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Old Age Homes in India
The world has changed and so have the structures of families. In India, where the joint family survived for so many years, the security and care of the elderly was never a question. As the world changed and members of a family had to leave for jobs in other cities or move to foreign countries, the care of the elderly became an issue. If one was fortunate enough to have other relatives look after their parents, all they needed to do was to make the necessary funds available. However, when there was either no one available or willing to take up this responsibility, or the parents were practically abandoned, the only way out for aged parents was to turn to assistance from old age homes. It is estimated that four to five million Indians live abroad. Among these, some are expatriates who will return. The rest are those who have migrated to the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and Europe. There are also those who have since long been permanent residents in Africa. The problem common to all of them is that they have the elders of their family back home in India. And with the trend since many years now of the nuclear family and the gradual demise of the joint family, many of the elders are left to fend for themselves. Some of the younger elders in their sixties can manage to look after themselves. Thus, there exists the need for old age homes where elderly individuals are well-looked after and all their needs are met. Among the organizations that are active in serving this need, ‘HelpAge India’ is probably in the forefront. Their recent campaign called ‘Proud2B60: Who are you calling old?’ was meant to coincide with independent India’s 60th birthday. In her foreword in the ‘Senior Citizen’s Guide’ by HelpAge India, Meira Kumar, the Hon’ble Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, mentioned that the wider dissemination of information is the first step towards empowering people. She also mentioned that a program to assist NGOs establish centers for the elderly has been formulated. This is timely indeed because currently, the estimated number of elderly is approximately 70 million and is expected to reach 117 million by 2025. According to the national portal of India (india.gov.in) there are more than a thousand old age homes in India. Many of them are charitable organizations which offer free shelter. Others charge according to the services and facilities they provide. Yet others act as day care centers. Basically the services provided are a decent place to live among other elderly citizens, food and medical facilities. Some offer yoga classes, telephone and Internet access, weekly movies. However there are more enterprising projects which can be classed as retirement complexes. Among the well known retirement complexes are the Ashiana Housing which is an hour’s drive from Delhi, and the Classic Kudumbam near Chennai. Both these projects are targeted at the upper and middle income groups One of the most original services which I came across was the husband and wife team that offer to visit elderly couples who prefer their own residences. They offer whatever assistance is necessary acting on behalf of the son or daughter living abroad. This service extends to bringing medical assistance, medication and bedside presence at the time of their last breath. They arrange funeral services and await the arrival of the son or daughter who will take time to travel from afar. In other words, they provide a proxy service. A few years ago it may have been true that those past 60 and retired may not have an income to support themselves, except for a small pension. With inflation, the pension becomes a farce, and to compound the problem if ill health strikes them, they are in serious trouble if they do not get help. Their children, who live abroad, may not assist them for reasons of their own, so they sink into penury and pitiful circumstances depending for help from neighbors and friends. However the baby boomers that have now turned 60 are better educated and may have foreseen these events. They may need old age services when they pass 70 years of age, but meanwhile they can continue to play a meaningful role in society. Their expectation of these services will differ from what is, at present, being accepted gratefully by the aged. Everyone needs to remember that old age is not an issue related to parents alone but is a prospect that is inevitable for one and all. Thus, a careful preparation for retirement is probably the best investment. Furthermore, since most of those who are yet years away from retirement are well-educated and professionals, they could plan to remain active for as long as possible, by offering consultation, teaching, or by just pursuing goals they never had time for. For many others who live abroad the prospect of looking after aged parents, while looking after their own families and commitments, there are enough facilities and organizations which can help. It may be best to contact HelpAge India and also visit the Indian government portal on senior citizens for advice. One last bit of advice is to do your moral duty by making sure your elderly parents live their twilight years in peace. Meanwhile, this is also an opportunity to demonstrate to your children the importance of doing the right thing. Chillibreeze's disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article.
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