The Depressed Class of Elderly: Case Studies of Elderly Populace Among Lower Income Households

ABSTRACT

India is often interpreted as a country which is still influenced by the values of gerontocracy as well as joint family households. However, modernizing trends are affecting the nooks and corners of every part of the society, and India is not left behind. The present paper seeks to explore the domain of physical and mental well being of the elderly population among the lower income households in the country. The findings of the paper show that in lower income households, nuclear families values are gradually penetrating, which is transforming the elderly- family interactions. It is seen that the elderly population which were previously acknowledged as the head of the household or one of the major decision maker are gradually sidelined or excluded from the household affairs. Awareness of being excluded is often a primary reason behind the degrading physical and mental well being of the elderly populace. They are often treated as an unwanted liability, which will be relieved only with their deaths. Case studies of 50 elderly respondents have been taken to explore the physical and mental health of the elderly populace among the lower income households.