‘Girls more caring, sons ignore parents in old age’

Forty per cent of deserted elderly persons were driven out of their homes by sons while their daughters cared and helped them out at the time of illness and other problems as compared to their sons.
A study conducted by Barkatullah University among people residing in old age homes. A report on “Broken families and increasing old age homes”, prepared by Barkatullah University’s Women studies department head Prof. Asha Shukla and Research officer Jaya Phookan, revealed in its findings that 50% of the respondents felt proud of their daughters for taking care of them instead of their sons, Times of India Reported. According to the findings of the study, 100 per cent of respondents in old age homes were of the view that they were respected when they had money and now they were in old age homes as they have no place in their homes. Similarly, 95 per cent of them said they would live and die in the old age home and they will never ever go back to their homes in any condition as these homes are providing them good environment, peace and better care.
While 5 per cent of them maintained they were residing in old age homes due to compulsion, 38 per cent of them were of the view that their most memorable moment of life is coming to old age home. However, 12 per cent of them said that their worst day in life was when they were driven out of their homes. Throwing light on the methodology adopted for the study, Prof. Asha Shukla said “We went to Anand Dham and Karunalaya old age homes. The people living there had suffered a lot. The objective of the report is to find the reason of shifting senior citizens to old age homes, learning the behavior of their family members and perceptions of youth towards elderly persons”.”We tried to understand the point of view of their children. Most of them, youngsters, felt that elders should not intervene in their matters, particularly in their life style”, Prof Shukla added there were several schemes available for the old age citizens but the lack of awareness is a major hindrance.The report has also come up with certain suggestions. “Respect towards elders and parents should be developed, petty household issues should be ignored, relatives should intervene in cases where parents are being forced out of homes legal action should be taken on those who are sending their parents to old age homes without any genuine reason,” .