14
16. Montgomery, R.J.V and M.M
Datvyler 1990, Women and Men in
the care giving role, Generations 14
(Summer) : 1990,P-36.
17. Merton, Robert. K, Social Theoryand
Social Structure, New York: Free
press (1968), P-194.
18. Morgan, Leslie and Kunkel Suzanne,
Aging: The Social context, Pine
Forge Press, California, USA, 2001,
P-7.
19. Population Projection of Bangladesh
(1975-2025) by G. Rabbani and S.
Hossain, Bangladesh Bureau of
Statistics, 1981.
20. Riley, M.W, Khan, R.L and Foner, A
(eds), 1994, Aging and structural lag,
New York: Wiley-Interscience.
21. Robertson, Ian, sociology, New
York: Worth publishers, Inc. 1980,
Jon M. Shepard, Sociology, New
York, West publishing company,
1981.
22. U. S House of representatives, Select
committee on Aging (1990, May 1),
Elder abuse: A decade of shame and
inaction (hearings), Washington DC,
Govt. Printing Office.
23. U.N, Department of public
information, and Coalition, 1999,
March-April 1999.
24. U.S Census Bureau, December 1996.