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OLD AGE HOMES AND TRADITIONAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS

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THE JOURNAL OF ORIENTAL RESEARCH MADRAS ISSN : 0022-3301 | JULY 2021 29

OLD AGE HOMES AND TRADITIONAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS *

BY

Dr. Bilal Ahmad Bhat

Researcher, Department of Education, University of Kashmir
Email ID: - bhatbilal.scholar@kasahmiruniversity.net

Dr. Jenifur Majid

Contractual Lecturer, Department of Management Studies, University of Kashmir
Email ID: - jeniferkhan61@gmail.com

Dr. P. Ratna Mary

Associate Professor in Economics, Ch.S.D.St Theresa’s College (A) for Women, Eluru, AP, India
Email ID: - ratnapurna2019@gmail.com

Abstract
Everyone goes through the process of ageing at some point in their lives. The elderly are individuals
who have reached the age of retirement in every society. Elderly people are a valuable asset to every
country; nevertheless, population ageing is a new phenomenon that has emerged as a result of the rise
in the number and proportion of elderly people in society. Even though a rise in the number of elderly
people of every country indicates a long life span, it often comes with its own set of problems. Life
expectancy has risen significantly over the last century, and the world will soon have more elderly
people than children. This social transition is both a source of challenges and an opportunity. The
theme of World Health Day 2012, which took place on April 7, was ‘Aging and Health.' In an old age
home, the association assists and provides a stress-free environment for the residents. Living in an old
age home will provide elders with constant companionship and, as a result, peace of mind, which is
especially necessary at this time. The living conditions in an old age home would be better because of
the constant medical care, protection, cleanliness, and, most importantly, constant companionship.
This paper also focuses on traditional support networks as well as moral values and traditions in
offering wellness to all elders.

Received 05 July 2021, Accepted 12 July 2021, Published 17 July 2021


Correspondence Author: Dr. Bilal Ahmad Bhat

Introduction
A nursing home, also known as an old people's home or an old age home, is a multi-unit housing
facility for the elderly. Each individual or couple in the house usually has their own apartment-style
room or suite of rooms. Inside the house, there are additional amenities. Meal preparation areas,
meeting areas, recreational events, and any type 2 health or hospice treatment are all examples of this.
30 THE JOURNAL OF ORIENTAL RESEARCH MADRAS [Vol. XCII-XXXVII]

A location in a retirement home may be paid for on a rental basis, similar to an apartment, or purchased
in perpetuity, similar to a condominium. A multi-residence nursing home for the elderly, also known
as a care home, is referred to as an old age home. In India, there are currently 728 old houses. There
are 547 old age homes with complete details available. There are 325 old age homes that do not charge
a fee, 95 homes that charge a fee, 116 old age homes that provide both free and paid services, and 11
homes for which information is unavailable. Around the world, there are 278 homes for the elderly
and 101 old homes specifically for women. Kerala, with 124 old age homes, has the largest number of
old age homes in India.

Methodology: The present study is based entirely on both descriptive and analytical methods which
were adopted through different experimental work and secondary data. The author conducted his
research studies on the basis of secondary data sources, taking into account the availability of resources
and the feasibility of the present research paper. Secondary data were obtained from the different
journals, academic papers, textbooks, various websites and thesesis, etc. The study's methodology also
includes the thoughts and writings of different author’s in the academic and research field’s stream.
Thus the author used all available resources and carried out exhaustive studies for this research paper.

Aims & Objectives

 To assist the elderly in need (any person over the age of 60, regardless of caste or creed).

 To provide food, shelter, and clothing to the elderly who are in need.

 To offer medical services as well as other programmes such as yoga and physical workouts
to the elderly in order to improve their health.

 To provide educational and leisure opportunities for the elderly, as well as opportunities
for them to live a religious and meditative life.

 To foster the country's national integration and unity.

 To instill in the elderly a sense of self-confidence and self-reliance, allowing them to learn
required skills and guiding them toward success in their fields of endeavor.

 To meet the goals of old age homes, print books, newspapers, magazines, brochures,
pamphlets, and other materials.
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Dr. Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Dr. Jenifur Majid, Dr. P. Ratna Mary

 To enable the elderly to actively engage in social programmes that may be funded for
village upliftment, including receiving assistance from national and international
philanthropic organizations.

 To do something else that is incidental or helpful to the achievement of the goals, or any
of them.

Old Age Homes

Senior citizens who are unable or unable to live with their families are housed in old age homes.
States such as Delhi, Kerala, Maharashtra, and West Bengal have established high-quality senior
housing in India. These nursing homes provide specialized medical services to senior citizens,
including mobile health care programmes, ambulances, nurses, and well-balanced meals. There are
over a thousand old age homes in India. The rest of them are able to stay for free. Some homes charge
a fee that is determined by the type and quality of services they provide. In addition to providing food,
lodging, and medical treatment, senior citizens can participate in yoga classes at old age homes.
Residents in old age homes have access to telephones and other forms of contact, allowing them to
stay in touch with their loved ones. In several nursing homes for the aged, there are day care centers.
During the day, these facilities are solely for the care of senior citizens. For elderly people who have
nowhere else to go and no one to support them, old age homes offer a safe haven. Residents in these
homes often have the impression that they are part of a family. Senior citizens develop a sense of
security and friendship as they share their joys and sorrows with one another.

The concept of an old age home is novel in India. A traditional environment is an old age home, which
houses elderly people who have no one to care for them or who have been evicted from their homes
by their children. Of course, the facility resembles a home, with all of the necessities for a regular life
given, including food, clothing, and shelter. All of these requirements are met, but loved ones' much-
needed love and care are sadly lacking; after all, how can strangers provide comfort? Conversations
with people in these households, whether men or women are I interesting and even touching. At
least in India, elderly people who are separated from their families, children, or are left alone are not
considered to be in a happy situation. The concept of separating the elders and the children originated
in the West and was brought to India. However, in the West, it may not be as heartbreaking because
two generations cannot live together due to their conventional way of life. In India, however, where
two and even three generations have lived side by side for decades, the concept of nuclear families
with the elders withdrawn is just too touching to bear. If we spoke to inmates in every prison, we
would hear a common storey: family discord, contempt for the elderly, and finally the elders' removal
from the family scene. While living in an old age home, many elderly people miss their families and
being with their flesh and blood.
32 THE JOURNAL OF ORIENTAL RESEARCH MADRAS [Vol. XCII-XXXVII]

They should meet their basic needs, but where will their loved ones' love come from? Almost every
senior citizen has a similar and sad storey to share. The end of the joint family system and the rise of
the nuclear family have resulted in this despondent condition in our society, necessitating the
establishment of old age homes to meet the needs of the elderly. Aside from that, after women started
working from home, there is no one at home to care for the elders' everyday needs. Working women's
attitudes about their elders are changing as well, with today's working women seeing their elders as a
burden rather than a responsibility. Women's actions have also contributed to the exclusion of elders
from their families. With this backdrop, the need for old age homes became clear, and it continues to
become clear as time passes. A variety of conditions have resulted in the need for old age homes. A
single visit to an old age home, no matter how well it is cared for, causes the onlooker to become
depressed, and no one - yes, no one - seems to be at ease there. Visitors to an old age home will see
that the inmates are there because they have no other choice after being rejected and unwanted in their
own homes by their own children. The only solace is that they are being provided with their basic
needs of shelter and food, but without the family's love bonds.

Problems Facing by Old Age Persons

1. Physiological Issues: Old age is a period when one's physical abilities deteriorate. Even if one does
not lose one's skin, teeth, or anything right away, one's physical abilities begin to deteriorate.
Hereditary constitution, lifestyle, and environmental factors all play a role in physical condition.
Living vicissitudes, poor diet, malnutrition, infectious diseases, intoxications, gluttony, insufficient
rest, emotional tension, overwork, endocrine disorders, and environmental factors such as heat and
cold are all popular secondary causes of physical decline.

2. Psychological Issues: Mental disorders are often linked to advancing age. The elderly are more
likely to suffer from psychotic depressions. The two most common psychotic disorders in older people
are senile dementia (associated with cerebral atrophy and degeneration) and insanity (associated with
cerebral arterio sclerosis) (associated with either blocking or ruptures in the cerebral arteries). These
two conditions are thought to be responsible for roughly 80% of psychotic disorders in the elderly in
civilized societies.

3. Emotional Issues: As their mental abilities deteriorate, they become more reliant. They have lost
faith in their own abilities and decisions, but they also want to keep a tight hold on the younger ones.
They want to be involved in every aspect of family life and business. Young people should not listen
to their suggestions and recommendations because of the generation gap. They begin asserting their
rights and authority instead of having a sympathetic attitude toward the elderly. This can make them
feel as if their integrity and value have been taken away from them.

4. Social Issues: As people get older, they experience significant social losses. Their social lives have
been limited by job loss, the death of family, friends, and spouses, and poor health, which prevents
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Dr. Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Dr. Jenifur Majid, Dr. P. Ratna Mary

them from participating in social activities. Their social lives become restricted to intimate
relationships with family members as the home becomes the focal point of their social lives. They are
likely to be depressed and withdrawn as a result of the lack of much of the social positions they once
played. A serious chromic health condition allows them to become socially isolated, resulting in
isolation and depression.

5. Financial Issues: Retirement from the military typically results in a loss of income, and the benefits
that the elderly earn are often insufficient to cover the rising cost of living. They are relegated to the
status of "chief breadwinner to mere dependent" as a result of their reduced income, despite the fact
that they invest their provident fund on children's weddings, the acquisition of new land, children's
schooling, and family maintenance. The diagnosis and treatment of their illness added to their financial
difficulties as they grew older.

Physical deterioration and, in some cases, social isolation accompany old age, which may include the
loss of a spouse, friends, work, property, and physical appearance. As people age, their physical
strength deteriorates, their mental health deteriorates, their financial ability dwindles, and their vision
deteriorates. Disappointment, depression, sickness, repentance, and isolation characterize this era.

Grandparents, on the other hand, have an additional source of love and expertise in terms of child care
and family company. Regardless of the myriad issues associated with old age, one must remain
actively engaged for one's own personal well-being as well as for the benefit of society.

Advantages of Old Age Homes

 As people get older, they tend to lose motor skills. Doing day-to-day tasks becomes a difficult
job. The organization assists with everyday tasks in an old age home. Finding a dedicated
caregiver who can assist with daily tasks around the house is an alternative to this.
 Because old age homes cater to senior people, doctors are always on hand and emergency
services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Alternatively, the elderly should be
accompanied to the chamber by someone who can make appointments with physicians and
accompany them to the chamber. It's beneficial to have someone who can handle
hospitalization in the event of a medical emergency.
 Senior citizens' safety is a major concern. The consistent security of an elderly home protects
them from intruders and allows them to enjoy a comfortable and stable life.
 Seniors are drawn to old age homes for a variety of reasons, one of which is companionship.
They are constantly surrounded by peers who are the same age as them. When their children
leave home, they are forced to live on their own, which can lead to anxiety and depression.
Living in a nursing home for the elderly can also make you feel lonely. Loneliness is also a
34 THE JOURNAL OF ORIENTAL RESEARCH MADRAS [Vol. XCII-XXXVII]

concern. In a perfect world, someone at home will be able to fill this void. Companionship is
especially important for those who have lost their spouses.
 Senior citizens who are unable or unable to reside with their families are housed in old age
homes. These nursing homes provide senior citizens with specialised medical services such as
mobile health care programmes, ambulances, nurses, and well-balanced meals. • The most
important advantage of old age homes is that they provide food, accommodation, and medical
facilities to senior citizens. • Residents in old age homes have access to telephones and other
forms of communication so that they can communicate with their loved ones; entertainment
and library facilities are also available exclusively for senior citizens.
 Old age homes provide a safe haven for elderly people who have nowhere else to go and no
one to help them. Residents in these homes often feel like they are part of a family. When
senior citizens share their joys and sorrows with one another, they gain a sense of security and
fellowship.
 Old people in nursing homes have a lot of spare time, which they can use creatively.
 They don't have to work in an old age home to make a living, and they don't have a lot of
responsibilities; they can also enjoy some activities in a very quiet environment; and they don't
have high expectations. They do not need to invest a lot of money.
 They have the right to observe and engage in religious activities; • They live in harmony and
at a leisurely pace. In an old age home, elderly people will live in peace and health. An old age
home gives residents the much-needed warmth, solace, and companionship of their peers, as
well as the freedom to follow their own interests.

Traditional Support Systems

Natural support networks follow a number of critical standards when it comes to delivering care
to the elderly. It has become the standard method of caring for the elderly, with assistance from family,
friends, and neighbors, and older people are satisfied with it. Children's affection, attention, and
assistance to elderly family members have been described by researchers. Primary relationships can
be found among friends and neighbors. They provide assistance, act as confidants, and maintain
connections with the outside world. In long-time suburban communities and high-density areas of
older people, more friends are kept and new friendships are created. Women have more acquaintances
among their peers than men; additionally, more women are widowed, while men live with their
spouses. Older people are more likely to withdraw from formal organizations and engage in
interpersonal, expressive practices with small groups of close friends who share common interests and
socioeconomic status (Payne, Payne, and Reddy, 1972). As a consequence, receiving reassurance from
family or friends, meals and minor nursing care when sick, housekeeping and shopping assistance, and
clothing repair or remodeling are both popular and easy ways to meet needs. With depression being
one of the world's most common illnesses, President Pranab Mukherjee recently said that traditional
Indian values and Yoga can help people suffering from depression. He did say, however, that the social
stigma associated with such conditions is still a "significant" issue in the country. The President said
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Dr. Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Dr. Jenifur Majid, Dr. P. Ratna Mary

that depression is the most prevalent type of mental health disorders and asked the medical fraternity
to concentrate on conventional support systems, social support systems, and spiritual values and
practices in providing well-being to all at a summit held to commemorate World Health Day recently
with the theme of "Depression: Let's Talk." 8

Suggestions to improve quality of life for seniors/Elders

1. Deal with depression: Depression affects 6 million people over the age of 65. Traumatic life events,
such as retirement or the death of a partner, may cause it. It's also possible that a medical condition or
drug side effects are to blame. Recognize the signs and symptoms of depression and seek medical or
psychological help.

2. Feel useful and needed: Everybody, from the very young to the very old, needs to feel useful and
needed. Try to make an elderly person feel as though you still need their help and that they aren't a
burden while caring for them. Request help with tasks they can handle, such as:

 Folding laundry,
 Organizing drawers,
 Opening mail,
 Writing shopping or household to-do lists,
 Clipping coupons,
 Keeping you up to date on the news,
 And dinner preparation, such as trimming vegetables

3. Maintain a healthy level of physical activity: Maintaining a healthy level of physical activity, no
matter how minor, is beneficial to both the body and the mind. Exercise helps to keep blood flowing
to the brain, which aids in mental sharpness. It also helps with anxiety, tension, and even depression!
It enhances people's moods in general. Exercise improves heart health, strengthens the immune system,
lowers blood pressure, and improves sleep quality, and increases strength and stamina, among other
things.

4. Keep your mind busy: Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, other brain games, reading, and writing are all
excellent ways to keep your mind active. A sharp and healthy mind is beneficial to one's overall well-
being.

5. Maintain contact with relatives, acquaintances, and neighbours: Isolated and depressed seniors live
shorter lives and are more likely to develop dementia. Encourage and assist the older adult in
maintaining social connections to avoid this. Here are a couple of ideas:

 Encourage them to attend any parties they might be invited to (birthdays, graduations, holidays,
etc.) and to volunteer at their local church, school, or charitable organization.
36 THE JOURNAL OF ORIENTAL RESEARCH MADRAS [Vol. XCII-XXXVII]

 Make plans to see family and friends on a regular basis, either to eat with them or to take them
out.

 Make arrangements for transportation to senior centers.

CONCLUSION

It is the fundamental obligation of the state in terms of article of our constitution to provide public
assistance to the aged and pension benefits to the employees after their retirement by their employers.
The impression that the pensioners entertain that they have a raw deal and are regarded as parasites
and cumbersome on society has to be erased from their minds and sympathy expanded to them by
using such as epithets as senior citizens and reservoirs of maturity, knowledge and experience
translated into concrete actions by acceding to their demands for improving their living conditions. It
is their right to be looked after in the years of their old age infirmity. They have now recognized
themselves and started asserting their rights. The old are a resource and should be involved in nation
building. The government and society should recognize their obligations to the aged and should not
shy away from their responsibilities towards them. It is time that the government paid more attention
to gerontological issues and made life for the aged comfortable and worth living.

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