Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Aging in Nepal

  • Chapter
Aging Across Cultures

Part of the book series: Science Across Cultures: The History of Non-Western Science ((SACH,volume 10))

Abstract

Rapid population aging is a global phenomenon, regardless of a nation’s level of development. Population aging is also taking place rapidly in Nepal. Different studies show that many older persons are suffering from different types of chronic diseases. Although more than 80% of seniors live with their children, nearly two thirds of older adults are suffering from depression, loneliness and anxiety. Culturally seniors are well respected in Nepal and parents are dissatisfied when they live apart from their children. But due to modernization, urbanization and other factors, traditional norms and values are breaking down. This has caused changes in the living arrangements of the elderly. Old people’s growth rate is 3.59% per year which implies that older person’s population will double in nearly two decades. Nepal is still suffering from widespread poverty, increasing prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases, inadequate health facilities, insufficient security schemes, and a stagnant economy. Therefore the country is less prepared to address the rapid pace of change and consequences of its rapidly increasing elderly population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bühler, G. tr. (1884). The laws of Manu. Banarsidass (Reprint from Oxford University’s 1886-edition).

    Google Scholar 

  • Capistrant, B. D., Ghosh, S., Friedemann-Sanchez, G., Kowal, P., & Mathur, A. (2015). Culture and caregiving for older adults in India: A qualitative study. The Gerontologist, 5(2), 112. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnv504.06

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CDKN. (2017). Framework for effectiveness and resilience of small and medium-scale irrigation systems in Nepal, Climate & Development Knowledge Network, 31 July 2017. Accessed through https://cdkn.org/resource/effectiveness-resilience-small-medium-irrigation-nepal/?loclang=en_gb

  • Center Bureau of Statistics (CBS). (2014). Population monograph of Nepal. Government of Nepal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N. (2014). Situation of depression among elderly living in Briddashram (Old Age Home) in Nepal. Advances in Aging Research, 3(1), 6–11. https://doi.org/10.4236/aar.2014.31002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N. (2018). Demographic window of opportunity in Nepal. Nepal Population Journal, 18(17), 133–140. https://doi.org/10.3126/npj.v18i17.26428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N. (2006). Demographic situation of population ageing in Nepal. Kathmandu University Medical Journal, 4(3), 354–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N. (2012). Socio-demographic and health status of Nepalese elderly. Indian Journal of Gerontology, 26(2), 151–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N., & Brightman, J. (2006). Aging trend: Population aging in Nepal. Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 6, 199–204. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0594.2006.00347.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N., & Shrestha, S. (2005). Situation of the elderly in the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal. Indian Journal of Social Work, 66(2), 136–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H.N. (2007). Social support and its correlation to loneliness and subjective well-being: A cross-cultural study of Nepalese older adults. An unpublished PhD dissertation submitted to Department of Social Gerontology, School of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N. (2010). Social support and its correlation to loneliness and subjective well-being of Nepalese older adults. Asian Social Work and Policy Review, 4(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-1411.2009.00034.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N. (2017). Abuse of elderly: A neglected issue in developing countries. Jacob’s Journal of Gerontology, 3(1), 024.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N. (2019). Aging: Basic concept. American Journal of Biomedical Science and Research, 1(1), 8–10. https://doi.org/10.34297/AJBSR.2019.01.000503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N., & Basnet, M. (2017). Abuse of older adults residing in the community of Nepal. Journal of Gerontology and Geriatric Research, 6, 415. https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-7182.1000415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N., & Paudel, B. R. (2020). Elderly abuse among community-living older adults of least developed country-Nepal. Archives of Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, 1(1), 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N., & Rosenberg, E. (2019). Social and health status of community-dwelling older adults in Nepal. Advances in Aging Research, 8(4), 63–74. https://doi.org/10.4236/aar.2019.84005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N., & Rosenberg, E. (2020). COVID-19 and the elderly: Why does the immune system matter? Journal of Infectious Diseases & Travel Medicine, 4(S1), 000S1–003. https://doi.org/10.23880/jidtm-16000S1-003

  • Chalise, H. N., Saito, T., & Kai, I. (2008). Functional disability in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living among Nepalese Newar elderly. Public Health, 122(4), 394–396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2007.07.015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N., Saito, T., & Kai, I. (2007a). Correlates of loneliness among older Newar adults in Nepal. Japanese Journal of Public Health, 54(7), 427–433. PMID: 17763707.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalise, H. N., Saito, T., Takahashi, M., & Kai, I. (2007b). Relationship specialization amongst sources and receivers of social support and its correlations with loneliness and subjective well-being: A cross-sectional study of Nepalese older adults. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 44(3), 299–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2006.07.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhury, R. H. (2004). Ageing in Nepal. Asia-Pacific Population Journal, 19, 61–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fruzzetti, L. M. (1982). The gift of a virgin: Women, marriage, and ritual in a Bengali society. Rutgers University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, M. C., & Beall, C. M. (1986). Family change, caste, and the elderly in a rural locate in Nepal. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 1, 305–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Habjanič, A., & Lahe, D. (2012). Are frail older people less exposed to abuse in nursing homes as compared to community-based settings? Statistical analysis of Slovenian data. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 54(3), e261–e270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2011.07.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, C., Stratton, S., & Loewy, R. (1999). The primary care of elder mistreatment. Western Journal of Medicine, 170(6), 353–358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshi, M. R., Chalise, H. N., & Khatiwada, P. P. (2018). Quality of life of Nepalese elderly living in rural Nepal. Journal of Gerontology and Geriatric Research, 7, 484. https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-7182.1000484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khanal, B., & Chalise, H. N. (2020a). Caregiver burden among informal caregivers of rural elderly in Nepal. Journal of Health Care and Research, 1(3), 149–156. https://doi.org/10.36502/2020/hcr.6173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khanal, B., & Chalise, H. N. (2020b). Functional disability on instrumental/activities of daily livings among rural older people in Nepal. Journal of Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, 3(3). http://jkahs.org.np/jkahs/index.php/jkahs/article/view/338/254

  • Khanal, P., Rai, S., & Chalise, H. N. (2018). Children’s migration and its effect on elderly people: A study at old age homes in Kathmandu. American Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 1(1), 1001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malakar, I., & Chalise, H. N. (2019). Perception of elderly towards social security allowance in Nepal. South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics, 2(4), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.9734/SAJSSE/2018/v2i430008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manandhar, K., Risal, A., Shrestha, O., Manandhar, N., Kunwar, D., Koju, R., & Holen, A. (2019). Prevalence of geriatric depression in the Kavre district, Nepal: Findings from a cross sectional community survey. BMC Psychiatry, 19, 271. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2258-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miltiades, H. B. (2002). The social and psychological effects of an adultchild’s emigration on non-immigrant Asian Indian elderly parents. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 17(1), 33–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra, S., & Chalise, H. N. (2019a). Health status of elderly living in Briddaashram (Old Age Home). International Journal of Public Health and Safety, 4, 172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mishra, S., & Chalise, H. N. (2019b). Comparative study on health status of elderly living in government and private old age home in Nepal. Asian Journal of Biological Sciences, 11, 173–178. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajbs.2018.173.178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Human Rights Commission (2018). Elderly special issue-2075 Sambahak, December, National Human Rights Commission, Nepal.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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 and Geriatric Research, 7, 460. https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-7182.1000460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranjan, S., Bhattarai, A., & Dutta, M. (2014). Prevalence of depression among elderly people living in old age home in the capital city Kathmandu. Health Renaissance, 11(3), 213–218. https://doi.org/10.3126/hren.v11i3.9634

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, K., Yadav, B., & Battachan, M. (2018). Correlates of depression among elderly population residing in a community in Eastern Nepal. Birat Journal of Health Sciences, 3(1), 325–330. https://doi.org/10.3126/bjhs.v3i1.19729

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinha, D. (1984). Some recent changes in the Indian family and their implications for socialization. The Indian Journal of Social Work, 69, 338–348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Subedi, B.P. (2003). Customary images and contemporary realities: The activities of older people in Nepal. Working paper no WP 403, Oxford Institute of Aging, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Subedi, P. K. (2020). Quality of life during old-age in Nepal. A statistical analysis. Population Ageing, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-020-09287-2

  • Thapa, D. K., Visentin, D., Kornhaber, R., & Cleary, M. (2018). Prevalence of mental disorders among older people in Nepal: A systematic review. Kathmandu University Medical Journal, 62(2), 181–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thapa, D. K., Visentin, D., Kornhaber, R., & Cleary, M. (2020). Migration of adult children and quality of life of older parents left-behind in Nepal. Gerontology & Geriatrics International, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.14047

  • Timalsina, R., Sherpa, P. D., & Dhakal, D. K. (2014). Factors associated with depression among elderly living in old age homes in Kathmandu Valley. Journal of Institutional Medicine, 36(1), 90–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. (2015). World population prospects: The 2015 revision.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. (2017). Ageing in Asia and Pacific. Accessed on October, 2020, Retrieved from https://www.unescap.org/resources/ageing-asia-and-pacific-overview

  • WHO. (2011). Summary world report on disability. Report of World Health Organization and World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willemse, E., Anthierens, S., Farfan-Portet, M. I., Schmitz, O., Macq, J., Bastiaens, H., Dilles, T., & Remmen, R. (2016). Do informal caregivers for elderly in the community use support measures? A qualitative study in five European countries. BMC Health and Services Research, 16, 270. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1487-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yadav, U. N., & Paudel, G. (2016). Prevalence and associated factors of elder mistreatment: A cross sectional study from urban Nepal. Age and Ageing, 45(5), 609–613.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Population Studies, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal

    Hom Nath Chalise

Authors
  1. Hom Nath Chalise
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty Associate and Science Librarian at Hampshire College (retired), Amherst, Massachusetts, US

    Helaine Selin

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Chalise, H.N. (2021). Aging in Nepal. In: Selin, H. (eds) Aging Across Cultures. Science Across Cultures: The History of Non-Western Science, vol 10. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76501-9_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation