A study of social health and physical function of government retirees in Delhi.

ABSTRACT

Education and income-wise retirees were better than an average Indian. However they had still to fulfil certain financial obligations involving heavy expenditures. Family setting continued to play important part in their daily lives. Their perceived level of utility towards society (95.32%) was high and drug habits were not a problem. Functionally majority had productive capacity. As a strategy to keep dependent population at low levels, it was very much possible to utilise their services as not only they were functionally capable but they were also educated and had work experience. The existing family set up should be encouraged and maintained by all possible means and trends seen in developed countries prevented so as to keep our elderly socially, psychologically and emotionally healthy. This will reduce the need for geriatric institutions.