Companionship and Sexual Issues in the Aging Population (original) (raw)
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Middle-class older adults living alone in urban India: Older adults' understandings of ageing alone
This study sheds light on the value systems of the middle-class metropolitan older adults living alone, on the ageing self and the person's relationship to the surrounding society based on eight interviews. Ageing research has emphasized the traditional features of elderly care in India including its collectivist values rooted in filial piety and the extended family as well as embracement of disengagement influenced by the Hindu texts on two phases in later life: "hermit" and "renunciate". Increased social and geographical mobility, however, challenges traditional family systems. Using the example of the urban middleclass older adults living alone, this study explored whether living alone constitutes a challenge to the norms that previous research associated with Indian elderly care. Using abductive phenomenographic analysis the study found that the understandings of older adults in the study show great reflexivity concerning key aspects of their lives. Although the life conditions of older adults living alone deviated in many aspects from dominant traditional norms of filial piety and a care regime based on strong intergenerational interdependence, their responses and reflections mirrored assemblages of values deeply rooted in Hindu Vedic philosophy of the Ashramas and perceptions of independence, autonomy and self-reliance associated with Western "productive" aging.
Living Arrangements and Health of Older Adults in India
Objectives: We investigate the association between the multigenerational household context and health of older adults in India, taking into account potential selection effects. Methods: Using data from the India Human Development Survey (2004-05), a nationally representative multi-topic data set, we employed a two-step analytical strategy- logistic regression followed by propensity score stratification method- to model the effect of contrasting living arrangement types on short term illness. Results: Overall, older adults living in multigenerational households have the lowest levels of short term illness. Among them, those who live with their spouse, adult children and young grandchildren experience the highest health gains. Health advantage diminishes when older adults live only with a spouse and adult children, and further diminishes when they live only with their spouse. Solitary living is associated with the highest likelihood of short term morbidity. Good health is also shown to be associated with household wealth, gender, household size and urban residence. Discussion: Our study demonstrates that multigenerational households-the traditional and the most dominant form of living arrangement in India-have protective health benefits for older adults, while taking into account potential selection mechanisms. Contrary to some epidemiological studies, we do not find any elevated risk of exposure to short term illness, when older adults are living in households with young grandchildren. Key words: living arrangements, multigenerational households, health, selection effects, propensity score methods, India
Problems of the Aged People in India: An Analysis
2016
The process of economic liberalization led to the emergence of capitalism, division of labour and availability of lucrative opportunities. The market relationships are emphasized with greater importance than emotional ones. Presently, everyone aspires to a rewarding career so they can have a better lifestyle, leaving the earlier caste based familial professions as evidenced by the rapid growth of the professionals in the Indian job market. Simultaneously, the mobility of the people has increased to meet the growing areas of production and services sectors. Therefore, the traditional joint family system is fragmenting, resulting in the formation of nuclear families. On the other hand, double-income-no-kid (DINK) couples are increasingly observed in Indian societies.* 1 Hence, they may experience a higher degree of physical and mental strain in the future. Consequent to the above developments, the older people are experiencing remarkable changes in their physical and socioeconomic circumstances. In smaller families, they are gradually marginalized in the decision-making process. Hence, the family that traditionally took care of the elderly or sick, widows and orphans is beginning to rely on society as a whole.2 1 Prakash Bhattacharya, Implications of an Aging Population in India: Challenges and Opportunities, Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India Presented at the Living to 100 and Beyond Symposium Sponsored by the Society of
Ageing International, 2020
Loneliness is defined as practical and cognitive discomfort or uneasiness from being or perceiving oneself to be alone. This study attempts to understand the effect of household and individual characteristics on gender differentials in loneliness among older adults in India. The data used was carved out from WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (Wave-1), India conducted in 2007-08. To fulfil the objective, we used data on 6,532 adults aged 50 years and above and applied bivariate analysis along with logistic regression and showed interaction between potential determinants which can explain gender differentials in loneliness. Nearly 18% of older adults in India (16% of men and 20% of women) reported suffering from loneliness in 2007-08. Women who were household-head had 60% higher likelihood of reporting loneliness than men who were household head. Women who were either separated/divorced/widowed/never married had higher (AOR: 1.26; p < 0.05) likelihood of reporting loneliness than that of separated/divorced/widowed/never-married men. Additionally, retired women had (AOR: 1.22; p < 0.05) higher likelihood of reporting loneliness in comparison to retired men. Lastly, women who had lesser social participation had higher odds for reporting loneliness than men who were lesser socially active (AOR: 1.69; p < 0.05). The study concludes that intersectionality persists in loneliness among older-adult women with their marital status, work and social participation. The old aged programmes should focus on widowed/separated/divorced/never married, retired, socially inactive older adults with special focus on women.
The health of India’s older population: do living arrangements matter?
Working with Older People, 2017
Purpose Changing demographic trends in India have resulted in a growing ageing population, and this poses many health challenges for older people. Lack of formal care institutions and social security nets further aggravate the situation. Living arrangements are, thus, expected to play a significant role in determining the healthcare needs of older people. The purpose of this paper is to examine the association of living arrangements with health among older people in India. Design/methodology/approach Data for the study were drawn from the Building Knowledge Base on Population Ageing in India (2011). The health status of older people was measured by assessing chronic illness, self-rated health and limitations in activities of daily living. Logistic regression was used to examine the influence of living arrangements on health outcomes. Further, a structural equation model was employed to observe whether poor health preceded co-residence. Findings Older people living in co-residential ...
The UN defines a country as "Ageing" or "Greying Nation" where the proportion of people over 60 reaches 7 percent to total population. By 2011 India has exceeded that proportion (8.0 percent) and is expected to reach 12.6 percent in 2025. According to the SRS Bulletin published in the year 2012, Kerala has 11.8 % old age Male and 13.3% Female old age and total elderly population is 12.6% in 2011 in Kerala. Now it is increased. (Source: SRS Bulletin (Sample Registration System) October, 2012, Registrar General of India, New Delhi). According to data from the World Population Prospects: the 2017 Revision, the number of older personsthose aged 60 years or over is expected to more than double by 2050 and to more than triple by 2100, rising from 962 million globally in 2017 to 2.1 billion in 2050 and 3.1 billion in 2100. Globally, population aged 60 or over is growing faster than all younger age groups.
Living arrangements of older adults in India: reduced forms for co-residence model
2006
Understanding the effects of factors that determine the living arrangements of the older adults becomes crucial as their care is affected by their living arrangements. In India, the spectrum of social security schemes for the older adults needs diversification in terms of services provided and coverage. Therefore a large chunk of the support has to come from family and community. This support is reflected in their living arrangements. Often the social transition from an agriculture-based economy to an industrialized economy, with urbanization and nuclearization of families as its consequences, is cited as a reason for the changing living conditions of the older adults. This study is aimed at investigating the factors that are associated with the living arrangements of the older adults. It extracts information on Indian socio-cultural system vis-a-vis the older population from the 42nd round data of the National Sample Survey (NSS). The conceptual framework consists of availability f...