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Health and Social Concerns in Elderly Men

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Gerontological Concerns and Responses in India

Abstract

India, the world’s second most populous country, has seen a rapid increase in its share of older people in the last decade. Elderly population, (defined as age ≥ 60 years) made up for 5.6 percent population in 2001 which increased to 8.6 percent in 2011. This number is expected to increase further in the coming years. In view of the above, it is imperative for the society to recognize problems faced by the elderly and try to address them so as to provide them a good quality of life. This chapter addresses health and social concerns of older men. The present chapter discusses not only the health issues but also the social concerns of elderly men and deals with the basic concepts of disease, prevention and rehabilitation with an aim to demystify the concepts surrounding illness. Common health issues covered include–strokes, heart diseases, chronic airway disease, incontinence, diabetes, hypertension, dental issues, hearing or visual impairment, anemia, asthenia, unintentional weight loss, constipation, arthritis, impotence, addictions, falls, cancers, cognitive impairment, rigidity, insomnia and depression. Social issues specific to elderly men like loneliness, economic dependence, living wills and advanced directives are also discussed.

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Gautam Roy, P., Bhardwaj, R., Goel, A. (2021). Health and Social Concerns in Elderly Men. In: Shankardass, M.K. (eds) Gerontological Concerns and Responses in India. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4764-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4764-2_7

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