Tehran University Medical Journal (Sep 1998)
Evaluation of social, economic and health requirements of elderly residing in the area under the supervision of Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Abstract
Increase in the rate of elderly population have persuaded the people and governments of the most developed countries to evaluated and confront the complexity of social, economic, and health issues involved. Increase in the number of aging people is commonly called the aging of society. Currently, in the countries of Western Europe (Germany, France, England, Sweden), the figure of the people over 60 years old comprises 12-15 percent of total population, and according to the forecasting estimate will reach to 25% up to the year 2020. In our country, based on censuses that have been carried out during the years of 1355, 1365, 1375 this figure is 5.12%, 5.25% and 7.67%, respectively. The number of 60 years old persons or over under the supervision of Tehran University of Medical Sciences was 135379 persons, in the year 1376. Due to these demographic changes that is arising from the phenomenon of aging of society, a considerable increase in the incidence of chronic diseases and health requirement of the elderly living in the society happens. This can be translated in terms of more demands in the affiliated fields of nursing, health care and treatment. This study has been proposed to clarify and evaluate the afore mentioned requitements. In this study, the following results can be concluded. Contrary to physical and psychological problems of adulthood, only 25% were aware of assisting economic, health and treatment institution that were available to them. These people were usually suffering from a single to multiple ailments that happen concurrently and ladies were complaining more in this respect. The interesting point in this study is the answer to the question of most basic problems of their life. Many elderly mentioned financial problems the most influential factor in their life. The figures concerning the responses to the question of basic problems of elderly for economic and physical problems were 37.7% and 18.3%, respectively.
