Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Aging is natural phenomenon. Like many low income countries, Nepal has has a high growth rate of the aging population for a long time period. This dependent population is itself a challenge. In addition, they have physical and mental changes and these needs are difficult in the absence of proper basic health facilities and institutions along with health awareness. Growing problems with Alzheimer’s in aging population may be a big issue in low income countries and households. This paper examines physical and mental changes for the aging population with Alzheimer’s and its economic cost to household and its impacts in the society through using continuous observation method to Alzheimer Cases Behavioral Information and Data, Survey to Alzheimer Households, and key informant interviews through descriptive statistics and regression method. The paper finds Alzheimer’s cases have faster and more mental changes than physical changes and more behavioral changes in terms of losing their past history particularly in name, relationship, utility, talking, working etc. They have more insecure behavior and may be constantly hungry. Its economic cost is invisibly higher. Households have problems handling them and inability to bear costs in the absence of proper institutions.