old age and the consequences

old age-penury

We live in India, a country where culture is our  heritage. when a child takes birth in this country his/her parents nourishes him/her, gives them everything that they are able to give, forget themselves and what not,  the only thing they have in their mind is whether  their children remains with them forever and will give support and care in their old age. But what actually happens, after getting settled the child thinks his parents to be burden and wants to get rid of them as soon as possible. Is this our cultural heritage????????

The present condition of old age people in India was not such as it is now. Initially parents were considered as next to god, disrespecting them was an offence and no one dare to  commit this offence. Moreover the bonding of parent with their child was more stronger in the old times than today, children cannot dream of  anything without their parents at any stage of life. But the present situation is completely different. Ass soon as children get settled their interest shifts from parents to their life partners and they tend to avoid them. Ultimately the situation  gets worse and parents are send to old age homes. This culture  we had adopted from west.

In today's world there is no space for love, emotions and feelings. When the children  draw apart from their parents, it doesn't matter to them but the parents are deeply affected and their life becomes totally shattered. Their emotions are hurt,  every moment they just keep on thinking about their child, whether their child is fine or not , every single breath becomes poison for them. As the aged people are left alone, they couldn’t  get  accustomed to the old age homes and depression prevails over them.  

Old age homes are basically the place where neglected parents are being left alone by their children. They are being provided food, shelter and clothing but have no one is there  to share their feelings.  

The concept of old age homes has become quite familiar today, but often for the wrong reason . The idea seems to evoke a sigh of pity which is uncalled for.

Lets us  have a eye on both the  positive and negative  effects of old age homes :-

Ø provision of shelter for those whose children don't look after them

Ø the elderly people get the company of people like them who have same problems

Ø helps to forget their past and walk ahead in life

Ø old age homes conduct programs by way of which the elderly people get a cozy environment

Now let us come to negative effects of these old age homes:-

Ø children get rid of their parents knowing that they will stay safe at these homes

Ø mechanical process of living for aged people

Ø no one to understand the feelings and emotions of these people

Ø no as such financial funding for these homes

There are 728 Old Age Homes in India today. Detailed information of 547 homes is available. Out of these, 325 homes are free of cost while 95 old age homes are on pay & stay basis, 116 homes have both free as well as pay & stay facilities and 11 homes have no information. A total of 278 old age homes all over the country are available for the sick and 101 homes are exclusively for women. Kerala has 124 old age homes which is maximum in any state. 

With development of the country a lot many things have changed in India. The parents have now come to know about trend and are aware about their future. They make plans for their old age and invest capital in retirement homes etc. But it is quite shameful that those parents who affectionately take care of their children at all stages of life are left alone when they need the support of their children.

It is  very unfortunate that we are following this system but it has also become very important to analyze the root of this problem. What is the reason that the children have become so reluctant towards their parents? What has happened to our culture? Why are we so much influenced by the western culture?

Unless and until we don't find the answers  to these questions and analyse the root cause of this problem,  this trend is not going to end. It has become very important to find the answer to these question and a permanent solution to this problem.

 Ending with the lines of Oscar Wilde which puts forwards  irrefutable question in front of the modern society........ 

Children begin by loving their parents; after a time they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them.