Impacts of Globalization on Aged Population of India
Globalization along with industrialisation, urbanization and technological changes has affected all segments of population including aged persons everywhere. The positive and negative impacts of Globalization on older people can be summarized as follows:
Positive Impacts
Healthcare
This is one of the major benefits to the old age as healthcare has become more efficient. The treatments are now available at doorstep for many ailments. The technological advancements have given shape to many devices which can help the aged people who are little aware gauge their own body condition. Average life expectancy and health has increased because of improvement in technology, medical facilities, living standards.
Communication
Old age is reduced to a mere number if one is surrounded by loved ones and is financially independent. The rapid growth in communication technologies has made the world a small place. Aged people who could not be lucky to live with their children due to job pressures of the young, can now easily interact with them at click of a button. It has connected hearts once again and has presented the old a new reason to smile.
Technology
It is now possible for young residing in foreign lands to send money back home to their old parents in fraction of seconds. This monetary assistance not only helps them to carry their expenses with grace but also foster love. This goes a long way to instil a feeling of being important and wanted amongst the old who otherwise find themselves deprived and secluded.
Food
The opening of shop by many international supermarkets and brands in India has also introduced amazing and highly beneficial food and medicines for the geriatric population.
Economy
On the positive note, the people now have become more economically prosperous because of better employment opportunities across the world; and due to this they are able to save more for their old age.
Negative Impacts
Fallouts of disintegration of joint families
The cumulative implications of globalization, industrialization and urbanization have imparted irreversible change into the structure of families in India. With more and more nuclear families, young people leave their aged parents in far away places in search of employment opportunities and better living standards. This has resulted in isolation, rejection and loneliness of aged persons leading to psychological distress; and the crimes against older people.
The result of disintegration of the joint families and ever increasing influence of modernization is that care of the elderly has emerged as an important issue in the country.
Fallouts of unclear roles
Ageing marks change transition of role of the person from one to another. In earlier times when there was farm based economy, the expertise and experience of the older people was utilized when children followed parents’ occupation. With improved education, rapid technological changes and modernization have rendered their knowledge obsolete. With this, once they are at verge of retirement, they are unable to find clear role and this realization leads to loss of status, loneliness and worthlessness. Problem is aggravated when parents are economically dependent on children.
