Definition of old age?
The exact timing of the onset of the ageing process cannot be ascertained because the effect of age varies among different individuals. However, the chronological age is most often used by gerontologists to delineate the aged. A cut-off age of 60 years is taken for classifying people as 'old' and is used for census up poses. Many nations follow the cuts off age at 60 years while many developed countries and United Nations take the cut-off age at 65 years to designate the elderly.
Elderly represent the fastest growing segment of populations throughout the world.Socio-economic development along with better health facilities and a wider spread of medical care including primary health services have raised the life expectancy. The total number of persons above 60 years of age was 43.1 million in 1981, which has risen to 56.7 million in 1991. At present, the elderly constitute 7.7% of the total population i.e. approximately 76 million are projected to burgeon to about 150 million (12 percent) by the year 2025. The elderly population is a very heterogeneous group who has varying problems and needs. On classifying the elderly into 'young old' (i. e, 60 to 74 years) and 'old old' (i.e. 75 years plus), it was observed that 'young old' were increasing at a much faster pace (5.6%) till 2001 as compared to 'old old' (1.2%) in India. Globally, maximal growth is recorded in the latter and not in the former category of elderly. Men outnumber women in young old age groups but the sex ratio is in favour of women in the higher old ages.