INDIA: Elderly came to old age homes after neglect, abuse

SURAT, Gujarat (Indian Journal of Community Medicine), June 18, 2008: A team of three researchers interviewed 68 elderly persons residing at four old-age homes in Surat city to explore their reasons for coming to stay at these homes report a total of 103 reasons given by them. The reasons given included: * Neglected and living alone (36.9%); * Physical insecurity (16.5%); * Neglect after decreased income contribution (10.7%); * Lower medical care expenses and living costs in old-age homes as compared to living alone independently (9.7%); * Physical and verbal abuse and insults by daughter-in-law and son (8.7%); * Neglect by family due to high health care and treatment costs (6.8%); * Poverty (5.8%); * Peaceful and spiritual life (1.9%); * Drug addict or abusive son (1%); * Schizophrenic son (1%) * Belongings lost in the recent floods (1%). The main reason that emerged was the unwillingness of the family to care for aged, which has been expressed through abuse, neglect and refusal to co-habit and care for them. This was pronounced in elderly who required extensive medical care, economically disadvantaged and those who had distributed their wealth to children. The elderly reported having felt unwanted and useless while living with their families. Forty-six percent had felt uncomfortable during their initial stay at old-age homes due to feelings of displacement from their neighbours, friends, relatives and family. They had stated that they had done their best for their children and society, and now they deserved reciprocation. Subsequently, 100% of them felt better and comfortable, and 73.5% were of the opinion that such old age home was ideal setting for the aged as it is inevitable; abolishes everyday abuse; gives a sense of belongingness with fellow residents and provides better services. The quality of services were better in paid homes, and this was reflected in their satisfaction levels. The discarding of this vulnerable group from the intergenerational family in the absence of adequate social networks and universal social security and left to increasing reliance on individual self, state and private institutions poses a grim future scenario for the elderly [1] who already face social problems and necessitating programmes to assist them to live fruitful lives as senior citizens. The study highlights the need to support the "Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2007" in the Parliament, which mandates children and relatives to maintain senior citizens or pay monthly maintenance in cases of neglect and obliges the government to establish and support old-age homes; improve their healthcare provisions and introduce reverse mortgages and pension schemes. The bill's enaction as law would greatly strengthen the constitutional and state commitments towards older people as mentioned in the National Policy on Older Persons and would enable the elderly to reside with dignity in line with the Indian Prime Minister's announcement on India's 60th Independence Day to launch programmes for pension, life, disability and health insurance cover to poor elderly. The researchers on the need to support old-age home residents in Surat, Gujarat were Kumar Mukesh, Bansal RK, Bansal Manoj of Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research, Surat and UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Correspond with Bansal R K of Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research, Surat and UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Kumar M, Bansal RK, Bansal M. Need to support old-age home residents. Indian J Community Med 2008;33:131 Source URL: Kumar M, Bansal RK, Bansal M. Need to support old-age home residents. Indian J Community Med [serial online] 2008 [cited 2008 May 22];33:131. Available from: http://www.ijcm.org.in/text.asp?2008/33/2/131/40887 Courtesy: Dr. Sanmukh Joshi, E-mail: sanmukhj@yahoo.com