Indian poor support their elderly: Expert

Kochi: She is measured in her words and has an eye for the detail. Prof Sarah Harper, professor of gerontology and director, Oxford Institute of Population Ageing and Oxford University, does not miss the major issues that plague the elderly in all continents and says much needs to be done everywhere for their welfare.

Sarah, who is now attending a three-day International conference on ageing well – management and social challenges, organised by the SCMS School of Communication and Management here, threw up some interesting observations about India.

Speaking to DC, she said that she has learnt that poor families, especially in rural India, are flocked together and are in charge of their elderly whereas the flourishing middle class distances itself from their elderly.

“I understand that the children of the middle class are having good education and are now settling in cities and they leave behind their elderly parents to fend for themselves. This care means financial support and practical help. In contrast, the poor families are together but don’t have the wherewithal to look after their elderly,” she said.

The phenomenon that she has noticed world over is the demand from younger ones to the elderly to babysit their little sons and daughters. She said India is still to adapt any western models in caring for the elderly.

“While England has the fully free National Healthcare System (NHS), Australia and Canada have health insurance contributory scheme. The US has a special health care to support the elderly. In contrast, Japan and Korea have family support system but India is neither here nor there. West doesn’t have a strong family system,” she said.

In the current circumstances, the ideal model for India can be a private insurance scheme for the middle and upper class and a public-funded scheme for the poor, she said.