Old Age Homes In India

chillibreeze writer — Sathya Venkatesh

The dream of the people all over the world to live long lives is now becoming a reality due to the socio-economic development of people and advancement in sciences, particularly medical sciences. In India about 7.5% of the population is above 60 years and the life expectancy is increasing gradually.1

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Old age was never a problem in India. Old age homes were alien in concept and elder abuse was considered a Western problem. Not any more. As life expectancy has increased from 41 years in 1951 to 64 years today, hundreds of old age homes have sprung up in India. Neglect of parents has become a big issue, so much so that the Indian government has passed "The maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens bill 2006", which makes it imperative for adult children to look after their parents.

As of 1998, there were 728 Old Age Homes in India. Detailed information about 547 of these is available. Out of these, 325 homes are free of cost while 95 old age homes are on pay & stay basis, 116 homes have both free as well as pay & stay facilities and 11 homes have no information. A total of 278 old age homes all over the country are available for the sick and 101 homes are exclusively for women. Kerala has 124 old age homes which is the maximum in any state.2

Healthy ageing is not only related to the advances in medical technology but also to a wide range of other factors like enabling the aged to lead a stimulating life, being fully involved in society and having meaningful social relationships.

Today's "post-retirement complexes" have a whole range of built-in facilities like 24 hour medical service, a book-shop, bank and post office facilities etc. Some of the high-end complexes also offer open theatres, trips to places of common interest etc for their inmates. But these are only for the elite section of the aged who have the resources to enjoy such facilities.

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As the role of families as a social safety net for the elderly is fast eroding, the poor among the elderly have become the most vulnerable sections of society in India. The Indian government is waking up to meet this challenge head on. At present over 500 NGOs are given grant-in-aid to provide services like old age homes, day care centers, medical facilities etc. for the aged. The Delhi-based International Federation on Aging has been campaigning for free health care for senior citizens; decrease in the age limit for pension; a bigger, respectable living allowance; change in the eligibility criteria so that even if the combined family income is Rs.8,000 the senior citizen is entitled to pension, creation and implementation of a social security scheme and so on.

Old age homes are a necessity in the present day scenario as the younger generation do not have the time or in many cases the resources to meet their needs (like medical expenses, special food etc). But old age homes should be considered only as a secondary option. Elders in the family are definitely an asset. It is they who can impart the much needed ethical values and code of conduct in the younger generation. Old age homes as an option should be considered only for the betterment of the senior citizens by way of better physical and mental status, greater possibility for social bonding etc. Under no pretext should the aged be made to feel that they are a burden and hence turned away. Builders can also consider allocating a few houses for the senior citizens within an integrated township (at subsidized rates), so that the feeling of isolation goes away while proximity to dear ones is maintained.

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—About our writer: Sathya says, "Born, brought up and settled in Coimbatore, I work as a copy editor in an equity analysis firm. Painting, watching cartoon programmes with my son and helping students with their English lessons/essays are my other interests."

 

 

 

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