A Study on Social Work in Home for the Aged as Perceived by Social Work Student in Tiruchirappalli District

Abstract

Old age homes are meant for senior citizens who are unable to stay with their families or are destitute. Old age homes have special medical facilities for senior citizens such as mobile health care, ambulances, nurses and provision of well-balanced meals. The last century has witnessed a rapid increase in the population of the elderly people in the developed and industrialized countries. This situation could be attributed to a combination of factors such as increase in age, longevity and decreased death rates due to advancement in the field of medicine, improvement of life expectancy at birth, and enhancement in the average span of life. India ranks 4th in terms of absolute size of the elderly population. The country is not adequately equipped to look after their special health needs and the changing traditional value system. In the above context, a study was conducted to understand the feeling of the elderly residing in the old age homes and within the family setup in Tiruchirappalli District. The present paper attempts to portrait various problems experienced by the old age people. The paper also explains the social work intervention of Case Work, Group Work and Community Organization Programme in case of old age people. Results of the study revealed that most of the elderly people felt that the attitude of the younger generation is unsatisfactory towards them in terms of getting respect, love and affection from the family members instead they were considered as a burden for others. Women living in the families had a positive attitude towards the old age. There was a fall in the overall efficiency, sociability, degree of involvement in work and hobbies. On the other hand, better social relations were maintained by the family because they had regular interaction, expressions of feelings and support as a family. The present paper aims to highlight the problems of the aged as perceived by Social Work Student. Keywords: Old Age Home. Family. Life Expectancy. Methods of Social Work.