Socio-Psychological Complexities of Aging in Hill Areas of Upper Kedar Valley of Indian Mid-Central Himalayas

Abstract

Under the changing socio-economic, cultural, and lifestyle norms, aging has become a global issue. With the advances in healthcare, medical facilities, social security, standard of living, and reduction in mortality rates, the global elderly population is increasing, but their psycho-social problems are also increasing. Indian society like societies of the developed world is also undergoing a transformation due to the forces of rapid modernization, globalization, urbanization, industrialization, and technological innovations. While the communication and information revolution has turned the world into a level playing field, the same forces have also been changing the architecture of the traditional family system and its values in India. This chapter studies the peculiarities of Uttarakhand and was conducted in seven disaster-affected villages of the Upper Kedar Valley of Garhwal Himalayas. Sixty-two respondents of all group population in 60-plus age were selected randomly for assessing the economic, psychological, emotional, and social vulnerabilities, problems, and challenges.