Old Age Problem in India

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The fading joint family system in India and other innumerable factors have given rise to west-inspired phenomena of old age homes. Surprising cost of living and scanty return on savings have almost pushed these senior citizens on roads. Such an act has triggered the security net of the helpless, which has almost vanished in many states in India with Kerala topping the list.

Vicissitudes of life have contributed to the misery of elders with none to depend on, no means of income, no emotional security making them destitute with a question, about how to carry on with their lives. The growing intolerance among youth, coupled with their inability to adjust with the elderly, is just one of the prime reasons for the rise in the number of old age homes in India.

Old age homesserve as a guide for senior citizens and provides facilities such as the kinds of accommodation (dormitory, single rooms), medical services and recreation facilities available in the city's old age homes. Even though they are provided with all these facilities, an individual at old age homes slogs all through his life for the family and with a view that a day would come when he can just relax in his armchair and read his favorite book and tell tales of his youthful days to the younger generation. He will term those days as "And they lived happily ever after". Alas! he forgets that the day of his rest is someone else's busy day and the loved one won't even owe a second for him.There he realises that his life is just like a bright flower. Many would come and glorify the new bloomed flower in the dawn, but after a day or two when its colours had withered to darkness and it cannot stand firm with its head held high, the same people would walk unnoticed without even heeding its cry." Young people with vigor and strength forget that it’s not too late for them to be in the same shoes.

A debate over whether or not to have old age homes was no longer relevant,...