Page 16 - Contributed Paper Session (CPS) - Volume 1

CPS651 El Mostafa T.
4. The elderly: environment and contrasting perspectives
Today we see that the population in these countries gets older at a much
faster rate than has been the case for the currently developed world. This
means they will have less time to prepare for the ageing population. Moreover,
this process goes along over the years with many societal changes.
Thus, the review of existing data has highlighted that only 1/5 of the elderly
has a social and medical insurance. Few have access to care, and their physical
and financial dependence increases, in a context where the support of these
persons within the family is threatened, particularly by having more and more
nuclear households.
4.1. Family environment: an exceptional social haven
The examination of the distribution of the population aged 60 and over by
family relationship helps shed light on the family environment in which they
live. In general, it seems that almost all the elderly are surrounded by people
in their families. Thus, in 2014, only 5.2% (170130) of older people live alone,
73% (124615) of women and, given the specificities of the Moroccan society
and the Arab-Muslim culture in general that make the family a hard core of
social solidarity for the elderly
The position occupied by the elderly in the society is very important and is
seen through numerous symbols and images of respect. Facing weak role of
specialized social welfare institutions, the majority of older Moroccans are
supported by the family "generous refuge". 77.5% of this population receive
material assistance from their families, in particular their children. This shelter
also refers to the issue of cohabitation of several generations in the same
housing and lodging for the elderly.
Thus, referring to the relationship of elders with their family / social
environment raises the notion of dependency that often refers to the
representation health / morbidity. Ageing is the product of the accumulation
of a wide range of molecular and cellular damage over the years. This one
leads to progressive degradation of physical and mental abilities.
4.2. Ageing and Health: a close correlation

Generally, the ageing process is characterized by number of living
conditions (physical, emotional, psychological etc.). Also Old age is
characterized more by diseases known to others and are quite complex and
usually occure late in life and don’t constitute separate disease categories. This
is what is commonly called geriatric syndromes also knowing that according
RGPH 2014, 50.6% of disabled people are aged 60 and over.
This observation leads us to put the emphasis on vulnerability afflicting
this population which particularly faces the shortcomings of health services.

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