Proposal for Geriatrics and Gerontological Course in Degree Level
In
The Indian Universities
By
Chairman, National Conference on Geriatrics and Gerontological Studies in India
&
Secretary, Netaji Nagar Day College Computer Centre, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Description of the proposed degree Programme:
The proposed Three year Degree Course (General) in Geriatrics and Gerontology will train youths to face the challenges of nationally and regionally aging populations. The course will be built on theoretical foundation, supported by the practical application of service-learning, integrating teaching, service and research. Graduates will use their knowledge of Gerontology to improve the quality of life for older adults in retirement communities, health care settings, and other public and private organisations which provide services and goods needed by an aging population. Through course work that is both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, the B.A / B.Sc courses of studying in Geriatrics and Gerontology will prepare graduate students to be aware of all aspects of aging.
The graduates will be able to realistically consider careers involving work with elderly people through synthesizing course work in biology, health sciences, psychology, sociology of aging and uses of electronic medical instruments, as well as hands on experience with older population. The university degree programme of Geriatrics and Gerontology will be three years’ programme, with approximately 40 students admitted in the 1st year. Primary goal of the programmee is to improve the quality of life for the region’s older adult through the education and preparation of Geriatric and Gerontology professional who will enter work force. The Calcutta and Jadavpur Universities in West Bengal have a mission statement that indicates a dedication to serve the population of the country.
The educational objectives
We are proposing this course for the future of our nation. The universities acts, regulations, and guidelines have been considered at a time of framing the proposal. There will be semester system in the course. The proposed course would require a total of 8 semesters. At the end of each semester there will be an examination. The practical classes will be under the combined supervision of faculty and persons in business, government or non-profit organisation who will deliver products of services to older adults. The goals of practical classes are two fold: 1. to gain hands-on experience in the field under the supervision of practicing Gerontologists and 2. to gather research data that may be incorporated in a shape by each student to be applied for final project.
The projects will be designed in consultation with a Departmental Committee that will include one professional from other organisations that serve older adult plans.
Justification for the proposed course:
The proposed programme relates to:-
i) The institutional mission and strategic plan: the mission statement of all Universities in India are the same – ‘The Advancement of Learning’. And all the universities have contributed in promoting excellence in educational standard from their inception through the integration of teaching and mentoring with research and services. Action plans to implement this course include:
- The under graduate colleges of Indian universities will excel in the development of external relationships and services of external communities.
- The institution will serve the greater society wherever possible by assisting educators, public and private organisations and the general community.
- The institution will force new and mutually beneficial partnership with those to share its mission, with a special emphasis on its service region.
The proposed course will continue the mission of the universities by meeting the following goals:
- Educate a competent work force that will subsequently provide services and produce goods needed by an aging population in our country.
- Integrated teaching, research and service about aging adult.
- Build a Gerontology curriculum around community engagement.
- Pair academic expertise in gerontology in community partnership with regional service providers and businesses.
ii) Students demand
Netaji Nagar Day College and Netaji Nagar Day College Computer Centre jointly organized two State-Level conferences on Geriatrics and Gerontological studies in West Bengal under the aegis of U.G.C in the years 2004 and 2007. More than 100 students of the above mentioned institution participated in each of the two conferences. They were very much enthusiastic regarding the subject matter of the conferences and raised a pertinent demand. They stated that ageing population in India is increasing day by day and the elderly people are badly in need of help from younger generation in the form of care-giving. So universities should introduce a course which will produce gerontologists and not nurses.
iii) Social Aspect and Need:
The elderly people were the most respected members of the family in traditional Indian society. The adult children thought it their sacred duty and responsibility to take care of them. However the younger generation started drifting away from their joint family due to rapid growth of individualism. They got alienated and isolated from their root. Migration from rural areas also resulted in the growth of more nuclear families in towns and cities.
Despite several social problems it has been observed that the younger generation generally look after the elderly generation. But quality of care depends to a great extent on living condition and it varies in different communities. Some earlier studies (Nair 1972, Nair 1990, Nair 1991) focused on the living conditions of the elderly and found them living only with their children. It was also noticed that actually the elder respondents were from either extended or joint families with as many as three to four generations living together. Over a period of time there came a significant shift in the living conditions of the retirees. According to a researcher (Sumangala, 2003) they enjoyed living alone with their spouses or with their unmarried children and sometimes even living separately in the same premises as their married children. In case of rural elderly it was found (Nair 1980, Nair 1990) that most of them had one or all children living in the same village. Again it has been noticed (Nandan, Khatri, Kadian 1987) that the elderly who had handed over their property to the younger generation and retained no control over the source of income lost their role as decision-makers. In this case it was the elderly women who had to suffer loss of status more than the males. Their loss of status during any important decision making in the family was largely due to their non-remunerative roles. Many studies have focused on pensioners and retired persons. In their study of pensioners in Mumbai some researchers (Desai and Naik 1972) observed that loss of status in the family was not an important problem for most retirees. Menachery (1987), an observer, concluded that their loss of status is not brought about by retirement but in conjunction with other intra-familial and personality factors. From his study of retired persons in Udaipur, Sati (1988) found that on the whole retirees evaluated the relationship with their families as good.
The social status and respects enjoyed by the elderly population in their respective families largely depend on their education and occupational position.
It has also been observed that the urban elderly who are involved in day activities like assisting the spouse and other members in household activities, watching televisions, reading newspapers, taking morning or evening walks, interacting with friends or neighbours or assisting grand children in their school work feel less inclined to loneliness.
However, the idea that old age is an age of ailment and physical disabilities is deeply rooted in our mind. The elderly people suffer from multiplicity of diseases. Health condition of the aging people depends considerably on environment and social factors like diet, addictions, education, family and professional life.
Despites adoption of various policies, the existing medical facilities are quite inadequate with no clear strategies or schemes for the development of the health care for the elderly people. Researchers have felt that geriatrics wards, outpatient units and special counters should be set up in hospitals. They also have suggested creating mobile geriatric units and special counters in general hospitals for the elderly people. It is proposed that all state general hospitals should have an exclusive out-patient department and general ward for Geriatrics patients. The National policy also seeks to assure the senior citizen that they will not live unprotected, ignored and marginalized. It contains such welfare measures as financial security, health care, shelter, welfare, protection against abuse and exploitation, opportunities for productive empowerment.
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