DR. P K MUTTAGI
Tata Insitute of Social Sciences,
Mumbai, India
prema@bom5.vsnl.net.in

Click Play button to Play Audio
(Please wait as the audio loads)

Abstract

Taking care of the elderly people has become a serious problem in India as their number in increasing rapidly. An added dimension to this is that a large proportion of them live below the poverty lines. The weak, the, the destitute and the disabled among them require help from others to sustain themselves. Several elderly from the middle and upper middle income groups are also vulnerable on account of inzation, changing family composition, values and lifestyles. Although family is the most important caring institution and an overwhelming majority of the elderly still lives within its setting, a significant proportion of them lives in vruddhashrams (Old Age Homes). There are over 1000 vruddhashrams located all over the country. It is important to understand the programmes which enhance adjustment of the aged in old-age homes.

An exploratory study was conducted in march-April this year among the inmates of the vruddhashrams located in three small towns in Mumbai metropolitan region. It was focused on the problems and issues of adjustment of the inmates. Without disturbing the routine programme , researchers conducted lecture–pranayama–Dhayan–Bhajan sessions. The data collected from different sources indicate that spiritual programmes definitely help some inmates to show better adjustment, but everyone is not equally benefited.

The observations and comments in the paper will, hopefully, help management, researchers, practitioners, and trainers gain better insights into the factors which contribute to effective adjustment..