Lack Of Caregivers Plagues Old People In India

November 3, 2009 8:01 a.m. EST

New Delhi, India (AHN) - A recent survey has revealed that a majority of bedridden patients in India are male senior citizens. The survey, carried out by Agewell Foundation found out that 65 percent of bedridden patients in and around the National Capital region belonged to the age group 60 and above.

The other major findings of the report are that the percentage of bedridden men patients at 67.5 percent was much higher that the percent of women bedridden patients at 32.5 percent.

Himanshu Rath, director, Agewell Foundation feels that women are psychologically and emotionally stronger than men are. "Men per se are more susceptible to lie down. Whereas a woman will not give up till the stage where she absolutely cannot move." Rath says.

The survey also found that bedridden patients in India had to battle with basic practical problems like a lack of caregivers, cleanliness and hygiene. Most of them were victims of depression due to this. Lack of care also means that most bedridden patients suffered from bedsores and high blood pressure.

According to the survey, more than 30 percent of patients faced a shortage of caregivers despite an urgent requirement. Most bedridden patients are taken care of by their families - 38 percent by their spouses, 23 percent by family members and 39 percent by caregivers.

Rath says that trained caregivers are hard to come by and even when you do find one, there are practical difficulties.

"Trained caregivers are very expensive. And of course a caregiver will live with the family - in the modern set up where most of us live in small apartments, that sometimes become quite difficult," she said.

As Rath says, the formal education system in India there is nothing about old age. "No one prepares you for old age. And since the traditional joint family system has broken down, one cannot learn by example and the formal education system makes no mention of it. So, one hits old age without being prepared for it."

The need right now is to sensitize the younger generation to the needs of the older generation. "That will take another 20-30 years to achieve." Says Rath.