The positive sides of old age life
Though many dislike the old age segment of life, due to many reasons out of which health being the core reason, old age is a great time to sit back and enjoy and enjoy one’s life. Old are much wiser, others’ opinions do not easily fluster them, they are much more comfortable in their own skin, their kids are away from home and so they have the freedom to do all the things they want to do. One might be weaker physically but mentally they can be always strong and joyous. It is possible only with the person’s attitude and how they engage their mind on the beautiful aspects of life. So, enjoying self-life is a significant contributor during old age.
Old age segments
In modern human age analysis, all those who crossed 60 are not just old aged. This sect is divided in three categories of life 1. Old old, 2. Older old, 3. Oldest old. The first sect is ranging between 61-70 years, the second sect is ranging between 71-80 years and the third sect begins from 81 years of age. So, each sect has its own capabilities to cherish and contribute them to the society either by mentally or physically. There is enough scope for elders to make them productive even after their 60. It’s purely depend on their individual choice. Further the first sect is the enjoyable period. The second sect is the planning cum settling period and the third sect is the settled period. When they are in the third slot, almost they should be prepared for surrendering their life and exit. Many will face issues in their third slots. Many face issues with in the four aspects viz. medical, physical, financial or mental issues.
Different Nomenclature of Old Age Homes
Since the old aged demography is growing year after year, the popularly known term of Old Age Homes have split in to many dimensions and there are different types of services evolved in the past. Some of the popular terms are, 1. Retirement Homes 2. Senior Care Homes 3. Assisted Living Facility, 4. Home Care Facility and 4. Day Care Centers. Each of them provides different types of specialized services for elderly living and all are not same. However, in India largely people understand all types of services in one statement called as “Old Age Homes”. The awareness towards the differences and their specialty are slowly growing.
Social Stigma
It is the expectation of every individual to live with their family till their last breath. This expectation arises not only out of their fear of living, but it arises out of their fear about society comments especially among their relatives. People feel pride in expressing to the society that they are living with their son or daughter and they are cared by them in their elderly living. So there exists social stigma among elders on the above said reasons if they are asked to live in old age care homes. At times young are also carrying these issues.
Changing Minds of Old Aged
However modern old aged thinkers started viewing differently and throwing their expectation on the society for their day-to-day care. The changing mind-set happens largely from the economically independent class. They justify the logic that they kept their kids in Creech, they short separated with their children for studies and jobs, their children live alone after marriage etc. Tours, official travel, higher education, job transfers etc. are other reasons for separation with the family. In due course of time, this mind set made everyone independent on their living and so during the last sect of their life they prefer to be independent without giving any trouble to their children. Also, it is the fact that the shrunken family failed its competence in caring the elders due to lack of manpower and knowledge. This resulted in searching for specialized care for elders. Ultimately physical pain supersedes the mental pain.
Olden days old age homes
To be precise there was never be an old age homes in olden days as what we see today. However there prevailed such concept in different ways. Temples and religious shelters are the conventional old age homes for those who don’t have family and money. These places are providing such services to deprived people across globe even today. Many people and countries donate in many forms to temples and religious shelters and indirectly support all destitute irrespective of their religion. So, the concept of care homes prevailing in all era in different form. To make it clear though there exist inequality among people, the society never failed to support the deprived.
Conventional old age homes
When we term “Old Age Homes” what will flashing in our mind is ‘a huge hall with number of beds and people lying and sitting in the same cot. Common washrooms, a periodical visiting general physician, daily prayers, some affordable people celebrating their birthday or death day of their family members with them, festival gifting etc. Even today the position is same for many old age homes. Government operated old age homes are further in poor condition taking into account the type of people with addictive ill habits living there. Such old age homes are suitable to such economically poor people and their service is much appreciable compared with service provided by affordable class institutions. However, the very same reason given way to the modern concept of old aged living in the names like retirement living, assisted living, senior care homes, home care facility, day care facility etc. So as opposed to a conventional old age home, that elders tend to avoid, the modern elder care facilities are looked at with interest and much more expectations not only by the elders but also by their children for care free living for both sects.
Can you circumvent the modern old age facilities?
Nuclear homes and families are the norms now and these have a limitation on the availability of both time, space, ability and expertise. The busy youngsters are always in a run for life success and so they are not able to effectively spend time with their parent. They might care but there is silence prevailing always. This leads to a solitary life even when the elders are staying with kids. Today’s working population is always with mobile phone, quite mobile, preferring to cross boundaries whether city or country in search of better opportunities. Elders on the other hand, do not prefer moving to a new room, cot, place or their physician. However, their mind has positively changed at least to move within their geography to such old age care facilities located away from congested and polluted suburbs which is intertwined with hectic life style. They find likeminded people there and spend their time with peaceful schedules. So slowly, but with consistent growth, the modern old aged living facilities have taken its momentum and became the ultimate destiny in aged living life which is impossible to circumvent. It is worth to be noted that when they are in the age band of 71-80 they must settle their life with some service provider failing which the complexity of care multifold.
Advantageous of Modern Old Age Homes
These homes ensure independence in living, since elders feels that being dependent on their family members is not a feeling that they like. Especially elders after spending a major part of their lifetime independently, they resent to being dependent on their children. These modern old age homes ensure their independence ranging from their personal needs, food, medical care, entertainment and so on as liked by such old aged person. They help them to run their daily errands or to take care of every minute aspects in living. Unlike the conventional old age homes where a dormitory and common facilities are shared by all old aged people, these modern homes are independent units and exclusive facilities that give a sense of self sustenance inherent in them. Their esteem is on the high and their privacy is at the fullest satisfaction till their last breath.
These homes also provide timely care as often their working children find difficulty and are rather unable to be with their parents during critical times. They might be in jobs which require excessive travel or even staying in a different city, state or even country. But these care homes have residence nurses, on call doctors, periodical medical tests, tied up hospitals for different health issues, who are able to provide effective and immediate medical care needed for the elderly people.
Their children, being away, have given way to solitude and that can even push an individual towards depression. Whereas on the other hand such old age care facilities have likeminded peers which paves a way for a good sense of friendship and companionship leading to a better living experience and a sense of happiness and wellbeing.
Affordable old age care homes are being conceived and promoted by many top private operated companies abutting to city limits offering a resort like hospitality with top class facilities. Personalized requirements are also fulfilled on demand. In the minds of elders, children and family members these facilities have become as the safe and stress-free environment to carry on their day to day living.
Cash less environment, safety, timely food, fitness classes, entertainments, chit chat, walking, medical care, pollution free calm environment are the attractions of old age care. With the increasing numbers of accepting minds among elders and rising expertise in care providers, the modern living has enforced such elders living concept among the society and it is inevitable for the peaceful living not only for aged but for all age group and hence the only hand that can serve old aged is the institutionalized old age homes. Whether we like it or not this alone is the ultimate solution available to all. Those who understand this situation have adopted to the changing environment and cross their silver innings with peace. On the other hand, those who are reluctant in adopting themselves with the changes are reaping the result on their own destiny.