1.

INTRODUCTION

Kerala has the largest number of old-age homes in India even though they admit
less than one percent of the old. As per Help Age India’s, Kerala accounted for 93 (27%)
out of the 347 homes, and 3,386 (22%) out of the 15,471 inmates in these home
countrywide. Statistics made available by Help Age India office, Thiruvananthapuram,
and the Government of Kerala’s Department of Social Welfare, show that in 2011, there
were 164 old-age homes in the state which provided accommodation to around 5,200 old
persons. Thirty-six homes are for women only and all of them are destitute homes. The
vast majority of the homes are run by Christian managements and very few by Hindu and
Muslim communities. To be sure, a number of the homes are run by secular agencies and
their number is increasing. The government is running a few homes, they have plans to
establish old-age homes in all stages of implementation. All government homes are free
of charge of inmates and are open to both sexes.

The first old age home was established in Kerala by Raja Marthanda Varma in
Trichur in 1890 and the Home was established as a society. This is about 121 years old.
Later Missionary activity established more Christian old age homes in Cochin and
Alleppey by the Sisters of Charity which works exclusively with older persons. The
House of Providence and the Shertallay Homes were established in the early nineteenth
century. These are all registered as NGOs. Many voluntary agencies in this field run a
‘Vridh Ashram’ or an old age home. Majority of them are registered as Trusts. Some are
also registered as religious trusts serving one community exclusively.

More than eighty percent of the institutions in Kerala which were started before
1988 were run by Christians, but more recently other religious groups, private persons
and even the government are coming into the picture (Irudaya Rajan S, U S Mishra and
P.S Sharma, 1995c). Most of the institutions provide residential care. There are institution
for males alone (5/70), and there are others for females only (28/70), but the majority in
Kerala are for both sexes (37/70). Most of the homes are for the sick and the destitute
(64/70) and they provide free services. The total capacity of the seventy homes in Kerala
is 3,386, a very small number compared to the two million old persons in the state. In
nearly half the number of homes (23/58) for which information was available, doctors

1
were available in the home but vehicles were available in only seven of them. However,
recreational facilities were available in most of them (50/58). There is much demand for
admission to most of the homes; thirty eight out of the 58 reported that the demand was
greater than supply; for twenty one homes, the demand for a place was not that great.
Demand in religious institutions is higher than that in others. Though the medical and
transport facilities are good in government institutions, the demand is not that great. One
great need of many of the homes is help in repairing the buildings (Irudaya Rajan, et al.,
1995 c).

A survey of the inmates in old age homes indicated that most of the inmates went
to an old age home on their own initiative or through the help of their friends; they were
not placed there by their children. As a consequence of it, most of them (4/5) were happy
about their life in the old age home, including the food served in the homes. About thirty
six percent are supported by themselves, others stay free. At the same time, fifty percent
of the elderly living in the old age homes felt that children should be the main support of
parents in old age. Only about half of the inmates reported that old age homes are the best
place to live at old age (Irudaya Rajan, et al., 1995 c).

1.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To study the facility being provided by the Pakalveedu

2. To study the socio-economic background of the respondent.
3. To study the family and family relationships of the respondent.
4. To study the reasons for shifting from own children’s home to the old age home.

1.2 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Elderlies are the treasures of the family and the society. In the Indian society the
cultural values and the traditional practices emphasize that the elderly members of the
family be treated with honour and respect. They enjoy their life living with their children
and grand children by telling them stories and by playing with them. The family system
that had an extended structure and the relationship between the old and the young was
more stable. But the fast changing situation, culture, disruption of families, developments
in different areas upto a certain extent are the part of global development and therefore
they raised the standard of life of the people. Nevertheless it influenced the society
negatively also. Blind adaptations of the western culture, values and liberalism

2
demoralized the society and the family became the most affected unit of the society and
within the family, the aged, the sick and the weak people became the victims of these
influences. When the able citizens started to fly away from their nest, the dependent
persons were left abandoned or left at the mercy of the paid caretakers.

1.3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Source of data

The study is based on primary and secondary data.

Primary Data

Primary data were collected with the help of structured interview questionnaire.
Primary data are collected through field visit.

Secondary Data

Modern source of the internet is mainly used to gather secondary data and also
from news papers and periodicals.

Population & Sample Size

The data was collected through interviews with the staff and the respondent. At
the time of survey there were 250 respondents out of which 100 were interviewed with
the help of an interview schedule.

1.4 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Following are the limitations of the study:

 The study area was confined to Thrissur District. Thus the results of the study are
applicable only to similar kind of situation analysis.
 The study pertains to a certain time period
 The result drawn from this study, therefore may have limited application i.e., it
cannot be assumed to provide information, capable of generalization over other
regions

3
 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Aging is a gradual chronological process wherein human beings experience and

accomplish stages of biological and social maturation. The connotations and
interpretation of aging varies from society to society, and across different cultures.
However, pertinent literature points out the fact that, in almost all societies, sixty years is
considered to be the chronological age. Yet there are variations with regard to the age in
which transition to old age take place. Some societies still treat forty or fifty years as
marking the transition into old age, while in western industrialized nations, the typical
onset of old age is reckoned as sixty five years.

The “Handbook of Social Gerontology: Societal Aspects of Aging” (Tibbitts,

1970)was developed as a comprehensive reference book for educators and researchers.
The book is organized in to three parts, the first part deals with the basis and theory of the
societal aspects of ageing beginning with an introductory chapter which gives a clear idea
about the origin of social gerontology, the second part provides an insight on the impact
of ageing on individual activities and social roles and the third part discusses the ageing
and the reorganization of society. It is a collection of nineteen essays dealing with
separate aspects like ageing in preindustrial and industrial societies, health status, income
security, role in family, governmental functions etc. thus reflecting the broad scope and
ramifications of the field. “Hand book of Medical Sociology” (Howard, Levine, & et al,
1963) is a collection of20 essays dealing with Sociology of Illness, Practitioners, Patients
and Medical Settings, the Sociology of Medical Care and Strategy, Method and Status of
Medical Sociology etc. It gives an idea about the sociological perspective on health care
and medicine. It provides a brief outline of how in the early 18th century, some of the
basic elements of the concept of social medicine had been put together. It also talks about
various illnesses and the medical settings in relation to practitioners and patients.

The book “Post Modernism, Sociology and Health” (Nicholas, 1993) sets out
some of the components of a postmodern social theory of health and healing, deriving
from theorists including Derrida, Deleuze and Guattari, Foucault, Cixous and Kristeva.
Nicholas is trying to address the question whether Post-modernism has anything to offer
for a better understanding of health and health care. He does this by formulating Post-

4
modernist discursive framework while critiquing the modernist Sociology of Health. The
book illustrates with detailed examples on how the organization of healthcare and the
caring relationship itself are sites for contestation of power. While focusing upon the
possibilities of postmodern social theory, the book demands a reappraisal of issues of
structure, identity and knowledge in modernist Medical Sociology.

The book “Sociology of Health in India” is a volume which contains thirty one
contributions sub-divided into six parts, each covering a specific dimension as a result of
growing social science interest in health and health care. The book starts with the
development or the introduction of Sociology of Health in general as well as in India. It
also discusses about the different committees that were formed for the inception and later
reform the health policies and programs in India. The book also deals with socio-cultural
determinants of health, traditional health care system, occupational health, role structure
among health professionals, health care of the aged etc (Dak,1991). “Psycho-Social
Aspects of Aging in India” is a compilation of different papers on various aspects. The
first section includes an introduction to Gerontology and various theoretical approaches to
ageing. There are papers discussing death anxiety retirement problems, hospitalization,
and institutionalization etc. The author has exploded various myths regarding retirement,
socio-economic status and coping strategies (Paramjeet, 1992).

“Ageing: Indian Perspective” (Thara, 2002) is an outcome of a national seminar

on current issues in Ageing organized by Madurai Kamraj University. The book opens up
with a paper on inter-generational problems of the old. One of the papers examinestwo
critical aspects of ageing; ageing expectations and society’s response. In sectiontwo the
problems and prospects of the old are portrayed in more specific terms. Fourof the papers
examine the different aspects of institutionalization of the elderly. Section four in the
book points to the need for special attention by policy planners andwelfare workers in the
case of old women. The last section of the book is devoted toold age policies.

“An Aging India: Perspectives, Prospects and Policies” (Phoebe &Irudaya, 2005)
is the result of an idea to create a special book on ageing in India. This book provides a
collection of studies of various aspects of ageing in India combined with analyses of
various policies and recommendations. Ageing and its issues are examined through
different perspectives. Demography, disability, advocacy, interventions are some of the
areas covered in the book.

5
 3. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The Aging Revolution

While we discuss the concept of aging, it is essential to, first of all, differentiate
between population or demographic aging, which can be defined as “the process whereby
older individuals become a proportionately larger share of the total population” and
individual aging, which is “the process of individuals growing older”. This individual
process of aging is multidimensional and involves physical, psychological and social
changes (UNFPA, 2012). Population aging is occurring because of declining fertility
rates, lower infant mortality and increasing survival at older ages. While overall the world
is aging, there are differences in the speed of population aging. It is happening fastest in
the developing world. Today, almost two in three people aged sixty years or over live in
developing countries, and by 2050, nearly four in five will live in the developing world.

Gender differences

The life expectancy of women is more than men, with the result that, there are
more elderly women worldwide than elderly men. In 2012, for every hundred females
aged sixty years, there were eighty four males. It is also found that, the proportion of
women rises in accordance with age. For every hundred women aged eighty years or
above worldwide, there are only sixty one men. This phenomenon called as ‘feminization
of aging’, especially with regard to large proportion of the ‘oldest old’ who are women,
has important implications for policy-making.

There are also changes in the social roles of the elderly men and women. With
regard to the role of men, loss of earning power can have negative consequences for their
roles in society after they have retired. It is seen that their traditional roles in the
household can result in older men becoming more isolated once they retire from their
jobs. Ageism is an inevitability faced by both elderly men and women around the world.
However, it is more pronounced among elderly women, as they face the cumulative
effects of gender discrimination throughout their lives, including less access to education
and health services, lower earning capacity and limited access to rights to land ownership,
contributing to their vulnerability in older age. Ageism, along with gender discrimination,

6
also puts elderly women at increased risk of violence and abuse. Moreover, currently, in
many countries, it is also witnessed that elderly women have lower levels of education
than elderly men because as girls they were denied the opportunity to go to school or
dropped out before completing their education.

Aged and employment

It is assumed that the working population over fifty years of age will grow
significantly during the next fifteen years, particularly in developed, and later on, also in
developing countries. After 2010, the number of retired people over sixty five s years of
age has doubled when compared to 1995. The dependency ratio has therefore changed
dramatically. There is, however, an increasing trend towards age discrimination against
older workers in both the European Union and elsewhere. Ageism becomes a dominant
paradigm in recruiting, training, promotion and recognition. One important consequence
of ageism is that, elderly people disappear in great numbers from the employment
scenario, and the dependency ratio becomes worse.

The most pertinent reasons for declining labour-force participation among the
elderly are poor working conditions, ill health, low job satisfaction, pension arrangements
and negative perceptions about people. But it has to be strongly noted that many senior
citizens still have the capacity to work and contribute to the economy. In more developed
countries, the notion of elderly as economically productive, is resulting in increasing
retirement ages. Contrary to this, in developing countries, a large proportion of elderly
people continue working into old age, due to the lack of social security systems like
pension. Older persons in developing countries are employed in the informal economy –
that is, they are self employed in informal enterprises or in paid employment in jobs
without secure contracts.

7
 Table 4.1 Age wise Distribution of the Respondents

Age Frequency Percentage

60-70 16 32

71-80 24 48

81 and Above 10 20

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Graph 4.1 Age wise Distribution of the Respondents

60

50 48

40
32
30
Percentage
20
20

10

0
60-70 71-80 81 and Above

Interpretation

This table and illustration show that the maximum number of inmates48 percent belongs
to the age group of 71-80 years, 32 percent belong to the age group of 60-70 and only 20
percent belong to 81 and above. It was also found that the inmates faced difficulties to get
adjusted to their homely atmosphere. So they left their homes to stay in the Old Age
Homes.

8
 Table 4.2 The Gender wise Distribution of the Respondents

Gender Frequency Percentage

Male 25 50

Female 25 50

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Graph 4.2 The Gender wise Distribution of the Respondents

Percentage

50
50 50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Male
Female

Interpretation

Out of the 100 respondents, 50 percent are males and 50 percent females. This was
intended to get response from both men and women. It reveals that the problem of aging
affects both male and female equally.

9
 Table 4.3 The Religion wise Distribution of the Respondents

Religion Frequency Percentage

Hindu 2 4

Christian 45 90

Muslim 1 2

Others 2 4

Total 100 100

Source: Primary Data

Graph 4.3 The Religion wise Distribution of the Respondents

90
90
80
70
60
50
Percentage
40
30
20
4 2 4
10
0
Hindu Christian Muslim Others

Interpretation

This Graph 4.3 show that the majority of the respondents (90 percent) belong to the
Christian community, 4 percent from Hindu community and 2 percent from Muslim
community. The rest 4 percent have no religion, because they were nomadic and stray
people of streets. It is generally found that the majority of the members in aged homes
belong to the Christian community. Since most of these Old Age Homes are run by
Chiristian Missionaries they give primary importance to taking care of the needs of
Christians.

10
 Table 4.4 The Educational Status of the Respondents

Educational Status Frequency Percentage

Illiterate 14 28

Below SSLC 14 28

SSLC 15 30

Graduate 2 4

Post Graduate 5 10

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Graph 4.4 The Educational Status of the Respondents

Percentage
Percentage
28 30
28

10
4

Illiterate
Below SSLC
SSLC
Graduate
Post Graduate

Interpretation

The graph 4.4 shows that 28 percent are matriculate, 30 percent below S.S.L.C and
another 28 percent illiterate. The rest 10 percent are post graduate and 4 are graduate. The
low educational status of the respondents may be due to the poor socio-economic
background.

11
 Table 4.5 The Marital Status of the Inmates

Marital Status Frequency Percentage

Unmarried 10 20

Married 40 80

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Graph 4.5 The Marital Status of the Inmates

80

80

70

60

50

40

30 20

20

10

0
Unmarried Married

Interpretation

The graph 4.5 shows that 80 percent of the respondents are married and the remaining are
unmarried. This composition of the study group enables the researcher to get an idea of
the problems faced by both married and unmarried. The very high percentage of married
elderly in the Old Age Homes and the difficulties faced by such people are greater as they
have probably no one to take care of them

12
 Table 4.6 The number of Children of the Institutionalized Elderly

No. of children Frequency Percentage

0 9 18
1 1 2
2 3 6
3 8 16
4 6 12
5 12 24
6 5 10
7 2 4
8 2 4
9 2 4
Total 50 100
Source: Primary Data

Graph 4.6 The number of Children of the Institutionalized Elderly

30

25 24 0
1
20 18 2
16 3
15 4
12 5
10
10 6
6 7
5 4 4 4 8
2 9
0
No. of children

Interpretation

This table and illustration shows that 80 percent of the respondents are married and 18
percent have without children. 80 percent of the respondents have more than one child. It
is noted that 24 percent have 5 children. The finding proved that the elderly people
become institutionalized, their children are either not able to take care of their parents or
consider them a burden. The changes in the family system might have contributed to the
stress and depression among the aged

13
 Table 4.7 The Geographical Details of the Institutionalized Elderly

Residential Area Frequency Percentage

Urban 14 28

Semi Urban 15 30

Rural 21 42

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Chart 4.7 The Geographical details of the Institutionalized Elderly

45
42
40
35

30 28 30

25
20 Percentage
15
10

5
0
Urban
Semi Urban
Rural

Interpretation

This table and illustration shows that Family life style differs in rural and urban areas.
Table shows the geographical distribution. 42 respondents out of the 100 are from rural
areas and 30 from semi urban and 28 are from urban areas. Many of the respondents are
from rural areas and most of them are farmers or paid laborers. This shows that the rural
population do not have primary health care facilities in their areas which might have
compelled them to depend on Old Age Homes

14
 Table 4.8 Different Strata of Society They Come From

Strata Frequency Percentage

Upper 24 48

Middle 9 18

lower 17 34

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Chart 4.8 Different Strata of Society They Come From

48
50
45
40
35 34
30
25
20 18 Percentage
15
10
5
0
Upper
Middle
lower

Interpretation

This table and illustration show that 49 percentage of the respondents were from the
upper class, 19 percent from the middle class and 32 percent from the lower strata of the
society. From this analysis the researcher has found out that most of the inmates are either
from the upper class or from the lower class. This is because the upper class are
financially sound but they have loose family ties as some of them have gone abroad and
their families have settled there and so nobody to look after the elderly. They have money
but no security at all. For the lower class the family setup is clear; but the members of the
family are either not in a position to look after them or not ready to look after them. For
the middle class in spite of many problems, their elderly are more or less being looked
after

15
 Table 4.9 The Former Occupation of the Respondents

Occupation Frequency Percentage

Agriculture 29 58

Employed 13 26

Unemployed 8 16

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Chart 4.9 The Former Occupation of the Respondents

Percentage
70

60 58

50

40 Percentage

30 26

20 16

10

0
Agriculture Employed Unemployed

Interpretation

There were people from various walks of life among the respondents. Table and
illustration show the types of occupation of the respondents they followed formerly.
According to this table and illustration 58 percentage were farmers, 26 percent from
employed class and 16 percent unemployed group.

16
 Table 4.10 The Inmates’ Reasons for Joining Old Age Home

Reason Frequency Percentage

Physical 11 22

Economic 24 48

Conflict in the family 15 30

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Chart 4.10 The Inmates’ Reasons for Joining Old Age Home

48
50
45
40
35 30
30
22 Percentage
25
20
15
10
5
0
Physical Economic Conflict in the family

Interpretation

All the elderly were asked, irrespective of the person who took the decision to shift them
to Old Age Home, why they had to seek shelter in Old Age Homes. And the response was
different and varied. But there are three predominant reasons. They are physical,
economic and conflict in the family. Almost 48 percent come to Old Age Homes because
of the economic problems in their family. For 30 percent it was conflict in the family. For
22 it was physical ailment.

17
 Table 4.11 The Visit of the Inmates to their Homes

Visit to the families Frequency Percentage

Yes 2 4

No 28 56

Sometimes 20 40

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Chart 4.11 The Visit of the Inmates to their Homes

56
60

50
40
40

30 Percentage

20

10 4

0
Yes No Sometimes

Interpretation

This table and illustration show that 56 percent of the inmates have never visited their
homes after joining the Old Age Homes. Moreover, they would like to spend the later part
of their life in the institution itself. There were 40 percent respondents who visit their
former residence occasionally and 4 percent respondents do visit their homes frequently.
The majority of the respondents don’t like to go back to their former residence. There are
many reasons for this. It may be physical illness and unwilling to depend on family, their
wish not to be a burden on others in the family, strains and problems in the family, and
the migration of family members

18
 Table 4.12 The Respondents’ State of Mind

Loneliness Frequency Percentage

Yes 41 82

No 2 4

Sometimes 7 14

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Chart 4.12 The Respondents’ State of Mind

90 81
80

70

60

50
Percentage
40

30
14
20
4
10

0
Yes No Sometimes

Interpretation

This table and illustration shows that 82% of the respondents do not feel lonely, 14
percent of the respondents feel lonely occasionally. Only 4 percent of them say that they
feel this problem. 82 percent of the respondents do not feel lonely because they could
adjust themselves with other inmates and they want to be friendly with others

19
 Table 4.13 The Feeling of the Elderly in the Old Age Homes

Response Frequency Percentage

Yes 9 18

No 3 6

Sometimes 38 76

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Chart 4.13 The Feeling of the Elderly in the Old Age Homes

76
80

70

60

50

40 Percentage

30
18
20
6
10

0
Yes No Sometimes

Interpretation

This table and illustration shows the fearfulness of the respondents. Among the
respondents 76 percent ‘sometimes’ feel that life is empty. 18 percent feel that their life is
completely empty and 6 percent do not have felt so. Majority feel that life is empty. This
may be due to the changes in the health conditions and social isolation from the family.
Neglect from the family members may be the fundamental reason for the elderly not
having hope in their life.

20
 Table 4.14 The Death Fear of the Inmates

Response Frequency Percentage

Yes 1 2

No 6 12

Sometimes 43 86

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Chart 4.14 The Death Fear of the Inmates

86
90

80

70

60

50
Percentage
40

30

20 12

10 2

0
Yes No Sometimes

Interpretation

All the respondents have reconciled with the reality and are at peace with it. Even then
some have fearful thoughts about their death. Among the respondents 86 percent
sometimes think about death and 12 percent have no fear of death. 2 percent of them are
worried about their own death. With anxiety and depression, the thoughts about death can
be fearsome for the people. If there are social support and a fulfilled past, the thoughts of
death may not be very drastic. But with the case of the institutionalized elderly, their
problems of anxiety about death can be frightening.

21
 Table 4.15 Sleep Disorder of the Elderly

Response Frequency Percentage

Yes 43 86

No 4 8

Sometimes 3 6

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Chart 4.15 Sleep Disorder of the Elderly

88
90

80

70

60

50
Percentage
40

30

20
7 5
10

0
Yes No Sometimes

Interpretation

The above table shows that 86 percent respondents suffer from sleep disorder, 8 percent
do not and 6 percent can’t sleep sometimes. Illness, sleep at short intervals during day,
fear about death may be the reasons for the elderly not getting sound sleep.

22
 Table 4.16 The Ability of the Inmates who can Manage their Daily Activities

Response Frequency Percentage

Yes 7 14

No 1 2

Sometimes 42 84

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Chart 4.16 The Ability of the Inmates who can Manage their Daily Activities

84
90
80
70
60
50
Percentage
40
30
14
20
10 2

0
Yes No Sometimes

Interpretation

From the above table and illustration it is clear that majority of the respondents suffer
from some kind of physical ailments. 84 percent of the respondents sometimes able to
manage daily activities. 14 percent have good health and they are able to manage daily
activities by themselves. Only 2 percent are not able to manage themselves. Through this
study the researcher observed that all the respondents suffers from one or two diseases.
The major physical problems can be summarized as poor dental health, impaired hearing,
poor eye sight, aches and pain, forgetfulness or nervous disorders, inability to move
around without difficulty etc

23
 Table 4.17 The Anxiety among the Elderly

Feel Anxious Frequency Percentage

Yes 44 88

No 6 12

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Chart 4.17 The Anxiety among the Elderly

88
90
80
70
60
50 Percentage
40
30
20 12

10
0
Yes No

Interpretation

Perfect health requires a happy state of mind. Depression is most common among the
elderly; depression leads to anxiety. The above table shows that 88 percent of the
respondents feel anxiety and only 12 percent have no anxiety at all and they are hopeful
about their future. The helpless state of mind leads to anxiety. The helplessness they feel
leads to the anxiety about their future. A happy state of mind rests only in a healthy body.
Psychologists say that Depression is the most common form of disorder found among the
elderly.

24
 Table 4.18 The Stress and Strain of the Inmates

Response Frequency Percentage

Yes 5 10

No 9 18

Sometimes 36 72

Total 50 100

Source: Primary Data

Chart 4.18 The Stress and Strain of the Inmates

80 72

70

60

50

40 Percentage

30
18
20 10
10

0
Yes No Sometimes

Interpretation

This table and illustration show how sad they feel sometimes for no specific reason at all.
72 percent have sometimes feel dispirited another 10 percent suffer from the stress and
strain most of the time; and 18 percent do not fell any stress and strain. Lack of contact
with the family and the desperation and loneliness are the main reasons for their sadness.
A major source of all problems of the elderly is the absence of their family members and
the sense of nothing to do in their lives.

25
 FINDINGS

The main findings of the project are as follows:-

 It was also found that the inmates faced difficulties to get adjusted to their homely
atmosphere. So they left their homes to stay in the Old Age Homes.
 The problem of aging affects both male and female equally.
 Chiristian Missionaries they give primary importance to taking care of the needs
of Christians.
 The low educational status of the respondents may be due to the poor socio-
economic background.
 The very high percentage of married elderly in the Old Age Homes and the
difficulties faced by such people are greater as they have probably no one to take
care of them
 The changes in the family system might have contributed to the stress and
depression among the aged
 The rural population does not have primary health care facilities in their areas
which might have compelled them to depend on Old Age Homes
 The majority of the respondents don’t like to go back to their former residence.
There are many reasons for this. It may be physical illness and unwilling to
depend on family, their wish not to be a burden on others in the family, strains and
problems in the family, and the migration of family members
 Majority feel that life is empty. This may be due to the changes in the health
conditions and social isolation from the family.
 The major physical problems can be summarized as poor dental health, impaired
hearing, poor eye sight, aches and pain, forgetfulness or nervous disorders,
inability to move around without difficulty etc
 Depression is the most common form of disorder found among the elderly.
 A major source of all problems of the elderly is the absence of their family
members and the sense of nothing to do in their lives.
 The inmates on the whole seemed to enjoy their stay in the Old Age Homes

26
 SUGGESTIONS

 As psychological factors play a vital role in the physical well being too, the
facilities provided in the Old Age Homes should be designed in such a way that
they must physically and psychologically be conducive to the aged people. Social
workers can help the elderly to be aware about the various policies and
programmes related to the welfare of the aged in our country. This will help the
elderly to protect their rights.
 Free medical care may be provided with the help of some organizations.
 Organization of group activities are essential for the inmates so that the aged
people can spend their time in meaningful activities. They should also be
encouraged to participate in the day to day working of these institutions and we
voluntarily take up responsibilities like supervision of kitchen and cooking,
gardening and general cleanliness of the premises
 The community should facilitate economic help to the aged. The aged can be
helped to receive their pension, and be made aware of the different grant-in-aid
schemes of the government. The public may be encouraged to make donations for
improving the standard of living of the inmates of free type Old Age Homes and
thus to help them to lead a better life.
 The government must support to the Old Age Homes. Then they can improve their
facilities.
 The Homes must be equipped for providing necessary first aid especially in case
of emergency. A full time nurse and a part time doctor should be employed for the
care of their day to day medical problems.
 The younger generation should be made aware of the love and care needed by the
old people.
 To remove the feelings of loneliness and boredom and to improve the mental
health of the aged inmates, it is desirable that either a nursery or a crèche be
attached to these, preferably within the home premises, so that the aged can take
part in their functioning. It is a fact that kids and old people are mutually attached
to each other for both of groups can engage in leisure activities and they can
devote ample time for each other.

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 CONCLUSION

Pakalveedu’, the senior day care centres of the 21 st century in Kerala, plays an
essential role in assisting the senior citizens to embrace successful aging. The senior
centres ardently helps to maintain and develop social relationships and a strong support
system, provide emotional supports, maintain a positive mental attitude, participate in
educational and other mentally stimulating programmes, as well as aid the elderly to
engage in voluntary and other productive activities. It facilitates the elderly to develop the
ability to function effectively in society, to exercise self reliance, and to achieve a high
quality of life. And it has to be conclusively stated that, this holistic framework of caring
for the aging, must be the senior centre model for the 21 st century not only in the local
level, but global as well.

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 REFERENCES

1. American Psychological Association. (2006). Memory Changes in Older Adults.

Retrieved March 24, 2018
2. Dubey, A., Bhasin, S., Gupta, N., & Sharma, N. (2011). A Study of Elderly
Living in Old Age Home and Within Family Set-up in Jammu. Stud Home Com
Sci, 5(2), 93–98.
3. Rajasi, R. S., Mathew, T., Nujum, Z. T., Anish, T. S., Ramachandran, R., &
Lawrence, T. (2016). Quality of life and sociodemographic factors associated with
poor quality of life in elderly women in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Indian
Journal of Public Health, 60(3), 210–215.
4. Residing in an Old Age Home in Hyderabad, Telangana. The International Journal
of Indian Psychology ISSN, 3(16), 2348–5396. Retrieved fromhttp://www.ijip.in

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 INTERVIEW SCHEDULE

1. Name of the inmate: ……………………………………..

2. Age

3. Sex: Male Female

4. Religion: Hindu Christian Muslim Others

5. Educational Status

Illiterate Below SSLC SSLC

Graduate Post graduate

6. Previous Occupation

7. Marital Status

Single Married

8. No. of Children

9. Residential Area of your family: Urban Semi Urban Rural

10. The reason why you live at the old age home : Physical Economic

Conflict in the family

Yes No Sometimes

11. Do you feel lonely?

12. Are you in contact with your family members?

13. Do the family members come to see you?

14. Do you have any psycho-social problem?

15. Do you go to your family?

16. Do you have many friends in the institution?

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17. Do you feel that other inmates are happy with you?

18. Are you able to maintain good relationship with your care giver?

19. Do you think that the care giver sympathises with you?

20. Are there social gathering in the institution ?

21. Do you participate in the social gathering?

22. Are you basically satisfied with your stay in the institution?

23. Do you feel that your life is empty?

24. Do you often get bored?

25. Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?

26. Do you feel that you have more problems with memory now days?

27. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?

28. Do you feel anxious about the future?

29. Do you have thoughts about death?

30. Do you have problems with sleep?

31. Do you need help to fulfill the activities of daily living?

32. Are there any rehabilitation programme in the institution?

33. Do you have any problems related to the following?

Problems : Yes No Sometimes

Eye Sight

Hearing

Taste

Walking

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Psycho-social problem

Others

34. Do you take any geriatric treatment?

35. Are there sufficient facilities needed for you?

36. Are you satisfied with those Facilities?

Remarks any ………………………………………………..

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