1. CULTURE AND
SOCIOLOGY
OLD AGE HOME
presented
by
Satyajit
panda

2. INTRODUCTION
 An old age home is usually the place, a home for those old
people who have no one to look after them or those who have
been thrown out of their homes b their children
 The place is of course like home where the inmates get all
the facilities for a routine living, like food, clothing and shelter
 All the necessities are well looked after but, the much-needed
love,
and care of loved ones is of course sadly missing .
 For how can outsiders provide solace? In these homes

3. Who are elderly?
 The person who has attained the age of 60 and above is an
old person or senior citizen
 People may be considered old when they become
grandparents
 When they begin to do less work or become professionally
inactive after retirement.
 Young old age 60-70 years
 Old old age 70-80 years
 Oldest old age >80 years

4. AGEING
 India is one of the few countries in the world where
sex ratio of aged is in favour of males.
 Population above 60 years-
10% suffer from impaired physical mobility.
10% Hospitalized at given point of time.
 Age more than 70 years-
More than 50% suffer form 1 or more chronic
conditions like CHD, Cancer and HT .

5. Experience of the elderly
PROBLEMS NEEDS
Failing health Health
Economic insecurities Economic
security
Isolation Inclusion
Neglect Care
Abuse Protection
Fear Reassurance
Lowered self-esteem Self
Confidence

6. Experience of abuse and neglect
An elder is physically abused when she is not attended by her
caregivers who are in most cases family members. They need
timely care
 (a) when they experience a simple head ache or back ache
and cold
 (b) if family members or caregivers are not taking the elderly
to doctor when sick
 (c) when elderly are not served meals
 (d) do not help elderly with personal chores in spite of the
elderly assisting in the family chores

7. HOW TO GIVE OPTIMUM CARE TO
OLD AGE PEOPLE
 Active advocacy at various levels of planning.
 Need for reorganization of the facilities and approach.
 Efforts need to be made to revive cultural values and
reinforce the traditional practice of interdependence among
generations.
 Surveillance of the on-going programmes and evaluation of
their effectiveness

8. Advantages of Old Age Homes
Old age homes are meant for senior citizens who are unable
to stay with their families or are destitute.
These old age homes have special medical facilities for senior
citizens such as mobile health care systems, ambulances,
nurses and provision of well-balanced meals. So they can live
a healthy life.
Good services and good behaviour of the staff, food being
palatable and wholesome are the main advantage of old age
homes.
Apart from food, shelter and medical amenities, old age homes
also provide yoga classes to senior citizens.
Old age homes also provide access to telephones and other
forms of communication so that residents may keep in touch
with their loved ones.
The entertainment and library facilities are also available for
the sole purpose of the senior citizens.

9. Disadvantages of Old Age Homes
Some elders are not taken care of properly.
Some have to share rooms with others, and sometimes they
don’t get along.
Generally children send their parents to old age home to stay
away from them. It’s not a good example for a country like
India where old people are considered a lucky charm.
Sometimes there is lack of facilities at these old age homes as
well as lack of caretakers also. These old persons are left to
themselves and there is no body that can take care of them at
this age.
Their management is profit driven. Patient care is low on their
priority's. Employees are poorly trained. badly paid, and not
usually treated well.

10. SOLUTIONS
 Increasing awareness
 Education and media
 Respite care
 Counseling
 Social contact and support