A changing population structure is occurring all over the world with a great number of older people. Human being passes his life span through five stages such as infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age. Old age is the most miserable situations in a natural process of life and nobody can avoid it. A de-clining trend in both fertility and mortality rates has in-creased average life expectancy. At present, the ageing people have been increasing as an alarming rate. In Bangladesh, 60+ years or older people are now 6% and it will be turn over 9% by 2025 (Wikipedia). The older people are in worse condition due to changing pattern of social saturation, poor health care, and health seek-ing behavior, illiteracy and insufficient income in Bangladesh. Specially, the older people lead a miser-able life in rural community with minimum satis-faction of fundamental needs and rights along with financial exploitations and familial negligence. This research is mainly attempt to explore the needs assess-ments and survival patterns regarding fundamental rights and satisfactions of elderly people in rural area. It explores the demographic and socio-economic status, their various problems (Physical and Psycho-social), the attitude of family members, services received from government organizations and non-government organizations. At present, Bangladesh Government has been passed a welfare Act named as the parents care Act 2013. Under social safety net policy, the government approved the national policy on older people 2014 in Bangladesh to establish human rights and security for the senior citizens as a financial, psycho-physical support along with various prioritized services for senior citizen (Islam et al., 2021). 

In this connection, the World Health Organization also emphasizes to improve the socio-emotional wellbeing of the elderly people with a view to ensure the standard quality of life. This paper is highlighted to assess the background profile, investigate the needs assessment and the problems of elderly people and its consequ-ences in rural area of Bangladesh.

Rational of the Study

This study found that, elderly people in rural area are facing various types of problems like social, physical, mental, financials and neglect which are related with their social isolation, loneliness, illness, fear, stress and suicidal tendency. So that, we have selected these issues to give guide line and direction to solve their problems.

Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study is to investigate the needs assessment and survival pattern of elderly people in rural Bangladesh. The specific objectives are:

1) To know about the demographic, socio-eco-nomic and family structure of the respondents.

2) Exploring the needs assessment, survival pattern and suggestions of the older people in rural area. 

3) Investigate the problems facing in rural area and find out the causes.

Literature Review

A review of books and magazines consistent with vari-ous research related to rural elderly is presented.The United Nations, at first declared the International Day of Older Persons at first October in 1991. Identify 18 principles fall into 5 categories like - 1) Independence; 2) Participations; 3) Care; 4) Self-fulfillment; 5) Dig-nity. The United Nations General Assembly recom-mendation for action in following areas health and nutritions, protections of elderly consumers, housing and environment, family, social welfare, income secu-rity, employment and education.

Raham A.S.M. Atikur (2013; 179) His written seniority magazine “The old situation in Bangla-desh and our doing

The work of the society and the state in the older welfare is emphasized on organizing media and edu-cational programs initiatives in Bangladesh. With the help of the religious leaders aware about the old age of citizens, making then actives and jealous. Young stars have to take initiatives for aged people to make the part in all the stages of nations building and countries development. There also emphasized on the issues of freedom of the elders, self-interests, care, etc. While discussing knowledge about the elderly, but there did not mention any specific system solving problem. 

Hossain, sheikh Abir (p 47-61) survival pattern of older people in Alia affected areas of Bangladesh; Bangladesh Association for the aged and Institute of Geriatric Medicine (BAAIGM)

Survival pattern of older people in Aila affected areas of geriatrics. At present in Bangladesh the amount of old aged peoples is increasing a lot of faster than before. More than 60 years elderly people cant main-tain their rules properly in social, economic and cul-tural matter. Especially in the absence of economic insecurity, social isolation, physical depletion, lack of institution facilities, traditional values and traditional issues moving for away. Hossain Sheikh Abir said that, if we could provide proper training and micro credits they can manage their own livelihood. Instead of de-pending on family, old people can easily manage their own livelihood by small business and animal hus-bandry.

Vuncha Uddin Mohammad Hafiz and Tutul, Far-jana Naynin (2013.p 214-217) seniority magazine “vision disabled problem and chances; A quail-tative analysis.”

Important goods of this study is to gives knowledge about the health, economic and social problem that elderly people face due to obstruction. The problems faced by the visually impaired elderly are financial problems, mental problems, housing problems, health problems, communication problems and medical issues and solving the problems of the visually impaired. Various benefits providing like a medical, housing, increasing amount of disabled allowance and adult allowance and other basic facilities. For example, bus, launches, train has a reserved seat for the elder people. They also suggested that, generating old age homes in every district and making arrangements for a low amount of rent or free rental and increasing social awareness about obstacles of ageing. But this study did not mention anything about visually impaired elderly to provide education and employment status.

The livelihood pattern of older person in slum area; a study on Dhaka city; Mollah Mohammad Main-uddin; Bangladesh Journal of Geriatrics; (p 35-43)

Mollah Mohammad Main Uddin discussed about the livelihood pattern and problems of elderly people. In this research, he found out that problem of family in-come, current occupation, socio-economic problem, medical facilities and recreational topics. This study identifies that most of the slum populations are illiter-ate only have received some initial, education and poverty is the biggest problems to fulfill their needs. Here the elderly does small things to get rid of their economic bad situation. They are engaged in some activities. Such as selling newspaper, begging, rick-shaw driving, collecting plastic bottles etc. Elder peo-ple also does nothing in slum areas and dependent on the family members and they suffer from dignity. 

The problem of aged population structure in Bang-ladesh problem of the urban aged women in Bang-ladesh; a socio-demographic study in Dhaka city; Khanam Pro. Dr. Firoza (P 1-9).

Old aged women of cities are faced such as social, mental, physical, early marriage and educational pro-blems. Among the old age women, divorced women have relatively more problems, statistics shows that among 300 women there are 64% married old women, 7.67% are divorced, 1.66% is helpless old women and 0.67% is unmarried old women. 

Operational Definition

Elder people - In general, the Asia-Pacific region is 60 years old and over age they are elderly. Older people are defined according to some features such as losing sight, reducing physical energy, ill health, loss of memory, loss of authority and honor etc. This research, a man over 60 years of old has been being treated as age older people. 

Needs Assessment - Systematic process of determi-ning, addressing needs or "gaps" between present con-ditions and desired conditions or "wants" is called needs assessments. 

Survival Pattern - Expression of social and cultural advancement to protect rights and navigate emotional pain that elder people manage to continue or exist in spite of difficult circumstances.

Rural - A rural is a geographical area which has land based unique economic, social and production system that is located outside from towns and cities.

Problem - Problem is regarded as unwelcome, harmful and risk matter or situation that people want to resolve.

We have selected 120 individuals as sample (60 male & 60 female) from two villages named by Sharif bag from Dhamrai Upazila and Noyarhat from Savar Upazila of Dhaka district in Bangladesh. Among these 2 villages we have selected 120 older people through purposive sampling. 

This research was conducted by both qualitative and Quantitative method as we can say that it was followed by a mixed method. A list of aged people was selected purposively to conduct the research. All the elderly people of Bangladesh both male and female are the population of the study. The study data has been collected from both primary and secondary sources through interview sche-dule, case study and observation, published and unpublished research report, journals, books as well as from record and documents of relevant agen-cies. To collect primary data a semi-structured in-terview schedule (close and open ended) has been prepared for data collection, which was pre-tested prior to the field work in order to improve its reliability. Data have been collected from selected older persons by direct face to face interview. More over observation technique are applied to collect data. 

A checklist has been prepared to conduct the case studies. Two case studies were conducted by using in-depth interview technique. After collecting data, this study used SPSS software for statistical ana-lysis. Then data were analyzed with different simple statistical techniques and results were drawn.

Data processing and data analysis

Table 1: Age distribution of the respondents.

The above Table 1 shows among the respondents, the people aged 60-65 years is 25%. Among them, the female is 21.67% and the male 28.30%, the people aged 65-70 years is 26.67%. Among them female is 33.33% and male 20%, 71-75 (Both male and female) aged 25.83% among them, the age of women is 28.33% and the male is 23.34%. Study showed in Table 2, 80% of Islamist among the respondent. Among them, female respondents are 76.67% and male is 83.33 %. 23.33% female and 16.67% male respondents are flowing Traditional (Sonaton) religion. Other religions are not found. The result showed in Table 3 the majority of the older people were illi-terate. Among them 66.66 % male and 71.66% female and 81.67% (Both male and female) was Illiterate. 13.31% male and 11.66% female were literate. Among them 10% male and 15% female had completed pri-mary education. Only 10% male and 1.66% female had completed secondary education. None of the res-pondents are highly educated. From the result in Table 4  it is seen that among the respondents, male 75% and female 56.67% both 65.83% are Married and 3.33% male is unmarried/ single.3.33% female were separated from their husband and 5% female were divorced. 21.67% male Widow and 35% female were Widower who do not live together are mostly dependent on their children.

Table 2: Religion: Religious affiliation of the respondents. 

The Fig 1 shows that the respondents of the older people are poor and their economic facilities and job opportunities are limited. 11.67% male respondents are engaged with Mini sales business, employed female is 1.67%, Agricultural 60% ,75% housewife are related with Household activities. Among all women respon-dents, no women respondents are businessmen. Male 28.33% and female 23.33% are related with others activities such as Fisherman, daily labor, baggers, boatman. From the current study in Table 5  it is revealed that 33.33% of the aged men and 33.34% of the aged women live in joint families, 53.33% male and 63.33 female respondents live in nuclear families and 13.34% male and 3.33% female live in alone. This implies that the family bondage in that society is more or less very strong and most of the respondents want to live in joint family to get companions. 

Table 5: Family Structure of the respondents.

Fig 2: At present Dwelling place of the respondent.

From the Fig 2, it is observed that among the res-pondents, male 30% and female 8.33% live in own family, 66.66% male and 86.67% female live in sons family, 1.67%  male  and  5% female live in daughters 

family and 1.67% male live in nephews family. At present dulling place of the respondents represent that most of the son have taken responsibility of their elder parents in our country. In this Table 6 it is showed that among the respondents, Male (88.33%) and female (70%) both 79.17% eat food three times a day. Male (11.67%) and female (28.33%). Both 20% eat food two times a day. It shows that most rural men and women eat three meals per day. Many people who ate two meals per day because of physical illness and eco-nomic problems are behind two meals per day. It is seen in this table, among respondents male (11.67%) and female (28.33%), both 20% eat food at morning and noon. male (88.33%) and female (70%) both 79.17% eat at morning, noon and night among the res-pondents, only 0.83% of women eat breakfast at the morning, noon, evening and night. It shows that most respondents prefer to eat food at morning, noon and night. The Table 6 above shows that, among the res-pondents, male (11.67%) and females (1.67%) both 6.67% eat rice, fish, meat and vegetables. Male (83.33%) and female (70%) both 76.67% eat rice, pulses, fish and vegetables. Men (5%) and female (28. 33%) both 16.66% eat bread, rice, pulses, so its seen that most of the female and male eat rice, pulses, fish and vegetables.

Table 6: How many times eat.

It is observed from the above Table 7  that 51.67% male and 13.33% female have involved with earning sources and other do not have any involvement with earning sources. Analyze the data, it is found that present earning of the respondents between tk. (2000-3000) earnings 2.5%, (4000-5000) earns 4.17%, (6000-7000) earns 9.16% more than (7000) 17.5%.The pre-vious income of those who currently do not earn (3000 - 4000) earning money 12.5%, (5000-6000) earning money 35%, and (7000-8000) earning money 15.84%, and earns over 8000 takas was only 3.33% res-pondents. The Table 8 represents, among the res-pondents, male (51.67%) and Female (33.33%) Both 42.5% their income is enough to pay personal and family expenses. Male (48.33%) and female (66.67%) and both 57.5% their income is insufficient to carry both personal and family expenses. It is seen of this table, among the respondents who have no own ability to manage living cost, male (26.66%) and female (46. 66%) Both 36.67% the cost of living is done by the son. Male (11.66%) and female (10%) Both 10.84% daughter bear living cost. Only male (10%) and 10% female respondents are managing the cost by the help of neighbors, grandchild, old age allowance by govt. and beggary. It shows that women are more dependent on others (Son- Daughter) compared to men.

Table 8: Whether your income is sufficient to cover your personal and familial expenses.

In the above Table 9 it is found that among the res-pondents male (88.33%) and female (66.67%), both 77.5% take part in the decision-making process. On the other hand, male (11.67%) and female (33.33%), both 22.5% dont participate in the decisions making pro-cess. In this table analysis, it is found that among the respondents who can participated in the decision-making process, male (58.33%) and Female (38.34%), Both 48.33% have taken economical decisions, Male (8.33%) and female (3.33%), Both 5.83% have taken the political decisions, Male (21.66%) and female (25%), Both of the 23.34% making decision on social issues. In this Table 9, it is found that among the res-pondents, male (8.33%) and female (8.33%), both 8.33% may not participate in the decision-making pro-cess due to negligence. Male (1.67%) and female (20%), both 10.84% cannot participate in decision pro-cess for physical reasons. Male (1.67%) and female (5%), both 3.33% cannot participate in decision due to imbalance. Here its found more are not participated due to negligence.

Table 10: At present faced problems of respondents.

The result showed that Table 10 all the elder people are suffering different types of problems. Among the respondents, about male 33.33%, female 18.33%, both 25.83% are suffering mental problem such as psy-chological, mental stress, and frustration, memory loss, using slang language, suicidal thought and fear. 8.34 elderly men are suffering specific social problem such as lack of social security, personal security, personality problem, neglect, threats, feeling burden, Lack of treat-ment, special services and loneliness,45% male and 70% female and both 57.5% problems of poor eco-nomic conditions. All the respondents felt specific health problems like heart disease, diabetics, sleeping disturbances, week, mobility problem, urinary and sto-mach problem, skin and hair diseases, eye, hearing and dental problem, pain in body. 50% male and 66.67% female have suffered recreational problem. 25% male, 58.33% female, both 42.66% are suffering doweling problem. The Fig 2 is showed that 38.35% male, 35% female, both 36.67% have taken treatment for health problems but 61.65% male and 65%, both 63.63% have taken no treatment due to their economic pro-blems. Among the respondents who have taken treat-ment, about 3.33% male and 8.33% female Gono-shasthya Kendro Hospital, 6.67% male and 5% female going to Islampur Hospital, 16.66% male and 8.33% female taken treatment from Dhamrai Hospital, 1.67% female taken treatment from Momotaz Hospital, 1.67% male and 3.33% female going to Savar hospital and 10% male, 8.33% female, both 9.16% have taken treat-ment from local market, quack doctors, Kabiraj, Fakir and Pir.

The Fig 4 shows that among the respondents, Male (26.67%) and female (13.33%), both (20%) are listen-ing radio and watching television. Male 48.33% and female 60% are gossiping with neighbors, male 21.67% and female 25% are gossiping with grand-children, only 1.67% elderly female reading newspaper and 3.33% male are engaged with card carom playing to passing their leisure time. Large numbers of the respondents are passing their time gossiping with their neighbors. The above Table 10 shows that among the respondents, male (15%) and female (21.67%), both 18.33% felt loneliness and 85% male and 78.33% elder female never felt loneliness. Among the respondents who dont feel loneliness, male (61.67%), female (63.33%) and both (62.67%) family gives companion, male (20%) female (26.67%) and both (23.33%) spends leisure with grandchildren, male (13.33%) female (8.33%) and both (10.82) accompanied by children, male (1.67%) female (1.67%) both (1.67%) accompanied by nephew and niece, only male (3.33%) accompanied by others neighbor. In result we can see that, a majority of the males and females are accompanied by their family members.

Table 11: Feel loneliness.

In the above Fig 5, we see that among the respondents, Male (33.33%) and female (26.67%), Both (30%) opp-ortunities for free treatment, Male (1.67%) and female (3.33%), Both (2.5%) want to economic aid, Male (10%) and female (8.33%), Both (9.17%) want to per-form Hajj, Male (11.67%) and female (5%), both 8.33%. Wish for death, Male (43.33%) and female (5%), both 24.17%. Wishing for the governmental help, female (3.33%). Wants to stay healthy life only female (5%). Wants to visit relatives home. only female (8.33%) seeks to social security. 

In view of this study, we see that maximum respon-dents are 66-70 years old, which is approximately 26.67%. Besides, there are some older than over 70 years old. 80% respondents are believed in the religion of Islam and 20%are believed in the religion of Sana-ton. The number of married females and male are 65. 83%, 2.5% are divorced. After this, there are widows in the position, whose number is 28.33% and the separated women whose number is 1.67%. Among the respondents, the illiteracy rate is higher, which is 81.67% and the primary pass is 12.57%. Among the respondents most of the male elderly people work in agriculture, which is 30% and 37.5% female elderly people are engaged in household activities. Only .83% is employed. Other activities that are in place after, for example, the unemployed, and the household work activities, that is, there is no income. There is no income of 67.5% and currently income is 32.5%. Res-pondents, whose income is up to 7000taka they are ful-filling their personal and familial expenses by the help of their sons. Among the respondents, maximum elderly preferred to live joint family but 58.33% elderly people are living in nuclear family and76.67% are lived with sons and 19.17% are lived in own family. 77.51% respondents are taking decision but 22.5% have no power to take decision due to neglect, physical problems and imbalance. The current problems faced by older people are physical problems which rate is 100%, among the respondents 25.83%. Having psy-chological problems and 75% have recreational pro-blems. 36.67% respondents have taken treatments from governmental and private hospitals, local market, Kabiraj and Fakir and 63.63% are not taken any types of treatments due to financials problems.79.17% rural elderly people have taken food in 3 times and .83% have taken 4 times in a day. Maximum respondents are not maintained a balance diet and taken rice, dal, vegetable and fish in one item. A few numbers of res-pondents are taken meet in a week. Among the res-pondents 54.17% elderly are spending their time by gossiping with their neighbors and 23.33% are with their grandchild by telling story and playing, 20% listening radio and watching television and 1.6% playing card and cram in their leisure time. Only 18.33% fell loneliness and 81.67% elderly are ac-companied by their children, nephew, niece, and grandchild and family members. The elders are look-ing forward to welfare of their life.24.17% respondents are wanted to solve their problems by the glade of government, 9.17% wants to perform Hajj ,30% wants to free treatments, 2.5% wants to visit relatives home, 1.67% wants to stay healthy life,8.33% wish to death and 8.33% wants to get social security.

Case Study-01

Rupchan Rajbongsi is a boatman. 70 years of old, he doesnt have enough strength to work, so he doesnt work. He spends his time sitting to home but he has two cows milk is 1 or 2 kg, and then he goes to sell it in the market. That is his amount of income. Once this hardworking Rupchan Rajbongsi supported his family which including four members by his boatman pro-fession. In time, the son got married separately. His daughter also got married too. Rupchan Rajbongsi had a small amount of land. He sold land and sent his son abroad. After coming from abroad his sons married and separated himself from his payments. Their son doesnt look after them. Rupchan and his wife have spent hardship of life. He is suffering from various diseases. But he cannot take any treatment. He has not enough money for treatment. His physical problem is knee pain, not properly seen in the eye. Sometime his daughter helps with a little money for treatment. In this situation Rupchan thinks government should help in the treatment of vulnerable adult which is his wish also.

Case Study-02

Padma Banu (65 years old) is a mother of 3 sons and one daughter. Her sons and daughter all are married. She is living in a joint family with her sons daughter in laws and grandchildren. Once she used to her house hold alone. Because of their many agricultural lands, they have lots household activities. But now after age, her position in the family has become very un-necessary. Her sons perform all duties to her just only as a responsibility. It has been 12 years her husband Abdul Hamid died. A few years ago she fell slippery from the high ground as a result, she got hurt in the waist, without taking doctors advice her younger son gone her pain hillers on that moment she got relive but later the pain continued to grow at a level that grew half of its body paralyzed. Now she cannot move alone her need to help with her daughter in laws. It is not possible to do any work due to physical disability. Her life is passing bad situation. She now thinks that if she had a good quality treatment and good come in the past then this situation wouldnt have happened. Now she has only one wish that Allah should let her die soon.

Recommendation

Financial insufficiency is main problems of elder people in Bangladesh. The elder people have to suffer not only for their livelihood but also loneliness, frust-ration, familial and social deprivation which make elders life difficult. The recommendations of the pre-sent study, the results knowledge and experience ac-quired by the elders are highlighted below.

1) Financial security is an important matter for the elderly. Increasing the target of the old age allo-wance program and the governments health and social welfare ministry needs to allocate annual and five-year annual plans and national budget money.

2) To provide separate services and free medical care, low travelling cost for the elderly people.

3) Have to organize institutional recreation in the area to remove loneliness or solitude.

4) To ensure safety and security of the elders, need to take steps to keep running the joint family system in force.

5) Family members and educational institutions should have given the moral education to respect the elders.

6) Proper implementation of Parents Care Act- 2013 of Bangladesh.

Limitations

The respondents try to avoid submitting their answer due to the misconception; they thought they will be get involved in any problem. Many respondents are given with a very thoughtful answer and it was a shrinking between them.

The elder population of Bangladesh is a significant part of the total population. The rate and member of elders in this country is increasing gradually. In these villages, most of the elder people are living under the poverty line due to breakdown of rural joint family structure, changes in family customs, activities and family values for which reasons the elders are gra-dually going to isolated places. The elders are deprived of many basic needs and services including medical care. The study shows that poor elder people in rural areas faces different types of difficult circumstances to meet their basic needs. They are suffering from various types of physical, mental, social and cultural problems. The programs that are going on for welfare of the elders in our country are less than requirements. So the time has come for the elders to do something new. This is why; government and people of Bangladesh have come forward for welfare of the elders by de-claring solidarity with international strategy. So that, elders can enjoy peace in life and necessary steps should have taken by adopting proper information.

We are acknowledged to the respondents of our study and also we are grateful to some of our students who helped to collect data. We are thankful to the Uni-versity authority for permitting to conduct the research. 

There are no potential conflicts of interest among the authors.