During my trip to India (Summer 2022), I had the opportunity to visit an old-age home. The goal was to receive the thoughts of the people who lived there in response to the questions paged for our research on cognition abilities in our goal to engage the elderly and connect the younger generations with them.
The home was meant as a last resort for the elderly who had nowhere else to turn to. What I found surprising was the fact that the majority of the patients had well-off families that could care for them. Many of the people there were bed-ridden, but still showed respect, gratitude, and happiness in their faces, words, and actions.
My family and I contributed by donating money and necessities, such as food, medicines, towels, and more. The founders and employees at the home were very kind, and I admired their patience and hearts to care for people in such situations. The founders were also the ones who guided us through the questions we wanted to survey, and explained the founding and development of the center.
Overall, I developed a great respect for the people at the home, as well as for the workers. The elderly there were so kind, yet the conditions they were in were enough to have me thinking that I’d have nightmares later. The couple who ran the place were also well-off people who didn’t have to do this work, but care deeply for the inhabitants, and work tirelessly every single day.
Governmental policies for elderly care vary worldwide, with the most positive support coming from the Scandinavian countries and East Asian countries. The US fares well as well, having acts in place, such as Medicare and Medicaid for the elderly and disabled (healthcare), along with housing and income acts. Continually, the aging population is in general met with care and compassion. The elderly in the US are also very active in their communities, and participate in activities with their families and friends. Old-age homes are also very well kept for the most part, with scientific studies going on to reduce the effects of disorders such as Dementia and Alzheimers. Currently in India, however, population growth is almost completely uncontrollable, leading to more and more people aging as others are born. In well-off places, care is high-quality, and mental health of residents is developed over time. Old people are viewed with respect and value, and in richer areas of India, more are engaged in healthier lifestyles. However, lower-income areas have a difficult time controlling these, and helping the elderly is added to the end of their “current-needs list”. In order for care to be met, basic needs need to be met first.