Care and Services for the Welfare of Geriatric Population in India: A Critical Appraisal

Abstract

A paradigm shift from the joint family system to nuclear family, a fast changes in lifestyles, changing and fluctuating social values and the pressure of working conditions create impediment for the younger generation at present in loving and caring their elderly parents. The age-old traditional institutions in the country are not successful and sometimes failing in accommodating the needs of their elderly, it is the duty of the state to evolve good policies and design necessary programmes for the welfare of the geriatric population to keep the elderly alive and safeguard them with human dignity. It is a constitutional obligation. The present paper analyses in detail about the various policies and programmes of the elderly and how they are implemented from time to time of the various states in India. The findings show clearly about the large scale inadequacy of political economy of elderly welfare in India. The states could not do anything concretely to cater to the needs of the growing geriatric population in India as they are suffering from insufficient availability of resources. If this is the state of elders in India for more than two decades, how the poorer sections of the geriatric population in the society will have dignified living and respect. It reflects clearly at every level on the part of the state, community and family for seeing/finding the lack of genuine commitment in caring the elders and for their welfare in India. The younger generations of today have sidelined to capture and also to possess the wisdom and experiences of the elderly. Instead they are going after the materialistic values. Therefore, they do not give importance in meeting out the needs of their own elders’ care. This has resulted in utterly pushing the geriatric population to the state of helplessness.