INDIA: Hyderabad NGOs Feel Need for an Old Age Home

Hyderabad comes to terms with the fact that it needs to provide more options for elderly people seeking an abode and a fuller life, writes Ashutosh Kumar. HYDERABAD, Andhra Pradesh (The Times of India), May 11, 2006: When Hyderabad recently commemorated the Day for the Aged, it came as a revelation that the city doesn’t have many homes for the aged. This has only made life harder for many senior citizens in the city who are being deprived of emotional and economic security due to the emergence of nuclear families. Many going abroad leave the elderly members of their families to themselves. The demand for old age homes here has therefore witnessed a big surge in the last five years. The twin cities have 150 old age homes and 30 among them are run on charity. There aren't many options even for senior citizens who are ready to pay a good monthly amount. KR Gangadharan, who is associated with many national and international associations working for old people, opines that NGOs and the private sector should come together to build more homes for the aged. It's not only the elderly members of families living abroad that seek old age homes; interestingly, elderly members of families living in the city too need the same. "Changing value systems are forcing elderly people to live away from their families,"says Rao Chelikni, director of federation of AP senior citizens' organisation. He adds that, unlike earlier days, elder people don't get to spend much time with their grandchildren as both live with two totally different mindsets. Many prefer living in old age homes to avoid loneliness. The situation in other Indian cities isn't brighter either. Many of them lag behind in the number of old age homes. This is in contrast to developed countries that have security nets for the elderly. India is yet to come up with a concrete plan to provide proper support systems for the old. Experts feel that lack of old age homes needs immediate attention, but the aged in India won't need them if they become self-reliant by taking a lesson from their western counterparts who start a "second career"and become an asset with their experience. Retired army officer Vikram Reddy says, "Elderly people too should feel the pulse of the new times and get stronger." hyderabadtimes@indiatimes.com