Old Age Homes in India: Home Away from Home or Last Resort of the Helpless

Consequent to the changing demographic scenario and social mores, the condition of the elderly persons in Indian society is becoming more critical, and the abuse and neglect of the elderly in the family is assuming serious proportions. The earlier notion that the elderly would be able to live peacefully in their own home amidst their family members receiving their care and love is getting shattered. Due to industrialisation, urbanisation, globalisation, privacy, and migration the families transformed from the joint family system to nuclear and semi nuclear family system. Old age care in nuclear family is associated with many challenges like time constraint, limited social support, less number of people in the family and financial burden to the family members.Due to these reasons there are many old age homes were established. The aged people shifting to an Old Age Home is part of a new consumerist way of life that entails reconceptualizing not only old age and family, but also the larger visions of personhood, social-moral values, and the very purpose of life. Though the Old Age Homes, especially the charitable ones, may not be in the most ideal condition, the elderly inmates would not have been able to sustain themselves without these homes. With the help of empirical research of 12 Old Age Homes from five different districts of Odisha, the author found that the Old Age Homes, even if are the last resort for many of the inmates, have become a home away from home for them in the last phase of their lives