Ageing and Society
- Ageing and Society / Volume 32 / Issue 04 / May 2012, pp 697-717
- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X11000584 (About DOI), Published online: 09 June 2011
Articles
Why does institutionalised care not appeal to Indian families? Legislative and social answers from urban India
BIANCA BRIJNATHa1 c1
a1 Department of General Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
ABSTRACT
In India, although notions of ageing and care are changing, there is a continued preference among families for home-based care of elderly relatives. The legislative policies and cultural practices that shape this preference will be examined in this paper with specific reference to aged-care facilities and the 2007 Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. Using qualitative data from a study on dementia care in urban India it will be shown how the Act and old-age homes are understood and experienced by Indian families and key service providers. In juxtaposing policy and practice it will be argued that while notions of care are being redefined by processes like migration and urbanisation, the preference for home care remains, indicating that existing services need to be re-oriented and expanded to support families in providing this care.
(Accepted May 01 2011)
(Online publication June 09 2011)
KEY WORDS
Correspondence:
c1 Address for correspondence: Bianca Brijnath, Department of General Practice, Monash University, School of Primary Health Care, Building 1, 270 Ferntree Gully Rd, Notting Hill, Melbourne, Victoria 3168, Australia. E-mail: bianca.brijnath@gmail.com
