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This study examined the gender differences in sleep problems among older adults in India. We also examined the role of socioeconomic status in determining the gender differences in sleep. Individuals aged 50 years and above (N = 6560) from the first wave of WHO's Study on global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) – 2007 were studied using bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. In the fully adjusted regression model, older women in India were 46% more likely to report sleep problems than men. Educated and wealthier older adults had fewer sleep problems compared to their counterparts. Further, the gender difference in sleep problems is largely driven by lower socioeconomic status. There are no gender differences in sleep problems among older adults in 6–9 and 10+ years of schooling as well as middle, fourth and fifth wealth quintile (richest) categories. Gender differences could be explained further with women's mental health (cognitive function, depressive symptoms, stress etc.) and managing their overall physical health and multiple roles demands at the household level in India. Interventions focusing on women in lower socioeconomic strata will be beneficial to reduce the sleep problems in the context of the population ageing in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Age is one of the predominant reasons for perceived discrimination in developing world where older people are considered a non-contributing burden. The present study explores the prevalence and correlates of perceived age discrimination among older Indian adults.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a large representative survey data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India conducted during 2017-18. Participants included 31,464 older adults aged 60 years and above. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to test the associations between selected background characteristics and perceived age discrimination.Results: The analysis revealed that 10.33 percent of older adults perceived their age as the main reason for discrimination, which was 11.86% among the oldest-old. Older adults with more than 10 years of schooling were 32% [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.68; confidence interval (CI): 0.51-0.89] less likely to perceive age discrimination compared to their uneducated counterparts. The odds of perceived age discrimination were higher among older adults who earlier worked [AOR: 1.73; CI: 1.46-2.05] and currently working [AOR: 1.61; CI: 1.31-1.96] as compared to those who never worked. Further, having difficulty in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) [AOR: 1.43; CI: 1.25 -1.65] and having one chronic condition [AOR: 1.16; CI: 1.02 -1.34] were associated with increased odds of perceived age discrimination among older adults.Conclusion: Older adults with lower socioeconomic status, currently working, having more chronic conditions, difficulty in IADL and belonging to rural areas were found to perceive higher age discrimination than their counterparts. The findings of the study have important implications for policy makers with respect to strategies such as making the vulnerable populations aware of their legal rights that help in the prevention of age-based discrimination in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health inequalities have been observed among older people in many developing countries, particularly among those with least social protection and low socio-economic (SES) status. This study attempted to examine effects of SES on the health of older adults, and related gender differences, in two rural sub-districts - Matlab, Bangladesh and Vadu, India. The study utilised the WHO SAGE-INDEPTH Wave 1, 2007 Matlab, Bangladesh and Vadu, Pune District, India datasets. Both gender and SES indicators were strongly associated with all health indicators of older adults in the Bangladesh site, whereas in India, education and asset quintiles were not consistently associated with self-rated health, quality of life and functional ability score but gender was consistently associated with all health indicators except the quality of life score. The SES-health gradient was noticeably higher amongst older adults in Matlab, Bangladesh than in Vadu, India. Education was also found to be an important predictor of health outcome in both sites. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Population ageing has emerged as an alarming problem in the world. It has been a major concern for long in the developed world. But it is now engulfing the developing countries as well, including India on a very rapid pace for which these countries, given their socio-economic conditions, are not well prepared. The population of elderly has rapidly increased in India in the recent years and is going to take a quantum jump in the coming decades. Realising the increasing magnitude of elderly population and OADR and urgency of the problem, the Government of India has already formulated a national policy on elderly population which is very noble and progressive in intentions and objectives and comprehensive in vision and scope. It identifies the problems of the elderly, the associated challenges and the strategies for meeting their needs. But the policy is very weak on several substantive points. The present paper describes the ageing scenario in India, critically assesses the affirmative policy of Indian state on the elderly persons and gives significant suggestions for urgently reorienting the policy to fully ensure welfare of the elderly in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of this study is twofold, first, to estimate the prevalence of multiple disabilities among the older population in India; second, to examine the socio economic determinants of multiple disabilities among the older population. Design/methodology/approach – This study used the India Human Development Survey Data (IHDS) for the analysis. Bivariate, multinomial logit regression and multiple classification analysis are used as methods for the study. Disability score is constructed for measuring the multiple disabilities among the older population. Findings – The results of disability prevalence show, a high prevalence of multiple disabilities among the older population in India. Further, disability prevalence varies considerably by age and socio-economic characteristics of the older population. Among all the socioeconomic factors, economic factor emerged as a dominant predictor of prevalence of disabilities among the older population in India. The findings of the dimension specific assessment reveal that the disability in walking is the highest among all the disabilities. The distribution of disabled older population by living arrangement and the social network indicates that a large proportion of disabled older population lives with their children. In addition, only a few of the disabled older people have social networks. The distribution of disabled older people by employment and financial source reveal that there is a meager government support to the disabled older population in India. This study evidently suggests that a significant number of older populations in India are suffering from multiple disabilities. The number of multiple disabilities increases with the decrease in the socioeconomic status. The living arrangement and financial security assessment suggest that there is an increasing need of children and government support to the disabled older population. Originality/value – The distinctiveness of this study can be primarily found in the type of the data used, the assessment of additional disability dimensions, and the inclusion of differentials such as living arrangement, social network and work status as part of the analysis. Overall, the study with its robust statistical assessment provides a number of key insights into the social, economic security, and health care needs of the disabled older population in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In traditional Indian society, older persons were key decision makers while younger generations would tend to comply with their decisions. This tradition has changed in the context of modernization and urbanization. This paper focuses on the status of older persons, their role, their decision-making poiver and the expectations they have of their children, society and the govern-ment. Data for this paper was collected from the rural areas of Amravati district in Maharashtra, using semi-structured inter-view schedules. A total of 600 respondents, both males and females, were intervieiued. A systematic sampling technique was used for data collection. In addition to the issues cited above, the impact of various socio-economic characteristics on decision-making poiver and status is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A clear understanding of the position and condition of elderly will help the planning, policy and programme makers to provide for the needs of the elders, so that they can lead a healthy and dignified life. This paper is an attempt in this direction. The datasets used are Indian decennial Census, and NSSO dataset (60th Round, 2004) which have collected information on the condition and problems of the aged in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]