Experts for enhanced anti-aging awareness

Health experts and rights activists yesterday sounded a note of warning against a trend of "neglect and abuse" of senior citizens in view of changing social pattern and issued a clarion call for increased awareness to soothe life of aged people, reports BSS.
"Something appears to be going wrong in the social system . . . neglect and abuse of elderly parents by their children appears to be a new social trend in Bangladesh," Dr Rahman Jilani, founder and executive director of London-based Sir William Beveridge Foundation (SWBF) told a discussion revealing a study report on socio-economic situation of the Elders in Rural Bangladesh.
He suggested use of mosques as centres for social works including the campaign for safeguarding the senior citizens while urged people to recall the heritage of Bengali society which put high emphasis on caring elderly parents.
Jilani feared that despite being a growing trend, the issue of "neglect and abuse" elderly remain to be unreported, barring required social and administrative intervention though such acts were punishable under the country's legal system.
Bangladesh chapter of SWBF, which offers voluntary care services to the elderly people in different countries, carried out the study among 1015 people in suburban Dhamrai villages which found that dementia to be a major problem of the elderly people beyond their awareness while they were also at risks of abuse and neglect by their close relatives.
SWBF country director Major General (Retd) Jibon Kanai Das chaired and moderated the discussion, joined by geriatrics, neuro psychiatrists, social workers, rights activists, civil servants and public representatives joined the function where permanent member of the National Human Rights Commission Kazi Rezaul Haque was present as the chief guest.
Frank J Schaper visiting fellow of Queensland University of Australia who is an expert on elderly people spoke as a special guest.  "Just imagine you have become 75-year old and then think what type of behavior you expect from others and shape your attitude," said Professor Dr ASM Atiqur Rahman of Social Welfare and Research Institute of Dhaka University. Rahman added: "It appears that aging (caused by neglect and abuse) is a byproduct of modernization".
Reputed nutrition expert Professor Dr Keramat Ali said 26 percent who walks along the Dhanmandi Lake were found to be suffering from cognitive impairment, updated term of dementia. He suggested regular consumption of six fruits, turmeric, cumin seeds (jira), coriander seed (dhania) and red chilly to prevent the trend.
Neuro psychiatrist Colonel Dr M Quamrul Hassan said three types of doctors - geriatrists, neurologists and psychiatrists were meant to treat the elderly people while in most cases the psychiatrists can cover also the tasks of two other disciplines in handling the dementia.  Speaking as the chief guest Haque said elderly people were in no way liability to society and rather "our assets" as at least they carry the experience of the past and share it with the new generation.

Experts for enhanced anti-aging awareness

Health experts and rights activists yesterday sounded a note of warning against a trend of neglect and abuse of senior citizens in view of changing social pattern and issued a clarion call for increased awareness to soothe life of aged people, reports BSS. Something appears to be going wrong in the social system . . . neglect and abuse of elderly parents by their children appears to be a new social trend in Bangladesh, Dr Rahman Jilani, founder and executive director of London-based Sir William Beveridge Foundation (SWBF) told a discussion revealing a study report on socio-economic situation of the Elders in Rural Bangladesh. He suggested use of mosques as centres for social works including the campaign for safeguarding the senior citizens while urged people to recall the heritage of Bengali society which put high emphasis on caring elderly parents. Jilani feared that despite being a growing trend, the issue of neglect and abuse elderly remain to be unreported, barring required social and administrative intervention though such acts were punishable under the countrys legal system. Bangladesh chapter of SWBF, which offers voluntary care services to the elderly people in different countries, carried out the study among 1015 people in suburban Dhamrai villages which found that dementia to be a major problem of the elderly people beyond their awareness while they were also at risks of abuse and neglect by their close relatives. SWBF country director Major General (Retd) Jibon Kanai Das chaired and moderated the discussion, joined by geriatrics, neuro psychiatrists, social workers, rights activists, civil servants and public representatives joined the function where permanent member of the National Human Rights Commission Kazi Rezaul Haque was present as the chief guest. Frank J Schaper visiting fellow of Queensland University of Australia who is an expert on elderly people spoke as a special guest. Just imagine you have become 75-year old and then think what type of behavior you expect from others and shape your attitude, said Professor Dr ASM Atiqur Rahman of Social Welfare and Research Institute of Dhaka University. Rahman added: It appears that aging (caused by neglect and abuse) is a byproduct of modernization. Reputed nutrition expert Professor Dr Keramat Ali said 26 percent who walks along the Dhanmandi Lake were found to be suffering from cognitive impairment, updated term of dementia. He suggested regular consumption of six fruits, turmeric, cumin seeds (jira), coriander seed (dhania) and red chilly to prevent the trend. Neuro psychiatrist Colonel Dr M Quamrul Hassan said three types of doctors - geriatrists, neurologists and psychiatrists were meant to treat the elderly people while in most cases the psychiatrists can cover also the tasks of two other disciplines in handling the dementia. Speaking as the chief guest Haque said elderly people were in no way liability to society and rather our assets as at least they carry the experience of the past and share it with the new generation.