A Study on the Opportunities and Challenges of the Residents in Old Homes of Bangladesh.

Abstract

Very recently Bangladesh has begun to experience the rapid rise of older people in our population with a profound impact on intergenerational support systems as well as on socio-economic structures. In the near past, the issue of ageing was quite a family concern. As an Asian country, Bangladesh had a long cultural and religious tradition of looking after the elderly and it was expected that families and communities would care for their own older members. In those days, an older person was considered an asset rather than a burden. But recently, the scenario has begun to change. The majority of our older people suffer from the problems of severe poverty or inadequate income, malnutrition and ill health, the lack of caregivers, social degradation, exclusion and negligence which adversely affect the family living arrangements and compel some older people to take up their residences in the old homes. Although our Muslim culture does not cultivate such an extra-familial living arrangement, it is now a reality for some older people, particularly for those who do not have adequate shelter of their own, and who have no one to offer them a place to live. Very recently, the issue of such extra-familial living arrangements has come into a great prominence to the policymakers and academics, calling for the present study to investigate the older people who reside in old homes. The objectives of the study include examining the socio-demographic characteristics of the residents in old homes, identifying the reasons for living in old homes, recognizing the opportunities the residents enjoy, challenges the residents encounter in the old homes and providing recommendations to improve services and minimise challenges. The study findings are expected to contribute valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers grappling with the implications of an ageing population and providing recommendations to improve services and minimise the obstacles associated with the problem. Using a mixed method approach, the study applies both quantitative sample surveys and qualitative case studies. Three charitable old homes in diverse districts of Bangladesh serve as the study areas, with residents aged sixty and above constituting the sample. The sample design ensures homogeneity by focusing on charitable old homes to capture a coherent picture of this specific segment of the ageing population. The increased demand for old homes in Bangladesh necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics surrounding this living arrangement, and this research aims to address this critical gap in knowledge. The study concludes with a commitment to maintaining ethical standards, ensuring privacy for respondents, and providing a foundation for future research endeavours in this field.