The attainment of old age is final stage of normal life span. Acceptance of old age within the family is questionable in developing country like India owing to urbanization, industrialization and globalization in the fast world. Breakage in the family system is often seen.
As per the 1991 census, the population of the elderly in India was 57 million as compared with 20 million in 1951. There has been a sharp increase in the number of elderly persons between 1991 and 2001 and it has been projected that by the year 2050, the number of elderly people would rise to about 324 million. About 90% of the elderly were from the unorganized sector, i.e., they have no regular source of income. The number of centenarians in India is about 2,00,0001.
The size of the elderly rose in absolute terms during the last century from 12 million in 1901 to approximately 71 million in 2001 and is likely to reach 113 million in 2016. As per provisional census of Indian population 2011, the age group of 60+ years is 7.5% and age above 65 years is 5.0% from the total population.
Swarnalatha5 reasoned breakdown of joint family and tremendous influence of modern lifestyles on the younger generation, the attitudes of the young people towards old age are constantly changing and thus for many, old people in the house become a sort of burden and liability. It becomes rather difficult for those elderly to change their ideas, views and opinions suddenly to adjust with the younger generation.
Supportive