International Journal of Gerontology 9 (2015) 188
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Letter to the Editor
Is Changing Lifestyle and Life Choices a Contributing Factor to Continuous Physical Illness and Unhappiness Among the Elderly in India?* To the Editor, Globalization is a driving force in making goods and services previously out of reach in developing countries such as India much more available1. Global culture-bound syndrome influences consumerism with a particular focus on people belonging to the “consumer class2,” which is estimated to be 120 million in India1. This has resulted in changing lifestyle and life choices of people irrespective of their age and sex. At present, during their postretirement days, elderly people in India adopt a highly consumerized standard of living with less focus on health issues (both mental and physical) in the absence of matching age-graded adaptation and life development. This affects their engagement in social and leisure activities, functioning profile, and stability of chronic morbidity. Consequently, in this group, there is an increase in the rates of heart diseases and diabetes as well as healthcare-related costs, eventually resulting in a lower quality of daily life. During this period, their changing philosophy of happiness turns to fulfilling some want-created consumption3, which includes eating highly processed food, watching television, etc., because their postretirement life includes little else but to count the remaining days of their life. They generally ignore agerelated restrictions/limitations in their day-to-day activities. Thus, it is difficult to make a comparison between the state of living of elderly people in the Vedic age and the global age. Manusmṛti and other scriptures of Hinduism (the dominant religion of India) provide clues to successful aging. These describe the four main goals in the four main phases of life: Brahmacharya, which describes the student stage of life, focuses on the practice of celibacy. Grihastha, which refers to the household life, focuses on the stage in which an individual pays attention to his/her social and family life. Vanaprastha, which refers to the stage of partial renunciation, is considered the age for retirement, where an individual starts to walk toward the path of spiritual liberation (moksha). The final (fourth) stage is the Sannyasa, which is marked by a stage of life completely free from emotional attachments. Among these four stages of life, the third stage (i.e., Vanaprastha) provides clues for successful aging, especially for those in a higher social hierarchy. After achieving success in the household life (including earning and rising a family), a person should dedicate himself/herself to social service, wherein he/she helps others within his/her community by sharing his/her expertise and experience, thus adopting a life free from material desires4. *
Conflicts of interest: The author declares no conflicts of interest.
A study of 100 (75 men and 25 women) elderly individuals aged 60e70 years in Kolkata (India) revealed that 85% of the studied individuals were continuously suffering from lifestyle-related diseases (e.g., heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, high blood pressure). Approximately 78% of the studied individuals had problems with physical mobility and mental illness because of their isolation and negligence from their immediate family members. The preliminary empirical experience also showed that 68% of informants lived alone or with their conjugal partner, with a truncated social network, and with most employing domestic maids for assistance; additionally, they only had occasional contact with their children or relatives. Their engagement was limited to self-care and management. This consequently led them to adopt a style of unhealthy living (i.e., consuming foods and watching television). Medical observation and medical therapy were the only support they received. Absence of alternative engagements/unwillingness to engage in activities where their lifelong experiences could be shared for the improvement of their mental health and community welfare was avoided. They would be mentally happy if they could utilize their time fruitfully with others. With reference to the “Vanaprastha,” close association with their family as well as sharing their experiences with family and community would be a path toward successful aging and happy end of life. References 1. Mayell H. As consumerism spreads, earth suffers, study says. In: National Geographic News. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society; 2013. Available from: http://www.news.nationalgeographic.com/news/pf/55932035.htm [last accessed 08.01.13]. 2. Banks CG. Culture in culture bound syndrome: the case of anorexia nervosa. Soc Sci Med. 1992;34:867e884. 3. Smith A. The Theory of Moral Sentiments. 4th ed. Indianapolis, IN: Liberty Fund; 1984. 4. O'Flaherry WD. The Rig Veda. 2nd ed. New Delhi, India: Penguin; 2002.
Harasankar Adhikari* Monihar Co-operative Housing Society, Kolkata 700075, West Bengal, India *
Mr Harasankar Adhikari, Monihar Co-operative Housing Society, Flat Number 7/2, 1050/2, Survey Park, Kolkata 700075, West Bengal, India. E-mail address:
[email protected]. 23 January 2015 Available online 11 September 2015
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijge.2015.04.004 1873-9598/Copyright © 2015, Taiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency & Critical Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.
