Abstract:
The issues associated with an increasing population of the aged have received much
attention in recent years in Sri Lanka as well as in many other countries. The
importance of these issues has been highlighted by setting up an International Elders
Day, which is 01st of October, and an International Elders' Year from 01s l October
1998 to 30I h September 1999. A major part of the investigation described in this
dissertation was carried out during the International Elders' Year.
In the Sri Lankan context, several factors of comparatively recent origin have
contributed to the magnitude of the problem that exists today. The technological and
scientific advances particularly in the context of preventive and curative medicine have
resulted in enhanced longevity. Successes in education in reproductive health and
family planning have resulted in decreased birth rates. These two factors in
combination have given rise to a larger proportion of the aged. The competitiveness of
society as a result of the diminishing of natural resources and the longing for
comfortable life styles have resulted in diminishing of the ability of family members to
care for the aged within the family. This situation causes increasingly heavy burdens
on society in caring for the aged. In this context, it is very pertinent to examine- the
problems of the aged from many angles. The present study focuses on the needs of the
aged and the extent to which they are satisfied in Sri Lanka.
