INTRODUCTION:

A country is defined as "Aging " when the proportion of population aged ≥60 years reaches 7%. India is an aging country with 8.6%of population aged ≥60 years as per National census 2011.It is projected that the proportion will increase the 19.4% in 2050.It was found that 65% to 75% of elderly were economically dependent for their day to day maintenance either partially or fully. Social participation and compliance to medications increased among Elderly persons when they were economically independent.¹The National policy for older persons (NPOP) was formulated in 1999 in response to the increasing number of persons 60 years and above and their vulnerability arising out of income security and concern about health and other socio economic and physical wellbeing.⁵

Article 41 of the Indian constitution recommends social welfare to its citizens if they are unemployed, elderly, sick and disabled within the limits of the states’ economic capacity and development. Under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), the Government of India is handling the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS).⁴ Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme, and Annapurna Scheme for below poverty line population.¹

The state under its capacity can modify the quantum of monetary benefits. The government of National capacity territory of Delhi under the Department of social welfare provides financial assistance to old age persons. And elderly persons who are eligible for IGNOAPS, but remain uncovered by this scheme are provided 10 kg of wheat for free to meet the food security by the department of food supplies and custom Affairs.

Independence in the economic condition of the senior citizen improves the health seeking behaviour and health outcomes .The mere existence of these schemes and policies is not enough, awareness and utilization of these schemes by elderly persons are necessary to attain an acceptable level of social welfare.¹Hence, the objective was to assess the level of knowledge on geriatric schemes and policies among senior citizens and find out the association between knowledge on geriatric schemes and policies of senior citizen with selected socio-demographic variables.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A descriptive study to assess the knowledge regarding schemes and policies of old age among senior citizens in selected panchayat of Kannur district, with a view to develop an information booklet.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1) Assess the level of knowledge on geriatric schemes and policies among senior citizens.

2) Find out the association between knowledge on geriatric schemes and policies of senior citizen with selected socio demographic variables.

3) Develop and distribute an information booklet on geriatric schemes and policies among senior citizens.

HYPOTHESES:

H1: There will be significant association between level of knowledge of senior citizen regarding schemes and policies of geriatric with selected socio demographic variables.

H0: There will be no significant association between level of knowledge of senior citizen regarding schemes and policies of old age with selected socio demographic variables.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

Dr. Sweta D'cunha, Dr. Suchitra Suresh, Chitra Yathindran (2019) conducted a descriptive study to assess the level of awareness regarding rights of elderly among Elderly persons in selected areas of Mangalore. The sample was selected using accidental sampling technique. The sample study comprise of total 385 senior citizen. The tool used for the study was structured questionnaire. The data was analysed using frequency and percentage and inferential statistics method such as Chi- square test. The study showed that 57% of the respondents had moderate level of awareness regarding benefits and provisions for elderly and 39% of the respondent’s level of awareness was poor. The study showed that there is low awareness regarding the various health and welfare provision that are provided for the Elderly population. This may result in decrease in the health status of the Elderly people and also reduce their quality of life.³

Anil Kumar Goswami, S. Ramadass, Sanjeev Kumar Gupta conducted a study regarding awareness and utilization of social welfare schemes by elderly persons residing in an urban settlement colony of Delhi. This was a community based cross sectional study conducted from February to May 2018. Two specially recruited interviews administered the self-developing semi structured interview schedule. It consisted of socio-demographic data awareness and utilization of various schemes. A total of 931 (416) male and (515) female participants completed the interview of the total, 809(86.9%) participants were aware of at least and social welfare schemes participating and utilizing any of the social welfare schemes were 393 female utilized the social welfare schemes almost twice as compared to male participants aged 75 years and above has four times higher utilization of social welfare schemes compared to 60-64 years aged group. Conclusion of the study was, although the awareness of social welfare schemes among Elderly persons was good, their utilization has scope for significant improvement. Focus is needed as Elderly male and among the younger Elderly persons.¹

METHODOLOGY:

A quantitative research approach was adopted to assess the knowledge regarding schemes and policies of old age among senior citizens in selected panchayat in kannur district. Descriptive research design was adopted. Senior citizen were selected with inclusion and exclusion criteria. After conducting the Pre-test/interview, the researchers have given the informational booklet with a view to develop knowledge on schemes and policies of old age. The tool for data collection was closed ended questionnaire with socio demographic Performa by using interview method. The researchers based on the objectives and hypothesis and consisted of 18 multiple choice questions to assess the knowledge regarding schemes and policies of old age among senior citizens in selected panchayat in kannur district. The researchers analysed the findings of the study in relation to the objectives and other by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Table 1. Tabulated representation of percentage and frequency distribution of sample population according to demographic data. Total number of sample =60

Sl No	Demographic data	Frequency	Percentage
1	gender
	Male	23	38.3%
	Female	37	61.7%
	Others	0
2	Age
	60-70	39	65%
	71-80	14	23.3%
	81-90	7	11.7%
3	Religion
	Hindu	47	78.3%
	Christian
	Muslim	13	21.7%
	Others
4	Education
	Professional degree	1	1.7%
	Graduate	1	1.7%
	Intermediate diploma	2	3.3%
	High school	16	26.7%
	Middle school	20	33.3%
	Primary	17	28.3%
	Illiterate	3	5%
5	Occupation
	Professional	2	3.3%
	Semi professional	2	3.3%
	Shop/farm	7	11.7%
	Skilled worker	7	11.7%
	Unskilled worker	30	50%
	Unemployment	12	20%
6	Occupation after retirement
7	Marital status
	Married	59	98.3%
	Un married	1	1.7%
8	Spouse
	Alive	32	54.2%
	Not alive	27	45.8%
	Divorced	0
9	Present health status
	Healthy	55	91.7%
	Unhealthy	5	8.3%
10	Source of knowledge
	Social media	7
	Television	17
	Newspaper and notice	14
	Health workers	32
	Others

Figure 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of sample according to their gender.

The data presented figure 1 show that most of the samples are females.

Figure 2: Frequency and percentage distribution of sample according to their Age.

The data presented in figure 2 show that 65% of samples in the age group 60-70 ,23.3% samples in the age group 71-90 and 11.7% are in the age group 91 and above.

Figure 3: Frequency and percentage distribution of the sample according to their Religion.

The data presented figure 3 shows that out of 60 samples 47 (78.3%) Hindus and 13 (21.7%) Muslims were included in the study.

Figure 4: Frequency and percentage distribution of the sample according to their education.

The data presented in Figure 4 Shows that out of 60 samples 1(1.7%) professional, 1 (1.7%) graduate, 2 (3.3%) intermediate diploma, 16(26.7%) High schoolers, 20(33.3%) middle schoolers, 17(28.3%) primary schoolers, 3(5%) illiterates were included in the study.

Figure 5: frequency and percentage distribution of sample according to their Occupation.

The data presented Figure 5 Shows that out of 60 samples 2(3.3%) professionals, 2(3.3%) semi-professionals, 7(11.7%) shop/farm, 7(11.7%) skilled workers, 30(50%) unskilled workers, 12 (20%) unemployment in the study.

Figure 6: Frequency and percentage distribution of the sample according to their marital status.

The data presented in Figure6 Shows that out of 60 samples married 59(99.3%) and 1(1.7%) unmarried in the study.

Figure 7: Frequency and percentage distribution of the sample according to their spouse alive or not.

The data presented in Figure 7 Shows that out of 59 samples 32(54.23%) samples having spouse alive and 27 (45.7%) are not having spouse alive.

Figure 8: Frequency and percentage distribution of the sample according to their Present Health Status.

The data presented in the figure 8 Shows that out of 60 samples 55(91.6%) healthy and 5(8.3%) unhealthy samples in the study.

Figure 9: Frequency and percentage distribution of the sample according to their source of Knowledge.

The data presented in the figure 9 Shows that out of 60 samples their source of Knowledge from social media 7(11.6%), television 17(28.3%), newspaper and notice 14(23.3%) , health workers 32(53.3% ) in the study.

Table 2. Association between selected demographic variables and knowledge regarding schemes and policies of old age among senior citizen .n=60

VARIABLES	Knowledge regarding schemes and policies of elderly			Chi Square	D.F	P Value
	knowledge score
	Good 13-18	Average 7-12	Poor 1-6
AGE IN YEARS				3.61	4	0.16
60-70	1	26	11
71-80		15	1
81-90		4	2
GENDER				0.80	2	0.66
Male	0	19	4
Female	1	26	10
Others
HEALTH STATUS				0.85	2	0.35
Healthy	1	42	12
Un healthy		3	2
SPOUSE				0.02	2	0.88
Alive		24	7
Not alive	1	21	7
EDUCATION				7.3	12	0.29
Professional degree	0	1	0
Graduate	0	1	0
Intermediate diploma	0		2
High school	0	13	3
Middle school	1	15	4
Primary	0	13	5
Illiterate	0	2	1
OCCUPATION				5.73	5	0.33
Professional		1	1
Semi professional		2
Shop/farm		7
Skilled worker		5	2
Unskilled worker		22	8
unemployment		11	1

Mean	Median	Standard deviation	Margin of error
7.9	6	2.2	7.9+/-0.29