Rethinking How We Treat the Elderly?
Poonam  Pant
Assistant Professor at Bhaktapur Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

July 2026

In Nepal, older people are often regarded with deep respect. In many households, they are even considered living gods. This cultural value is something we take pride in. However, behind this respect, there is a quieter and more complex reality, rarely discussed openly in the public sphere. Nepal adopted the international framework, such as the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging (2002), through the National Plan of Action for Senior Citizens 2005, which protected the rights of older adults in diverse areas such as social participation, dignity and care. The national law, notably the Senior Citizens Act of 2006, defines a “senior citizen” as anyone aged 60 or above and also gives responsibility to the family members to support the older adult living with them (Government of Nepal, 2006). The study by Chalise (2023) reveals that, between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, the annual growth rate of Nepal’s total population was about 0.92%, whereas the population of elderly people (60+ years) grew at approximately 3.29% per year, more than three times the overall rate. From this, it can be inferred that the population of older people is increasing rapidly with a visible demographic shift. Life expectancy now exceeds 70 years, and Nepal’s median age of around 25 years continues to rise due to declining fertility rates (World Health Organization 2024; United Nations, 2022). Thus, the pattern of population growth becomes clear, and the older adult population is expanding more rapidly than the national average.

The elderly people living in a family often expect respect and care from family members with whom they reside. The parents in the family anticipate care, attention, and emotional bonds with the younger members. However, in today’s fast-moving world, where family members are occupied with work and daily duties, these expectations are not always fulfilled. A study carried out in old age homes at Kathmandu, Nepal, showed that many older adults, while residing in a family, and experienced various forms of abuse, including neglect, verbal abuse, and financial exploitation. This indicates the vulnerability of older people within family settings in Nepal (Rai et al., 2018). This type of behavior may cause feelings of frustration, loneliness, and even depression among older adults, whereas it is seen that the harm is not intentional. For example, elderly parents who move from rural areas to cities may not be familiar with modern kitchens or toilets. When they struggle to use these facilities, younger family members may react with irritation, often without realizing that such behavior can be humiliating or hurtful. 

The interaction, although in a lesser amount, can cause emotional abuse. This brings to mind: do people even recognize when abuse is happening? In many cases, the answer is no. While urban populations may have some awareness about different forms of abuse, many families in rural areas are still unfamiliar with these concepts of abuse. Cultural norms also discourage speaking out against family members. Elderly individuals often see themselves as dependent and vulnerable and often choose silence over conflict, even when they feel neglected or disrespected. A community-based cross-sectional study in Sunsari District of eastern Tarai region in Nepal by Chalise & Basnet (2017) found that nearly half of the older adults in the study had experienced some or the other form of abuse within a few months, such as disrespect, neglect and verbal abuse. This kind of abuse goes beyond physical abuse and involves social and emotional domains that cause loneliness and exclusion on the part of older adults. It is common to see older family members ignored during conversations or to have their opinions dismissed. Younger people may respond impatiently, forgetting that ageing is a natural process that everyone will experience one day. Showing this behavior may be felt normal by some, but it may affect the dignity and emotional well-being of the elderly. People do not realize that they have done something not acceptable, but for the elderly, it has a bad impact on their minds.

Older adults who express their preferences are often perceived as inflexible to adapt to changing family expectations. Elder abuse is often described as a silent epidemic because many older adults experience emotional, physical, psychological, or financial abuse behind closed doors. Yet, these experiences often remain hidden and underreported. According to the World Health Organization, around one in six people aged 60 years and older experience some form of abuse each year.. The norms in the society compel the elderly especially the vulnerable group like widows to be tolerant and suffer mental torture. Thus, more than financial support, there is a need for respect, dignity and care for elderly people. The children in the present society should be encouraged to connect with the older generation from an early age to foster empathy and help them to create solutions that reflect different cultural contexts. The programs for awareness should respect social structure and local values. For need-based services, the information collection on older adults’ health, economic conditions, and social support is a fundamental requirement. In Nepal, migration, changing family structures, and limited community spaces have reduced peer interaction among older adults, contributing to social isolation and fewer opportunities to share experiences and concerns. 

In the context of Nepal, structured community mechanisms such as toll-free helplines and locally organized older persons’ groups can help reduce this communication gap. Rather than informal discussions, older adults can be engaged through recognized platforms such as senior citizen clubs or community welfare associations, where they can collectively express concerns and share lived experiences. These inputs are valuable as they provide direct insight into ageing-related challenges and can inform local-level planning and social support services delivered by government and community institutions. 

References:

Chalise, H. (2023) Aging Trend and Situation in Nepal. Advances in Aging Research, 12, 39-48. doi: 10.4236/aar.2023.123003.

Chalise, H. N., & Basnet, M. (2017). Abuse of older adults residing in the community of Nepal. Journal of Gerontology & Geriatric Research, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-7182.1000415

Government of Nepal. (2006). Senior Citizens Act, 2006. Nepal Law Commission.

Rai, S., Khanal, P., & Chalise, H. N. (2018). Elderly abuse experienced by older adults prior to living in old age homes in Kathmandu. Journal of Gerontology & Geriatric Research, 7(1), 460. https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-7182.1000460

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2022). World population prospects 2022.

World Health Organization. (2024). WHO clinical consortium on healthy ageing 2024: Meeting report, 5–7 November 2024. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/381506/9789240109889-eng.pdf

World Health Organization Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abuse-of-older-people