Living arrangements and coping mechanisms of the elderly in the coastal communities of Kanyakumari district

Abstract

Two primary social roles, those of work and family role are taken away from individuals who have reached an advanced age. Many elderly people and their older children may still be in close contact. In the absence of physical proximity to their children, problem of loneliness arises if not social isolation. The elderly may not be isolated, but they may not have the warm, friendly contacts so desperately needed at this stage in life. newlinePerhaps one of the most serious emotional problems concerning the aging is the loss of a feeling of security. Many are in a precarious economic position, but they also have other fears. Not the least of these is where they will be living and who will be caring for them. Study after study has shown that the elderly want to remain where they are rather than to move to another location. The reason behind this often-stated preference is the fact that they know about their present arrangements, and they tend to feel secure in them, even when they are somewhat uncomfortable. newlineIn the agricultural sector and the rural and urban informal sectors, there is no set age at which people retire and stop working. Both men and women continue to work as long as they are physically able, although the type of work they do may change and they may work with diminished capacity (Dandekar, 1996), which is true of both men and women. newlineThere are both positive and negative connotations of getting old. On the positive side, especially in the traditional Indian context, old age is associated with Wisdom, Respect, and the potential for spiritual growth. It relieves them from family responsibilities and gives them freedom of action. On the negative side, it is associated with physical and mental decline, stereotyped as self pitying, unhappy, complaining and unproductive. They often suffer from depression caused by loneliness and alienation.