review on psychosocial rehabilitative needs of elderly women in Iran

ABSTRACT

According to the last reported general census of Iran [1996], there are 20,70,790 elderly women in this country. They constitute 46% of the total elderly population. There has been a decrease in this fraction, from 48% to 46%, within the last 20 years. Considering that women have a longer life than men and the ratio of old men to old women is usually less than 1 in developed countries, it means that the pattern of population growth for elderly women in Iran is comparable with that of less developed countries. Some factors play a role in this vulnerability only 3.3% of women above 60 years of age [compared with 61% of men] are economically independent. This means that approximately 96% are dependant on others for providing their essential needs. 91% of elderly women in Iran are illiterate [compared with 74.2% for men], most of them are house keepers and have no definite salary to support them in old-age. The number of women living alone is about 3.5 times more than that of men living alone. Despite some important steps being taken by the government, nevertheless, it seems, in order to fill the social gaps that are inherited from the past, we need to give special considerations toward allocation and delivery of more funds and services to this fragile fraction of the population