International Senior Citizens Day is a day dedicated to honouring the elderly, who have been officially recognized as "senior citizens" by the state.
However, these individuals encounter numerous challenges in various aspects of life. Many of them have worked tirelessly to establish their families and have made significant contributions to society.
Despite their valuable contributions, in their old age, they often experience discrimination and neglect in different areas.
While International Senior Citizens Day is observed worldwide on October 1, there is a growing concern about whether the situation for the elders has truly improved.
Senior citizens' struggles
“You don't have to go to old age homes to see what's happening to the elderly. Look around, you will understand.”
These are the words of Sabih Uddin (pseudonym), a 90-year-old man, who was sitting at the capital’s Ramna Park on Saturday.
He said he held prominent positions in government offices for several years and has been retired for quite some time now.
Uddin said both his daughter and son moved to a European country after they completed their higher education there. Both of them are married, and video call him and his wife regularly.
“The children are doing well. We talk and meet virtually. They say they are doing fine there, and we make an effort to stay well for their sake. But how can anyone stay well like this?” he asked.
Later in the evening, three men, aged between 60 to 70, were seen sitting at Shilpakala Academy. The conversation with them began in the guise of a story, with mixed answers when asked about what they think about senior citizens.
Mezbah-ul-Islam, 65, said: "We have invested the best days of our lives to earn for our children, for our families. They are now established and have their own children and families. Hence, they too are now investing everything they have for them.”
However, Mezbah noted that there is a fundamental difference between the two generations.
“But there is still a fundamental difference between the two generations. We lived in joint families with our parents and cared for them and our children equally. In the case of our children, I see almost the opposite. I am witnessing such a change not only in my family but in our society,” he added.
When Mezbah was saying these, Anwar Hossain and Zillur Rahman, who were sitting next to him, nodded in agreement.
Sharing his different experience, Anwar Hossain said: "We grew up playing with our grandparents. But now that the grandchildren live in separate houses with their parents.”
Zillur Rahman said: "The way we used to give importance to our parents, today’s generation doesn’t do the same. It hurts to see that.”
Ramiz Miah, 60, still earns his own income by driving a rickshaw on the streets in Dhak.
"I have a daughter, we got her married. She's staying with her husband's family. My wife and I live in a house. Our daughter sometimes visits us. My income runs my family. Sometimes, I can't help but think that life might have been easier if I had a son to share the responsibilities, or if I had access to an old-age pension,” he said.
Meanwhile, Afsar Gazi, 70, a cigarette seller in Rampura said: "I have two sons. They live with their wives. I live off of what I earn from selling cigarettes and Betel leaves. My sons sometimes visit, and this is how life is going. But it hurts to think about how hard I had to work to raise my sons.”
Expert’s take on the issue
Samia Alam, a depression and trauma specialist and psychosocial counselor at Grooming Freaks, said: "The common problem of the elderly who come to us is that they suffer from loneliness. This is the first and main problem. Even when they are surrounded by family members, as they often do not receive adequate attention or time from their loved ones.”
Furthermore, when elderly individuals live separately, it often leads to a sense of distance. They may even perceive that their significance has diminished because they no longer contribute to the household income, she added.
According to Samia Alam, when people are old, they often suffer from an inferiority complex. They often reflect on their life's achievements, failures, and contributions, as well as what they have received in return for their lifelong dedication to their families.
With ample free time on their hands, negative thoughts tend to exert a more significant influence, leading them down a path where they become vulnerable to depression, she further emphasized.
Samia Alam also thinks there is the emergence of a new challenge known as the "generation gap" within the elderly population.
"It's also a significant reason why relationships with grandchildren can become strained. There is a mental shift between the previous generation and the newer one, marked by differences in their ways of thinking,” she noted.
The present generation is influenced by various factors, including information technology, social dynamics, economic changes, political shifts, and more. These influences contribute to a divide between the current generation and the previous one, leading to friction in various aspects of life.
She further noted that there are numerous limitations when it comes to facilities and support for the elderly.