INTRODUCTION
The international community has been greatly concerned about old age and ageing, particularly in light of its economic, political, and social dimensions.
The United Nations Organization reports (1999) show that there has been an increase in the number of older people in the World. This increase has been demonstrated more in developing nations where the rates do not match the available resources to cater for older people’s health, nutrition and other basic services essential for human life. According to these reports, in 1950, the United Nations estimated that there would be 200 million people aged 60 years and above. In 1975, that number increased to 350 million people and is expected to reach 625 million by 2005. It is also likely that by the year 2050, the number of older people, for the first time in human history, will have increased and surpassed the number of children under 14. That number is expected to grow from 38 million to 212 million in the African continent alone.
The increase in the number and percentage of this population is a success because it demonstrates an improved standard of living resulting from better services such as health and education. This increase, however, is a challenge because the government is called upon to put in place the vital infrastructure for providing services to older people.
The majority of older people live in poverty and uncertainty. Furthermore, the fact that a large number of older people (about 75 per cent) live in rural areas and that the number of older women is bigger than that of older men presents another challenge. In view of this, the government, its institutions, and voluntary agencies need to create an environment that recognizes older people and gives them an opportunity to participate fully in society’s daily life.
The government realizes that older people are a resource in the development of our nation. Tanzania’s existence as a nation is evidence of older peoples’ contribution in the political, economic, cultural, and social arena.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 CONCEPT AND MEANING OF OLD AGE
Old age and ageing define the final stage of human growth from childhood and youth to old age. In Tanzania, an individual is recognized as an older person based on age, responsibilities, and status, for example, a leader at his or her workplace or in a clan. The older people we have are either salaried or self-employed or those living in rural areas whose advanced age limits them from active work.
In developed countries such as Britain and the United States of America (USA), old age is associated with retirement at 60. In other countries, retirement age differs according to gender. In Latvia, for example, men retire at the age of 55, whereas women retire at the age of 60.
Even though government employees retire at 60 and older, people in rural areas and self-employed people stop working only due to limited energy. It remains that at the age of 60, there are clear indications of a decrease in their working ability. The National Health Policy and the Public Service Act recognize 60 as the retirement age. For this policy, an older person is an individual who is 60 years and above.
1.2 THE SITUATION OF OLDER PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY
The twentieth century has witnessed an increase in the number of older people. According to available statistics, Tanzania, with an estimated total population of 33,500,000, has about 1.4 million older people (4 percent of the total population) aged 60 years and above. This figure will increase to 8.3 million (10 percent of the total population) by the year 2050.
In everyday social life, older people are an acknowledged source of information, knowledge and experience. In traditional life, both older and younger people share responsibilities. Whereas older people were custodians of customs and traditions, advisers/mediators, and childcare, the young people were responsible for providing basic needs, including food, shelter, clothing, and protection. Older people in Tanzania are part of various groups, including retirees, peasants, herdsmen, and fishermen.
Generally, the situation of older people in Tanzania is characterized by the following:
1.2.1 Weakening of Traditional Life:
Globalization, the growth of towns, and the movement of people from rural to urban areas in search of jobs have changed the formal relationships in the family and society in general. As a result of weakened traditional life, older people no longer play a vital role in the community’s life. Consequently, young people do not show respect to older people and often despise them.
1.2.2 Inadequate care:
The movement of young people from rural to urban centres has left most older people lonely and unprotected. Moreover, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has taken away the lives of the majority of young people. On the other hand, older people are increasingly called upon to care for themselves and their orphaned grandchildren.
1.2.3 Poverty:
Economically, older people are among the poorest in society. Various groups of older people, such as peasants, herdsmen, and fishermen, do not belong to any formal social security system. Retired older people who are members of Social Security Schemes face problems resulting from inadequate benefits and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Furthermore, the existing poverty reduction strategies do not include older people.
1.2.4 Diseases:
The majority of people become old with poor health due to poor lifestyles and poor nutrition during their childhood, women with heavy workloads and frequent pregnancies. Prolonged diseases are a common feature among many older people. Additionally, health services are not easily accessible to most older people and are expensive. Healthcare professionals, on the other hand, lack motivation and are not adequately trained to handle older people’s illnesses.
1.2.5 Older Women and Incompatible Traditions.
Older women are more affected by old-age problems. Women live longer than men, so there are more older women than men. Older women struggle against problems related to their gender, furthermore they are denied the right to inherit and own property including land. In some areas, women have been raped and killed due to superstitious beliefs.
1.2.6 Older women with disabilities:
Due to our culture and environment, women, people with disabilities, and older people have had an unequal opportunity to participate in decision-making on issues related to their development and welfare.
Where women have been discriminated against due to their sex, people with disabilities do not have access to equal opportunities to participate in securing their development. Additionally, older people have not received the recognition they deserve, which denies their right to own and inherit property.
1.2.7 Laws that do not protect older people:
The current social and legal systems do not provide adequate protection and security to older people as a special group. Consequently, they do not receive deserving care, and older women are denied their right to own and inherit property.
1.3 Rationale for the Policy:
Older people’s life situations and circumstances demand a National Policy to guide the provision of services and their participation in the community’s life. The National Ageing Policy addresses the following:
- To recognize older people as an essential resource in national development.
- To allocate enough resources to improve service delivery to older people.
- To involve older people in decision-making in matters concerning them and the nation.
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 POLICY DIRECTION.
2.1 Direction:
This policy concerns older people living in rural and urban areas and other special groups of older people such as retirees, peasants, herdsmen, and fishermen. It also concerns young people who must prepare for responsible old age.
2.2 General Objective:
The policy’s general objective is to ensure that older people are recognized, provided with essential services, and allowed to participate fully in the community’s daily life.
2.3 Specific Objectives:
- To recognize older people as a resource.
- To create a conducive environment for providing essential services to older people.
- To allocate resources for older people’s income generation activities and their welfare.
- To empower families to provide sustained support to older people.
- To initiate and sustain programs that allow older people to participate in economic development initiatives.
- To prepare strategies and programs geared towards eliminating negative attitudes and age discrimination.
- To enact laws that promote and protect the welfare of older people.
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 POLICY STATEMENTS.
The government realizes that older people are a resource in our nation’s development. Tanzania’s existence as a nation is evidence of older people’s contribution to the political, economic, cultural, and social arena. Besides protection and care, services will be emphasised by involving older people in national development and incorporating them into the national development plans.
The National Ageing Policy recognizes human rights as stipulated in the Tanzanian Constitution 1977 as amended in 1984 and 1995, respectively. Moreover, the policy has considered the United Nations Organization declaration No. 46 of 1991 on the following older people’s rights.
- Independence
- Participation
- Care
- Self – fulfilment
- Dignity
The following Policy statements aim to provide an implementation framework that will facilitate the improvement of older people’s lives and set the ageing agenda within the national development paradigm.
3.1 Health Services:
Frequent and prolonged diseases are common among many older people. This condition calls for professional care. Despite this, health services are not easily accessible for the majority of older people and are, in most cases, expensive. The existing procedure of providing free health services to older people has some shortcomings.
Most older people, particularly in rural areas, are left out due to their inability to prove that they are 60 years and above and cannot afford to share the cost. To improve the health status of older people, the government, in collaboration with various stakeholders, will ensure that:
(i) The cost-sharing policy shall be revised to adjust the criteria for determining 60 years as a standard age.
(ii) Health personnel receive special training to handle older people.
(iii) There is an established mechanism for making follow-ups on older people’s health.
(iv) There is an established mechanism for awareness creation for older people in the HIV/AIDS pandemic and care of its victims.
(v) Older people and the public in general are sensitized to and mobilized regarding old-age health-related problems.
3.2 Care of Older People:
The ability of the oldest to manage themselves is either minimal or non-existent. Due to this fact, the society is responsible for providing them with care and support. However, the family will remain the fundamental institution of care and support for older people. Institutional care of older people will be the last resort. Furthermore, the government does not expect to establish older people’s long term care institutions. In order to provide care for older people.
(i) Families and society in general will be mobilized and sensitized to care for and support older people.
(ii) Older people will be cared for in their respective communities.
(iii) The government, through Local Governments and Voluntary Agencies, will continue to provide institutional care to older people and others who have no one to care for them.
3.3. Participation of Older People:
Every citizen has an equal right to participate fully in issues that concern him/her and society. The government realizes that older people are an essential resource that needs to be taped for the nation’s development. To do so:
(i) A Mechanism will be established to ensure that older people participate in the planning and implementation of development programs at various levels.
(ii) Organizations and groups responsible for older people’s welfare will be fully recognized. The government shall also encourage the formation of such new organizations and groups.
3.4 Older People’s Fund:
The government recognizes older people’s potential in poverty reduction initiatives. However, this potential has not been translated into reality. To develop its utilization, the government, in collaboration with various stakeholders, will establish a Revolving Loan Fund.
3.5 Income Generation:
Older people are among the poorest in the society. Besides being skilled, knowledgeable and experienced as farmers, fishermen and retired public servants, most older people retire ill-prepared. To rectify this situation:
(i) Older people, individually or in groups, will be sensitized and mobilized to establish income-generating activities.
(ii) Local Government Authorities and Voluntary Agencies will incorporate older people’s groups into income-generating activities.
3.6 Social Security:
Older people face several problems, including a lack of savings. The existing Social Security Scheme is designed to accommodate older people employed in the formal sector. However, the benefits they receive do not correspond to increasing living costs. Older people in the informal sector, such as peasants, fishermen and herdsmen, particularly in rural areas, face high vulnerability. To rectify this situation:
(i). A mechanism will be established to ensure that social security institutions direct their services to the informal sector.
(ii). Local government authorities and voluntary agencies will sensitize older people in the informal sector to save through ward banks, primary cooperative societies, savings, and credit cooperative societies.
(iii). Families will be mobilized to participate in income raising activities.
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