Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Old-age homes are a new phenomenon in the context of Bangladesh society. Being a South Asian country, Bangladesh has a long cultural and religious tradition of looking after the elderly members in a family. Moreover, as a tradition it is expected that families and communities will care for their own elderly members. But rapid socioeconomic and demographic transitions, mass poverty, changing social and religious values, influence of western culture, and the break down of the traditional joint/extended family and community care system contribute to the increase in the old-age home trend and the relationship deviation among older and younger generations in the society of Bangladesh. From the sense of Asiatic mode of social tradition or filial piety, older parents still prefer to live with their children or relatives rather than in the old-age homes.