Aging & Social Change: Ninth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Bangladesh has a long tradition of looking after the elderly by offspring or family. But rapid socio-economic transformations and changing social values have broken down traditional extended family systems. Many elderly people now stay in old-homes, mainly based in Dhaka, run by NGO, or as charity. This paper explores the scenarios: reasons for living in a home, coping with new environments and satisfaction in home. It aims to sensitize policy makers for designing and implementing appropriate programs for elderly in Bangladesh Elderly (65+yrs) living in two old-homes (n = 56) in Dhaka were interviewed. Reasons for staying in home and satisfaction etc. along with socio-demographic information were collected Almost all came from better-off family, 47% male and 53% female. 68% of men and 36% women were retired mid and high level official. Reasons for coming to elderly home were problem with kin (63%) or with children (9%), children living in abroad (5%), no one to take care at home (67%), burden in the family (24%), properties occupied by others (27%). Children or relatives visit them (87%). 92% are satisfied with overall management of the home. Elderly people living in homes are mainly from better-off urban middle-class and rich family backgrounds that do not reflect the situation of many elderly in the society. The home is a new idea or one answer of the elderly in a society in transition. It demands further wide-range research; however findings reflect the indication of the growing rift between generations.