Ageing is a natural process and it cannot be controlled by any one. The causes of ageing are given below:

• Overwork which leads to wear and tear of the body.
• Increase in mental tension.
• Decrease in diseases resistance power.
• Lack of adaptation and adjustment.
• Decrease in physical strength and power.

The physical, mental, emotional and moral aspects of a person changes along with the process of ageing. Physical changes take place from birth to old age. Retiring from the jobs, loss of spouses or friend, decrease or loss of income, changes in social status, etc. are some major changes that seen in ageing.

Physical changes:

• Wrinkles appear in the skin.
• The digestive process becomes slow.
• Loss of appetite.
• Eye sight becomes poor.
• Loss of memory power.
• Loss of creativity level.

• Creativity levels may diminish.
• Problem solving abilities may decline with age.
• Learning skills and short term memory decrease slightly.

Problems of old age

With the reduction in human's age, naturally, he becomes physically and mentally weak. The work done yesterday cannot be done today. As a result, the protective power of diseases associated with heart, lung, asthma, diabetes, joint ache, etc. and then they have to depend upon other. In this condition, they need proper love, care, affection and friendship, etc. People of age group sixty years and above are ageing people. They are called inactive dependent population because they do not earn any money. Human activities are main causes for ageing problems. The old population is directly or indirectly responsible for economic, social, emotional and other aspects. The problems related to old age are more complex in the developed and industrial country than in the developing country. Average age of people is increasing more in the developed and industrial countries than in developing countries.

Care of the elderly people

Elderly people are physically and mentally weak. They depend upon others; they do not get adequate pension nor their proper welfare schemes. So they lack financial security. Ageing problem affects in the social, economic, emotional and other aspect of life. Welfare of elderly person is only possible when we save elderly person from tension, and diseases keep them healthy in the physical and psychological care.

Following measures can be taken to care elderly people:

• Elderly people should be provided with nutritious food and balanced diet.
• Regular health checkup and medical treatment should be provided to them.
• Special attention should be given to their personal hygiene and cleanliness.
• They should be aware to do physical exercises and yoga.
• They should be given facilities for doing religious practices.
• They should be made tension free.
• Additional pension, honor and decoration should be given to retired people.
• They should not make a long journey.
• Clean and open atmosphere should be available for them to walk.
• They should be respected and taken as important person in the society.

Importance of Senior Citizens

Some of the importance of senior citizens are listed below,

• They can guide young generation to work effectively with their experiences.
• In a family, small children get proper care, good suggestions and support from them.
• They are our life provider so they have a great contribution to make us capable and dedicated person to the nation.
• They have knowledge and experiences of the past, we can study it as a history.