Most of us are unaware of the subject Geriatrics & Gerontology. Geriatrics covers the area of medical care of the old. Gerontology on the other hand is the Scientific study of processes of growing old.We, s a social service organization, are observing that in some families and some strata Of the society the elderly persons are neglected.
In the midst of our daily busy life we fail to observe the difficulties faced the elderly in Boarding a bus or crossing the street and if we look inward we find even people like the former first citizen of the country and his wife leading a lonely life. Their family may include their son, daughter-in- law and grand children. But the son and daughter-in-law are busy in their profession from morning till late evening, the children are busy with their school and studies & none of them have any time for the aged who are almost excluded from their world. The resultant loneliness leads to despair & some times to extreme depression. Prolonged depression causes physical & mental illness & some elderly withdraw themselves to inner shell and become numb.
Our prime goal is to try our best to remove the despair from the lives of our respected senior citizens.Question may arise about the utility of discussion this problem with the general public.
Some facts and figures collected during the last few decades and consequent social problems has made the lives of the elderly a matter of concern for the society. The number of aged people is increasing globally. Due to rapid advancement in medical science the death rate has gone down drastically and on the other hand the birth rate is decreasing globally. The result has been increase in the life span and in the increase in the number of elderly. A study by U.N.O. in 1950 found the number of people above the age of sixty at 200 million and gave projected figures as such will touch 590 million in the year 2000 & 1000 million in the year 2025 (one million is equal to 10 laces). Hence after about 45 years, 13.7% of the world population will occupy by the old people. This trend is also being observed in our country. In the nineteenth century half of the population died before attaining the age of 50 but the present longevity has increased to 78 years due to advanced medical science.
In the nineteenth century one is every forty Indians we above the age of 65 and at present one in every eight Indians are above 65. During the middle of the 21st Century one is very ten will be above the age of 70. Thus Aged people Will constitute a major part of the population . The presence of such large number of elderly person create family problems & social tension. For the busy young and middle aged this persons are redundant and undesirable. Whatever is their social position they face a lot of problems which may be emotional , physical or economical. Some of the economical problems faced by the elderly at present as follows:

1.Pensioners are unable to cope with inflation.

2.Those dependent on the interest of bank/ post office deposits after retirement is unable to meet both end due to decrease in the rate of interest.

3.Many senior citizens have spent their entire saving in building houses and educational their children. Now without any fund in their hands they are economically dependant on other members of the family, which causes family tension.

4.Those worker and employees who have lost their jobs due to globalization, liberalization, privatization and closures of factory and office are suffering economically and deserve moral support and medical assistance.

The solution to the above problems can only be found through methodical and organized movement.To give a concrete shape to this effort a number of respected senior citizen assembled on 29th August 2004 at the initiative of Shri Bimal Chatterjee and helt a fruitful meeting.
Subsequently on 12th December 2004 at Shahid Smriti Bhaban at 6 pm a preparatory committee was formed with forty citizens.
The goal of the preparatory committee will be to organize low cost medical support including diagnostic facilities for detection of particular ailment and arrange medicines at affordable prize. The institute will also implement social and mental rehabilitation to the aged. During the first meeting held with the respected citizen, decision were taken regarding the name of the organization & the methodology after detailed discussions and suggestions from the individual citizens.

1.Bethune Institute of Geriatrics Research & Rehabilitation Center, Shahid Smrity Bhaban , 392A Prince Anwar Shah Road , Kolkata -700045 organised jointly by jay Engineering works Union & local respected citizens will run a low cost treatment center for senior citizen . Membership fee will be Rs. 10/- only.

2.Foe providing diagnostic services at low cost this institute will build up relation with the diagnostic centers in and around.

3.For the first visit the fee will be Rs.25/- only (Rs. 20/- for the doctors & Rs. 5/- for the maintenance of the institute).

4.For the subsequent visit the fee will be Rs. 15/- only (Rs. 10/- for the doctors & Rs. 5/- for maintenance of the institute).

Besides these, the institute will organize local (area wise) meting and seminars to spread awareness on the socio- economic problems of the senior citizen. This will help the local people to understand the problems inside the families and outside the society. Some young boys and girls will be trained who can communicate with the elderly to find out their individual problems & suggest solutions.
Keeping in view that senior citizen are assets of our country they can be engaged in different works depending on their capability which will be useful to the society and will help the elderly to relax from monotony and loneliness. Till date no such project has been taken up for the elderly citizens.