Abstract
India is undergoing a significant demographic transition. The Population is aging rapidly, and those in need of care are increasing due to the higher prevalence of chronic ailments and longer life expectancies. As the country’s demographic window remains open and the dividend is yet to be reaped, and owing to the country’s socio-demographic and cultural factors, an institutionalised model of caregiving is largely non-existent with elderly being primarily cared for by the family members. Often, an aging population are supported by equally aging caregivers. This paradoxical elderly-caregiver relationship enhances the complexities of population aging dynamics in India. In this context, an empirical study was conducted in the state of Kerala, India, to understand how caregivers negotiate the trade-off between achieving personal life satisfaction while managing the demanding and challenging aspects of caregiving. The findings reveal that caregiving not only increases family bonds but also enhances the emotional rewards for the caregivers. This, accompanied by the support of palliative programs, facilitate aging in place and dignified end-of-life for the elderly. However, these rewards are overshadowed by the pressing realities of deterioration in actual health and socioeconomic insecurity for both the aged and their caregivers. Framed within a multifaceted crisis- a polycrisis overlapping social, economic and health domains- the study argues for a comprehensive policy intervention that entangles the complex dilemma between individual well-being and caregiving burden. These insights contribute towards a holistic understanding of the elderly-caregiver relationship and offer valuable guidance for policymakers, particularly in lower-middle-income contexts.
Presenters
Krishnakumar KripakumaranStudent, PhD Student, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Social and Cultural Perspectives on Aging
KEYWORDS
Ageing, Elderly Care, Familial bond, Quality of Life, Caregiver Burden
