What significant issues face the rural aging population today?
Several issues rural elderly have to face are: Migration – The lack of profitability of family holdings has been a cause of rural poverty and has increased migration to urban centers. Older persons are usually the last to move, following their children to urban areas and may face difficult adjustment. Environmental challenges – These may include lack of safe drinking water, lack of proper sanitary facilities for disposal of sewage and garbage, low quality housing, lack of electricity, malnutrition, poor and badly maintained roads, and extreme climatic conditions for parts of the year. Remoteness – Living in isolated areas distant from urban areas may result in inaccessibility to health care, lack of educational opportunities, lack of transportation to medical appointments, and difficulties in communication. Health issues – Health issues affecting rural elderly include inadequate nutrition, obesity and unrecognized illnesses such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s and depression.
