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Gerontology & Geriatric Research

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ISSN: 2167-7182
Research Article

A Study of Elderly Living in Old Age Homes in Manipur, India

Gaitri Rajkumari*
Department of Sociology, Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India

ABSTRACT
Old age was never seen as a problem in India. But recently ageing issues have begun to emerge as a case of social
concern. Demographic, socio-economic and structural challenges are also taking place within the family institutes.
India is now facing a unique situation in providing care for the elderly section and old age homes is one of alternate
care facilities. Thus studying elderly in old age homes has become a significant area of social research. The study
examined the socioeconomic profile of elderly who are living in four old age homes in Manipur, India. It also
probes into the factors that have compelled the elderly to stay in these institutions. The present paper is based on
the study conducted in different old age homes of Manipur by taking a sample of 69 institutionalized elderly. The
study revealed that most of the elderly in the old age homes were from rural background, illiterate, widowed and are
economically dependent on others with female residents far more the males. The most common reasons for shifting
to old age homes were verbal abuse of daughter in law, financial constraints, verbal abuse of son, nobody to look
after, physical abuse, tarnishing self-respect, health issues and many more. Majority of the respondents are satisfied
with the facilities provided by the institute.
Keywords: Elderly; Old age homes; Longevity

INTRODUCTION development of these facilities in India is still inadequate. Studies

have shown that there has been tremendous growth in old age
One of the most significant demographic changes of the time is homes in India accommodating a sizable number of the elderly. In
the rapidly growing number of elderly in the world population. fact, the Government of India’s National Old Age Policy (NOAP)
This is the result of ‘longevity’ which is biggest achievement demands that old age homes be established in every district in
of the century. Major improvements in the field of nutrition, India as a welfare measures. Old age homes have become the best
sanitation, medicine, health care, education, knowledge and alternative for those who are poor, destitute and disabled. The need
economic wellbeing have made it possible for people to live for old age homes has also risen in modern times. The very reason
longer. The growing elderly segment of the population will likely for the rapidly increasing of old age homes indicates in many ways
introduce new societal challenges for providing this group with the degree of neglect of the elderly in their own family by their near
healthcare, financial assistance and social as well as emotional and dear ones. It is vital that the old age home should provide the
support. These upcoming changes have forced the contemporary inmates a cozy and comfortable place where they could spend the
planners, researchers and policy makers to think over these issues. rest of their lives in peace, dignity and ease. In the old age homes,
All these concerns are reflected in the national policy for elderly the inmates get all the basic facilities for a routine living, like food,
that have made various provisions for extension of support for the clothing and shelter. All these necessities are looked after, but the
institutionalized elderly care apart from the participation of the much needed love and care of the loved ones will be missed in most
voluntary and community sectors. Recognizing the importance of the cases in the old age homes.
of this particular age group, in 1990, the UN General Assembly
designated 1st October as the International Day of older persons Objectives of the study
for celebrating and acknowledging the contribution of the elderly
people to the society. The UN then declared the year 1999 as the • To study the socio-demographic profiles of the elderly
International Year for older persons. staying in the old age homes.

The Indian elderly population is currently the second largest in the • To explore the reasons for shifting in the old age homes.
world after China. Although old age homes started functioning • To know the perceptions and suggestions of the elderly
from the second half of the 19th Century, the growth and regarding the availability of facilities in the old age homes.

Correspondence to: Gaitri Rajkumari, Department of Sociology, Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India, Tel: 7002282103; E-mail: [email protected]
Received: March 31, 2021, Accepted: April 16, 2021, Published: April 23, 2021
Citation: Rajkumari G (2021) A Study of Elderly Living in Old Age Homes in Manipur, India. J Gerontol Geriatr Res. 10: 546
Copyright: © 2021 Rajkumari G. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY the need for establishment of old age homes and day care centre
in Kashmiri society. Old age home will not only serve the need of
Data for this paper are drawn from an empirical study conducted on proper care but is a way to entertain, share and make the life of the
some institutionalized elderly in Manipur. The data was collected elderly happy in a healthy environment [5].
from 69 inmates staying in four old age homes of Manipur. Few
studies have been conducted to document the situation of those Dhommaraju wrote on the perspectives of ageing in India. He
elderly who are residing in old age homes. showed concern on the increase in elderly population of India which
is projected to increase to about 300 million by 2050. Families, the
Kumar et al. conducted their study in two selected old age homes traditional source of support for the elderly in India, are getting
of Uttar Pradesh with the objective of knowing the reasons for smaller as result of reduction in fertility and, in rural areas, due
the elderly shifting in old age homes. They found out the major to migration. Changing norms and attitudes on intergenerational
reasons to be loneliness, having no son, settlement of children relations have the potential to weaken traditional social and family
abroad, misbehaviors of sons and daughters in law, life threats support structures that the elderly depend on. As institutional and
from children, adjustment problems etc. They considered that in welfare support systems are lacking in India, changes to the family
the present scenario, old age homes are better alternative to reside and social support structures will have serious implications for
and as such there is a need to generate emotional support facilities ageing in India. The perspectives presented also raise important
in the old age homes and the government as well as other voluntary questions about the relationships, roles and responsibilities of
agencies must make better arrangements for institutional support individuals, families and the state [6].
and care for the elderly [1].
Prasad et al., tried to document different aspects of deprivation
Bansod and Paswan conducted a study in Amravati district of in the old age by taking up economic, health and social aspects of
Maharashtra and found that most of the elderly residing in the deprivation and how it varies across space and gender. He talks of
old age home was from the rural background, illiterate, widowed deprivation as a much broader term than poverty and it includes
and were economically dependent. It was found that many of the all kinds of denial or being excluded from a minimum standard of
elderly left their home due to neglect by their adult children and living. The process of ageing is always accompanied by a decline in
relatives and nobody to look after them. Nearly 50 percent of the the wellbeing that results in rising economic, health as well as social
inmates felt that staying in old age home was far more peaceful and insecurity among the aged. He also cited the existence of disparity
homely than staying at their own homes [2]. across states, sex and sector in different cases of deprivation.
Hoe et al. conducted a study in Malaysia to explore an understanding Women are found to be more disadvantaged as compared to their
elderly people perspective on factors leading to their admission male counterparts in the old age. The relative advantage is also
into old age homes. Findings revealed that elderly people perceived found to be higher in case of urban areas in comparison to the
their admission due to societal changes and modernization in rural areas [7].
lifestyle and mindset, their poor health and reduced mobility and
changing family structure. They do not harbor feelings of anger
RESULTS
and abandonment on their family’s decision. They realized that
the best option for them is to be admitted into OAHs where they
To study the life of elderly in old age homes, it is essential
can be cared for by full time trained personnel. The overall findings to study their socio-economic background
revealed that the elderly are satisfied with their lives living apart Majority of the respondents are females (75.36%) and hailed from
from their own family and assisted by caregivers in OAHs [3]. rural areas (66.66%). Regarding age distribution, more than half
Kumar et al. in their study found the older adults living in old age of the respondents (52.17%) are aged between 70-79 years and
homes face problems of adjustment with tight and rigid schedules; majority (69.56%) of them belongs to OBC category. Majority of
total or near-total separation from their family, friends and society; them (76.81%) are widowed, follows Hindu Religion (66.66%),
anxiety over entrusting oneself to a new environment; diminished 55.07% of them are illiterate. 68.11% of them came from nuclear
physical ability and close and frequent encounters with death family and earlier doing business, followed by agriculture (Table 1).
and ailments in the institution. For many of them social support
The first choice of the elderly is always to stay with their families.
is almost absent and this leaves older adults with the feeling that
But sometimes many factors forced them to leave their near and
he or she does not belong, is not loved or cared for, esteemed or
dear ones and join old age homes as the last resort. The factors
valued [4].
which compelled the Old age homes residents for residing in old
Showkat highlights the need for establishment of old age homes age homes are provided in Table 2. The most common reasons were
in the present day by conducting a sociological study in Srinagar verbal abuse of daughter in law (42.02%) and financial constraints
district of Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that modernization (14.49%). Other factors were verbal abuse of son (10.14%), nobody
has been a major cause for diminishing traditional values. In the to look after (8.69%), physical abuse (7.24%), tarnishing self-
modern society elderly were not well looked after and cared for, respect, health issues and many more. Some of the respondents
which leads them in a state of complete loneliness. He also gave a refused to give any response regarding familial relation and this
different account of elderly from high income and those in middle clearly indicates the pain they felt.
or lower income groups. The elderly belonging to upper income
group need old age homes as living in old age homes will help Elderly in old age homes have a lot of free time. So engaging in
them to interact with the people of their genre. Majority of elderly something is quite necessary to divert their mind from their sad
from middle and lower income groups were pushed to stay in old past. An effort has been made to study the leisure time activity
age homes because of financial factors. In this way, he highlighted of elderly in the old age homes. Table 3 illustrates that one third

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Table 1: Brief socio-economic profile of the respondents.

Sex No. of respondents Percentage
Male 17 24.63
Females 52 75.36
Total 69 100
Age (in years) No. of respondents Percentage
60-69 27 39.13
70-79 36 52.17
80+ 6 8.69
Total 69 100
Area No. of respondents Percentage
Rural 46 66.66
Urban 23 33.33
Total 69 100
Community No. of respondents Percentage
Meitei 63 91.2
Tribal 4 5.79
Others 2 2.89
Total 69 100
Religion No. of respondents Percentage
Hindu 46 66.66
Meitei 18 26.08
Christian 5 7.24
Total 69 100
Caste No. of respondents Percentage
General 2 2.89
OBC 48 69.56
ST 4 5.79
SC 15 21.73
Total 69 100
Education No. of respondents Percentage
Illiterate 38 55.07
Primary 9 13.04
Middle 12 17.39
Matric 8 11.59
Secondary 1 1.44
Graduation and above 1 1.44
Total 69 100
Marital status No. of respondents Percentage
Unmarried 7 10.14
Married 5 7.24
Divorced/Separated 4 5.79
Widow/Widower 53 76.81
Total 69 100
Past Occupation No. of respondents Percentage
Government Job 2 2.89
Private Job 11 11.94
Petty jobs 9 14.04
Business 26 37.68
Agriculture 16 23.18
Not applicable 5 7.24
Total 69 100
Family Type No. of respondents Percentage

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Nuclear family 47 68.11

Joint Family 22 31.88
Total 69 100

Table 2: Distribution of respondents by factors which force them to shift in OAH.

Incident No of respondents Percentage
Tarnishing self-respect 3 4.34
Verbal abuse of son 7 10.14
Verbal abuse of daughter in law 29 42.02
Physical abuse 5 7.24
Financial constraints 10 14.49
Health problem 3 4.34
Nobody to look after 6 8.69
Any other 6 8.69
Total 69 100

Table 3: Distribution of respondents according to their leisure time activities.

Leisure time activities No. of respondents Percentage
Watching television 12 17.39
Listening radio 23 33.33
Reading 2 2.89
Talking with inmates 12 17.39
Playing indoor games    
Gardening 9 13.04
Other useful activities for the institute 11 15.94
Total 69 100

Table 4: Distribution of respondents according to their views about the facilities provided in the old age homes.
Facilities Fully Satisfied Satisfied to some extent Fully Dissatisfied Dissatisfied to some extent
Basic facilities 11 43 0 15
Medical facilities 14 36 3 16
Recreational Facilities 25 30 0 14

Table 5: Suggestions made by the respondents.

Suggestions No. of respondents Percentage
No need of any improvements 31 44.92
Need more staffs/caregivers for elders personal care 9 13.04
Need better medical care 10 14.49
Need more facilities 15 27.73
Allowed to go outside 4 5.79
Total 69 100

of the respondents listen radio in their free time and the radio services of food clothing shelter, medical facilities and other
programs includes news and entertainment programs like songs, recreational facilities are studied. All these facilities are provided
dramas etc. 17.39% of the respondents spend their leisure time by in all the four old age homes but the level of their satisfaction is
watching television. A same percentage (17.29%) of the respondents illustrated in Table 4.
spend their leisure time by talking and interacting with their fellow
The respondents were asked to give or express their suggestions
inmates. 15.94% of the respondents engaged in performing some
regarding improvement of working condition of the old age
useful activities of the old age home like sweeping, group activities
homes. Most of the respondents (44.92%) when asked how to
etc. 13.04% of the respondents loves gardening and maintain the
improve the institutional facilities, stated that there is no room
gardens in the premises of the institution. A very meager percentage
for improvements. Further 27.73% of the respondents made
(2.89%) of the residents is engaged in reading.
suggestions regarding the need for more facilities like provision for
Old age homes are expected to provide a number of facilities to a resident doctor in the institute; providing of pocket money etc.
enhance the quality of life of the inmates. Facilities like basic 14.49% of the respondents want a better medical care facilities,

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13.04% of the respondents reported that more staffs or caregivers provide the inmates a cozy and comfortable place where they, the
are needed and 5.77% of the respondents want the institution to inmates get all the basic facilities for a routine living, like food,
allow them to go outside freely (Table 5). clothing, shelter, proper medical care, recreational facilities etc. To
create normal life of these elderly with proper care and protection
In a nutshell, majority of the inmates did not give any suggestions
is indeed very essential.
as the old age homes are freely providing the facilities and hence
not demanding and vocal regarding their preferences.
LIMITATIONS
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The study was carried out in a limited time period on a small
sample of old ages homes and thus may not be generalized to a
The study revealed that most of the elderly in the old age homes were
great extent.
from rural background, illiterate, widowed and are economically
dependent on others. The female residents were more in number. REFERENCES
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