IN the coming years, the world will witness
lower fertility rates and higher life expectancy thus seeing the ageing
population grow significantly bigger than the younger generation. Though
Brunei's elderly population is considered to be at a manageable rate compared
to other countries, it still anticipates an increasing ageing society.
According
to an interview with The Brunei Times in 2007, Dr Alan Bush who was then the
Head of Department of Public Policy at the Universiti of Brunei Darussalam
projected that the ageing population would double from 3.5 per cent in 1991 to
6.5 per cent in 2011. In a recent interview, Datin Hajah Adina binti Othman,
the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports, revealed that
the ageing population was at a rate of five per cent, a slightly lower figure
projected by Dr Alan Bush in 2007.
"Definitely
the rate of the ageing population will increase because of innovations in health,
technology and lifestyle. For the moment, it is not something to be worried
about but we cannot be complacent. We should already be taking steps towards
more active ageing," said Datin Hajah Adina to The Brunei Times.
Dr Alan
Bush in 2007 assured that only when Brunei's ageing population reaches 10 or 11
per cent would the issue be more of a concern.
"It
is not severe at the moment, but when you get to the point of having 10 or 11
per cent of ageing population being dependant on a working population, a
considerable amount of money will go to supporting an older population who are
not usually economically productive," said Dr Alan Bush in 2007.
Dr Alan
Bush defined an ageing population as "when birth rate is declining, and
the population is not being replaced at the rate it used to be".
Among
ways to facilitate the growing trend of an ageing population is to promote
active and healthy ageing.
"The
key word is active ageing, you grow old but you still keep active which would
be good for you and for the quality of life," said Datin Hajah Adina in an
interview with The Brunei Times.
Datin
Hajah Adina stresses Brunei is still fortunate enough to have a caring society
whereby looking after the elderly is still part of the country's tradition with
extended families still in place. Brunei maintains strong family dynamics which
is slowly perishing in other societies. Such dynamics has allowed Brunei to be
able oppose ideas about institutionalising the elderly.
At the
same time however, cases of concern regarding the care for senior citizens are
slowly surfacing. Such active ageing as mentioned by Datin Hajah Adina not only
involves the physical aspects of keeping healthy but also includes the mental
and emotional aspects of ageing. Haji Hasbollah Haji Damit an executive member
volunteer with the Department of Community Development (JAPEM) as well as an
executive members to both Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkia and
non-governmental organisation Brunei Social Welfare Council has been
volunteering to provide senior citizens with better livelihoods since 2005.
Based
on his observations and experience working with the elderly and volunteers,
Haji Hasbollah commented that a caring society starts from home where it is
built upon caring for their own parents. His passion to help has allowed him to
work with senior citizens who are left alone without any family left and
elderly citizens deserted by their own family.
"Some
of the youth volunteers were shocked as they witnessed some senior citizens in
dire conditions and uncared ... These scenes have raised questions of whether
or not we still have a loving and caring community," said Haji Hasbollah.
Haji
Hasbollah has worked with several cases of senior citizens who were deserted by
their own family.
"There
was a case where an individual who lives in a big house left his elderly father
to live in an old shack not far from him. His father had passed away for four
days without this person noticing," recounts Haji Hasbollah.
Haji
Hasbollah also speaks of another similar case that comprised several wealthy
and highly-educated children leaving their ageing parents to live in dire
conditions.
"These
are educated people, why can't they use their intellect in these instances? It
just shows civic responsibility and care are not there. Although it is only a
small percentage but its presence within Brunei's small population calls for
concern," said Haji Hasbollah.
Haji
Hasbollah believes the presence of strong family morals as the solution where
children are taught the value of parents and cherish the valuable time with
parents.
"
Working with senior citizens shows that as they grow older the only thing they
want is unconditional love and care despite their faltering state of strength
and condition," said Haji Hasbollah.
Haji
Hasbollah calls upon more civic awareness to be put across to youth through
subjects such as Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB), Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK)
while he applauds and encourages the National Service effort. Haji Hasbollah
and fellow volunteers are trained professionally by the Department of Community
Development to enhance the livelihoods of local senior citizens.
SOBRINA
ROSLI
The
Brunei Times
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