Social aspects of dementia in elderly

Dementia is one of the greatest societal challenges in the current era. It is also one of many reasons for dependency and disability among the elderly. The number of people living with dementia worldwide is estimated at 35.6 million, with this number set to double by 2030 and triple by 2050 (WHO, 2012). In India, older people account for 8.6 percent (104 million) of the total population (Borah et al., 2016). The number of people living with dementia in India is estimated to be 5.29 million, as per projections for 2020 by the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI, 2010). Early research from the Strengthening Responses to Dementia in Developing Countries (STRIDE) project, underway in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, and South Africa (with linked projects in Hong Kong and Chinese communities, New Zealand and Romania) indicate that people living with dementia experience particular difficulties accessing health care, both for dementia and related co-morbidities. The significance of this condition goes much further than its epidemiological importance. The effects of this ‘major neurocognitive disorder’ are not confined just to the elderly that are affected by the condition, but it includes the considerable impact it has on the lives of the caregivers and the health and social care professionals involved in providing support and care. Dementia is responsible for over half of all admissions to residential long-term care; it impacts more heavily upon families and caregivers than nearly all other medical conditions and it represents one of the most feared issues of growing older. Dementia care is nerve-racking; whether it is caring the elderly at home or for a professional, the impact of caregivers plays a vital role. The sociology of dementia has been a relatively ignored topic in studies of health and illness despite dementia becoming an increasing threat or say aspect of scare in the ‘ageing societies’. In the current scenario, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on elderly and people living with dementia is of significant concern to the government, healthcare professionals, and dementia support organisations in the country. This has stimulated researchers to focus on the nature of the connection between society, culture, and dementia. The paper tries to give a picture of the sociological conditions of the elderly with dementia in India during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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