The Elderly Facing Repercussions from Disability: Age is Not Just a Number | Harpreet Kaur

Ageing is a biological phenomenon that potentially brings variety of cellular, physical and mental changes over the time. It is a complex multi-factorial process, where several factors may interact simultaneously. Age has different affects on different people. It may decrease the physical as well as mental capabilities of an individual and ultimately leads to death. At the same time, the capacities of many elderly people do not significantly deteriorate. Many 30 year olds’ physical and mental abilities are comparable to those of 80 year olds’. (World Health Organization., 2024)

The population is aging far more quickly now than it did in the past. People who are 60 years of age and older has outnumbered children under the age of 5 in 2020. The proportion of world’s old aged population is estimated to be doubled by the year 2050. The key facts provided by WHO states that the proportion will rise from 12% in 2015 to 22% in 2050.

80% of the elderly will reside in low and middle income countries by 2050. (World Health Organisation, 2024). Out of the total population of elderly, over 250 million older people have moderate to severe disabilities and over 46% of the older adults in the global sphere (those 60 and over) have disabilities. As per the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI), 10.5 % of people in the world’s most populous country, India who are 60 years of age or older, have atleast one physical or mental disability. The proportion of elderly in the population is rising because people are having fewer children and living longer. The growing number of older adults and tackling their health complications is a tough row to hoe. As the population of older adults is increasing, the proportion of adults possessing disabilities will also show the similar raising trend. (United Nations., n.d.)

Old Age Persons with Disabilities and the Levels of Hardships

People are found to be arguing that age is just a number. However, this phrase does not relate well with the situation of old age persons who experience disability.

Accessibility restrictions, discrimination, and limited employment possibilities are just a few of the many difficulties that people with disabilities experience and these obstacles only get more complicated as people age.

The age group forming those of 65 and over, that is the world’s fastest-growing age group, stands ignored by the global stakeholders. Despite of being one of the most vulnerable sections, none of the global institutions explicitly focuses upon the rights of elderly. There was a lack of global response even when elderly population was disproportionally affected by the pandemic. (John E. Ataguba David E. Bloom and Andrew J. Scott., 2021) Underlining the instances of discrimination faced by elderly, Christian Blind Mission (CBM) Australia has pointed out that ageism and ableism fosters the sense of discrimination among the old persons with disabilities. (Christian Daily International, 2025) Along with that, elderly abuse is a serious issue that requires attention. According to WHO estimates 1 in 6 adults over the age of 60 years encounters abuse in the community each year. Elder abuse in various forms is rising with time and it was found out that the pandemic situations make the old age more vulnerable to abuse. Even reporting the violence becomes difficult most specifically for the old women with disabilities. There are multiple factors that bring abuse, but functional reliance and disability in the old age were identified as the main contributing causes of violence. (Karl Pillemer et al., 2016). The latter mentioned issue of elderly abuse couldn’t gather too much attention at the global level, therefore United Nations declared 2021-30 as a decade of healthy ageing. It provides a special 10 year chance to address the issue of elder abuse. (Christopher Mikton., et.al., 2022). The World Health Organisation is calling for the greater attention to be paid to a hidden epidemic that is violence against disabled older persons. Along with that, loneliness is additional difficulty encountered by older persons with disabilities. Loneliness directly impacts their mental health. Numerous studies have demonstrated that loneliness in older adults is linked to an increased risk of mental decline, anxiety, depression and even physical health issues. (Bhandari. V., 2024). Elderly people with disabilities are among those who are most negatively impacted when it comes to loneliness.

Even during the times of crisis and emergencies, old persons with disabilities are the ones who stand neglected. The report by amnesty international documents the dark lives of old persons with disabilities. The report brings out the impact of Russia-Ukraine conflict on the elderly. Due to Russia’s continuous invasion, older persons with disabilities who havebeen displaced in Ukraine are both financially and physically unable to receive proper homes and care. (Amnesty International, 2024). Apart from that, intersectionality in the context of violence and gender recognizes that individuals experience violence differently based upon different identities. Women are relatively more exposed to violence than men. The vulnerability of older women with disabilities could be witnessed while locating their position in the Indian society. The abandonment of older sick or disabled women in temple towns of India depicts the darker side of the society. (S. Raman., 2023) All these concerns mentioned in the proceeding paragraphs invite intensified efforts that should spring from the global governing bodies.

Suggested Route to Follow

There are multiple social determinants of health that can positively or negatively impact the persons with disabilities. Income, education, unemployment, food insecurity, housing, basic amenities, early childhood development and social inclusion are some of the few factors that directly impact the living conditions of persons with disabilities. Therefore, appropriate policies should be framed that encircle these social determinants and ensure that they not only live with dignity but also die with dignity in old age. Apart from that, the trends of marginalisation of old persons with disabilities call on nations to examine and investigate the ways in which the discourses on disability and ageing might complement one another. More inclusion in laws, procedures and community events is desperately needed, particularly when it comes to older persons with disabilities. The relationship between age and disability is becoming more and more important as our population is rapidly growing. Policies and institutions must take into account the particular demands of this demographic group in order to guarantee their well-being and full involvement in society.

(Author: Harpreet Kaur, Research Scholar, , Department of Political Science,, Panjab University, Chandigarh)

References

• Amnesty International. (2024, September 16). Ukraine: Russian Invasion Has Forced Older People With Disabilities to Endure Isolation and Neglect. New Report. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/12/ukraine-russian-invasion-has-forced-older-people-with-disabilities-to-endure-isolation-and-neglect/.
• Bhandari, V. (2024, December 17). Loneliness in Older Adults and Its Impact on Mental Health. HelpAge India. https://www.helpageindia.org/loneliness-in-older-adults-and-its-impact-on-mental-health.
• Christian Daily International. (2025, April 6). Report Highlights Lack of Awareness, Gaps in Policies for Older People With Disabilities in Australia. https://www.christiandaily.com/news/report-highlights-lack-of-awareness-gaps-in-policies-for-older-people-with-disabilities-in-australia.
• Christopher Mikton et al., (2022). Tackling Abuse of Older People: Five Priorities for the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), by World Health Organization et al., https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/356151/9789240052550-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
• John E. Ataguba David E. Bloom and Andrew J. Scott., (2021, October 6). A Global Institution for an Aging World. Project Syndicate. https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/creating-global-institutions-aging-by-john-e-ataguba-et-al-2021-10.
• Karl Pillemer et al., (2016, March 18). Elder Abuse: Global Situation, Risk Factors, and Prevention Strategies. The Gerontologist 56, no. Suppl 2: S194–205, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw004.
• S. Raman. (2023, November 10). Why Elderly Women With Disabilities Are at Highest Risk of Abuse, Neglect. BehanBox. https://behanbox.com/2022/10/12/why-elderly-women-with-disabilities-are-at-highest-risk-of-abuse-neglect/.
• United Nations. (n.d.). Ageing and Disability | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD). https://social.desa.un.org/issues/disability/disability-issues/ageing-and-disability.
• World Health Organization. (2024, October 1). Ageing and Health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health.