INTRODUCTION:

While family constitutes the most important support base for the aged, it cannot be taken for granted in all cases or for all times to come. With significant societal changes taking place on the wake of smaller family norms, urbanization and migration, the age-old tradition of family as the ultimate care-giver to the elderly segment of the population cannot be taken for granted. This is true for the tribal society in Meghalaya too. This is particularly important on the wake of significant rise in the number of the aged and in the ‘ageing of the aged’.

The Institution of Old Age Home:

The development of the concept of caring for people in institutions can be traced back to the obedience of early Christians to the commandment of mercy and companion. The Christian Church established institutions in the Eastern Europe in the third and fourth centuries. There were Gerontochia for the aged, Nosocomia for the sick, Ptochia for the helpless poor, and so on. Western Europe followed suit more slowly.¹

Nosocomia were established in the fifth and sixth century in Italy, France and elsewhere. By medieval times there were infirmary almshouses and Houses for the aged, destitute, sick and disabled in England, runs largely by the groups living under monastic rule.²

Problems of old age were recognized prior to and during the period of the Greek and Roman civilizations. Although average life expectancy at birth was not above twenty years, some people lived into old age and were concerned retaining vigour and social status. Institutions for the aged were established in Europe in the third and fourth century. By the opening of seventeenth century, Great Britain was forced into more extensive social action and set in motion a continuing program on behalf of the aged. Similar development took place on the continent of Europe. Patterns of institutional care and relief were transferred to the American colonies.³

The social security of the older people has been a problem since long. In the eighteenth century Europe, the famous French scientist “Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier” established a scheme of contributory insurance for old age persons. But the system of old age pension was introduced for the first time in Denmark in the year 1891. It developed in Newzeland in 1898, and spread to Great Britain, Canada, and United States of America. Later it has been introduced in almost all industrialized countries.

Among the historians there was general consensus that in seventeenth and early eighteen century the elderly in America exerted powers, while the young admonished to show them respect. Cultural prescription and the agricultural economic society combined to show prestige and social integration of the elderly members of the society. By the late nineteenth century the elders began to face isolation, declining employment opportunities, and steadily growing ageism. Hence new policies and programs were developed that separate the old from the needy groups and define their worthiness not by their community status but by their old age. In old age homes, pension programs, and burgeoning almshouses defined the old as unproductive and needy and awarded them distinctive treatment, but yet such policies did not grant all aged the same care.⁴

Old age homes are not a new phenomenon in India; institutions for care of the elderly, such as Venkatagiri Chaultries, have been in operation since the early eighteenth century⁵.Traditionally, old age homes served destitute people, that is, persons who were poor and had no family to care for them. Such homes were free and often run by various Christian orders. There are very few old age homes run by the Hindus, belonging to various castes, and Muslims. This pattern persists today, with heaviest concentrations in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.⁶

Recent developments in eldercare include for-pay homes (known as “pay-and-stay” homes) and community-based services. This new type of home, similar to retirement communities in the United Sates, is a response to the growing demands of middle-class and upper-income families whose younger members are not available to care for their elders. Due to growing affluence, higher rates of migration and job mobility within and outside of India, multiple income earners (especially women in urban areas), and increased choices for asset-building, multi- generational co-residence is gradually giving way to nuclear house- holds, with a reduction in informal care giving.⁷

In India the progress made in the old age pension is far from satisfactory. It is increasingly realized that something more than the inadequate retirement income is required for happiness in the old age. The vulnerable elderly had a few refugees from poverty. Most families could scarcely cope with their children’s need let alone the needs of the elderly relatives. Charities were thinly spread.

There is no denying the fact that, in the eyes of the majority, there is no substitute for the family care as far as the older people are concerned, but there are numerous situational constraints, which compel some aged in India to seek alternative, institutional services. Problems like the absence of close relatives, migration of children from village to the towns from city to metro and even overseas in search of career opportunities, lack of proper living space for senior people in the household, and even bitter interpersonal relationships, may force the elderly to seek institutional care. Old Age Homes provide basic facilities including food, shelter, clothing, bed linen and Medicare. Some of them also offer their residents such facilities as a reading room, indoor games, and training in arts and crafts, and even remunerative work.

The needs of older people in India are many and complex. Older persons become increasing vulnerable, not only because of physical disabilities, but also due to social, economic, psychological and health related issues. The particular and special problems of old age are being aggravated by the unprecedented speed of socio economic transformation.

Development of institutional care for the handicapped, an infirm and aged person in India has a long history (300 year back). Today, the services are mainly provided by the non-government, private, voluntary, non-profit and particularly the religious charitable organizations. The central and the state governments still play a very negligible role in providing care to the deprived sections of the society. The elderly needs patience and need affection and one cannot provide it only by providing money. Surprisingly, in recent years, private agencies are participating to established old age homes, especially with a profit motive. For instance in Kerala, one can make more profit by running an old age home than running an industry. Some of the elite in Kerala have money, but their children are international migrants. They are ready to pay for service.

Our present society is quite different from the feudal type of society, in feudal system the problem of old age was no problem at all; rather the old man was respected more than the young one. He had big estate to live upon. The old man was considered the monarch of his estate, with large sums of money from his estate, could afford many good past times. He was the chief patron of the family of natural economy, pattern. The stable joint family system was definitely a guarantee for the protection of the aged in the pre-industrialized society. Now we are rapidly growing into a different society, a society where no monarchs and feudal Lords are found to protect themselves. We are turning from a feudal state to a welfare state where every person whether he is young or old has his right to live comfortably and maintain his right of self-direction as a member of community. People may not come to realize the individual responsibility of helping himself to live a socially useful life in later years as during his earlier days.

India is experiencing a transformation from the wide prevalence of joint family system towards single-family systems. This change results in greater insecurity of the persons and an increased role of the state in providing safety net to older persons. Feeling of individualism, low income followed by scanty means of support and high rentals, congestions and inadequate housing accommodation have developed the sense of social insecurity among the aged. Consequently the aged have become a problem for the society and their problem of adjustment has assumed social and economic significance.

The need for taking care of the aged by the offspring is governed by different norms, beliefs and expectations. Nevertheless people differ in their opinion regarding taking care of the aged parents. While all may not consider it as a good custom, some may think it as a legitimate duty, some others may regard it as a matter of intergenerational reciprocity and still others may sympathize with them as unavoidable due to lack of self-supporting sources.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Old Age Home or Mercy Home is located in Demthring, Nongthymmai-Shillong. It is a free accommodation, run by the sisters, and financially helped by the Social Welfare –Government of Meghalaya. This institution received financial help from many schools and colleges of Shillong city. At present the Old age home supports 36 aged persons consisting of 14 males and 22 females. The youngest among these aged is 60 years old and the oldest is 104 years.

Table 1. Occupation of elderly before coming to Old Age Home

Occupation	Male		Occupation	Female
Farming their own land	4	Farming their own land		6
Agricultural labourers	4	House maid		5
Casual labourers	3	Tailor		1
Security Guard	1	Dependent on family members		6
School Teacher	2	School Teacher		4
Total	14	Total		22

Source: Field work

Before coming to the Old Age Home many of the inmates were engaged in various occupations (table 6.1). A majority of the male inmates were daily wage earners, most of the female inmates were farmers or completely dependent on other family members. Interestingly, 2 male and 4 female inmates were engaged as school teachers prior to their coming to the Home.

Table.2. Physical Disability among the Inmates

	No.
Need Attention in Bathing	16
Need Attention in Walking	5
Total	21

Source: Field work

As many as 21 aged inmates suffer from physical disability and hence cannot perform any work and need attention by the institution particularly in bathing and walking (table 6.2).

Table 3. Health Condition of the Inmates

Heart Problem	3
Rheumatism	3
High Pressure	5
Low Pressure	2
Mental Disorder	2
Visually impaired	1
Deaf/hard of hearing	1
Total	15

Source: Field work

Understandably the inmates suffer from a number of health problems. As many as 15 of the 36 inmates reported serious degenerative health problems (table-6.3) including blood pressure, heart problem, rheumatism etc. Two of the inmates had psychiatric disorders. While one of the inmates was visually impaired, another was deaf.

There are many activities during leisure hours that the aged perform like games, gardening, cutting vegetables, sweeping, cutting grass for cows. According to the in-charge of the institution, the aged living in this institution are the poorest of the poor, who are illiterate who come from different rural areas of Khyriam in East Khasi Hills, Lyngam in West Khasi Hills, Pnar in Jaintia Hills Districts. A few of the aged are from Shillong city itself. Majority of them are un-married and nobody looked after them when their health conditions worsened. In the Old Age Home in contrast to western countries, aged are expected to provide care to each other, partly to compensate for the lack of staff and primarily to keep them involved in their daily life in the old age homes.

The task performed by the inmates are kitchen chores other than cooking, gardening, sweeping, cutting grass for the cows and helping others who are not healthy. Majority of the aged in the old age Home hail from Khasi hills Districts. There are few Nepalese and Bengalese too making the ethnic composition diverse. Most of them came from rural areas belonging to poorest of the poor. Majority of them are females and widow. Majority of them were brought by the Fathers (Catholic Priests) or Sisters (Catholic Nun). Due to their deteriorating health and due to their poverty nobody took care of them. Since many of them came from rural areas and are the poorest of the poor, they never got the chance to go to school in their early age and hence are illiterate.

Life in Old Age Home:

The old may actually live challenging lives. It may be satisfying and even exciting lives for some and for some others it may be more difficult and tiring. As people move along in the life cycle with various kinds of activities, interests and opportunities may be changing from the earlier ones due to illness, disability and break in the relationship, economic and emotional difficulties.

The need for Old Age Home is being felt very intensely, especially for those elderly who are destitute or no one to support them. Many feel that old age home is an alternative got by the children to keep their parents when they no longer want to take their responsibility, but at the same time, it may be a sin for a few people. It is really a boon for some who have no family and no one to look after them. Old Age Home supports the destitute aged, poor, widows and sick people also.

As many as 15 inmates, both males and females were personally interviewed. It was clear from the interview that they constituted the poorest of the poor. Majority of them came into the institution because of serious health problems. Since they are all not financially sound they sought this institution support for food and medicines. A few of them who have sons and daughters did complain of harassment and neglect by their sons and daughters. On the other hand a few who are unmarried and stayed with relatives preferred Old Age Home as they did not want to be a burden.

Table 4. Number of years spent in Old Age Home

No. of elderly	No. of years
6	3
6	6
1	8
2	15

Source: Field work

A majority of the inmates who were interviewed had lived in the Home for 3-6 years. However, 2 of them have been living in the Home for over 15 years while one of them has been there for 8 years.

A semi structured interview schedule was used to tap the respondents’ experience of loneliness, problems and the living conditions, the challenges in their life, their social and economic status and their impact in people’s lives before coming to the Mercy Home. As many as 8 cases have been considered. The plight of the aged is reflected below as they narrated their story:

Case 1:

Mr. Shngain Lyngdoh, 86 years old from Lyngam (Mairang) West Khasi Hills

My native place is Mairang. Till my wife was alive, I had her good company, she was sick and passed away 18 years back. It was traumatic but I was prepared for it. This helped me to adjust to life without her. My own children, one son and two daughters have been all married. I was living with my son, since my daughters got married and went with their husbands to Ri-Bhoi. I was always sick and my son was always helping me socially and financially. The daughter- in- law does not like the situation; she is not willing to look after me and every time my son and my daughter- in- law quarrelled for taking care of me. She would every time provoke him to ask me to go and stay with my daughters. But, I cannot do that, my both daughters are housewives and their husbands would not like me to stay with them. My son started hating and abusing me with harsh words which became unbearable to me. I usually remember when my children were young. I worked very hard to feed them, and clothe them. But now nobody cares for me. During those two years of my miserable life I usually went to civil hospital in Shillong for medical checkup. I have good faith in God. One day in the church I met the sisters (nun) and after discussing with them I decided to come and stay with them in this home. Now I have completed my 16 years in this home. I am happy and I do not want to go back to my son and daughters. I feel comfort here. Nobody forces me to do any heavy work or abuse me with hash words.

Case 2:

Ms Baiahunlang Swer 76 years old from Khyriam (Mawprem in Shillong city) East Khasi Hills

I was very healthy and energetic when I was young. I was a housemaid and I stayed alone. I fell sick when I was 55 years and could not go for daily routine of my work. I had a tough time to cope with my sickness and my daily food. One day I came to know about this institution and requested father (Priest) in the church to help me to reach this institution. I have been staying here for 16 years and now my health is improving and I feel at home in this institution. I do not want to go back and stay alone in my rented house since I cannot work. My relatives too are not interested, though they came to visit me sometimes.

Case 3:

Ms Palei Wahlang 88 years from Khyriam (Laban in Shillong city) East Khasi Hills

I do not feel comfortable here in this cabin. Since I am unmarried hence I stayed with my brother, we are very rich and I was a retired government servant. I transferred all the money to the daughter of my brother and kept little for myself. I was healthy but she cheated me in this way- One day she told me that you have to go and stay in one place for few days where there are so many games and so much fun, so I agreed. After reaching here she kept my entire luggage and left without saying good bye to me and she never came to visit me a single day. I did not know that she would keep me in this home. The one who came and visited me is my brother. He brought good food to eat and some money too. For 2 years I have been staying here but I am not happy at all. I want to go back home.

Case 4:

Ms Kristina Rynjah 88 years old from Khyriam (Mawkdok) East Khasi Hills

I lived with my brother and his wife and their daughters. Financially they supported me and both of them were working and their children used to go to their respective schools. I was left alone and was treated like a watch woman- that is all that I could do. When they came back from their respective work I always felt bad that my family was too busy to take care of me. My sister-in-law is a very good lady. She did help me in maintaining my personal hygiene and cleaning up but she could not be at my beck and call. It becomes a problem for me but not for them. I feel lonely most of the time, I needed somebody to be with me the whole day, but this does not happen. One day I came to know about this home. So I decided to come without anybody forcing me. Two years passed and I am happy here. My sister-in-law comes to visit me once a week and always requests me to go back home. But I do not want to go.

Case 5:

Ms Biolina Marbaniang 69 years from Khyriam (Riatsamthiah in Shillong city) East Khasi Hills

My younger sister is a government servant and I was living with her in a rented house. When she got married to a Bengali she moved to her in-law’s house. This forced me to stay with my relatives who are not so near. I was not feeling comfortable with them and so I came alone to this institution. I have been staying here for the last 6 years. I feel comfort here and I do not want to go back. My sister and relatives do come and visit me every month. They give pocket money too.

Case 6:

Ancy Wahlang 76 years from from Khyriam (Golflink in Shillong city) East Khasi Hills

From a very long time I do not get along with my two daughters who already got married. I lived with my youngest daughter. Our relationship worsened when I stopped working as a housemaid due to sickness as I could not perform daily duty. Her husband left her and she has two daughters. She earns her livelihood as a housemaid. Every time we quarreled and this made me feel uncomfortable. So I came alone to this institution 6 years back and now I am happy here. But last month I fell down in the bathroom and broke my leg. Now I cannot move and have to lie down here. The sisters-in-charge are very nice not only to me but to everyone. They helped a lot and with my sickness still I am happy here.

Case 7:

Mary Palei 104 years from Pnar (Jowai) Jaintia Hills

I lived happily with my husband and two daughters. My husband was sick and passed away when I was 45 years old. My two daughters were not healthy and they passed away in their younger age. I worked as a tailor and lived with my younger sister and her daughter and granddaughter. We lived happily and they loved me very much. They cared for me and I never felt sad. I am deaf and I cannot see properly, but I am healthy. I do not want to trouble them. I feel sad looking at them leaving their work for me. I fell down several times because I cannot see properly. We are very poor and I cannot let them suffer because of me, but in this age I decided to come to this institution without anybody forcing me. The granddaughter of my sister always asked me to go back and stay with them. She even agrees to leave her school and look after me but I cannot do that. I am happy here and I have no option. I have been staying here for the last 1 year and I will not go back home.

Case 8:

Umiri Kharsohnoh 80 years from Khyriam (Umpling in Shillong city) East Khasi Hills

I got married to a Punjabi and have six sons. I went and stayed with him in Haryana. I lived with them happily but never came home to my parents or sisters or brothers. I never kept any contact with them throughout my life when with my husband and sons. My husband was sick due to old age and I looked after him till his last breath. My sons at that time were grown up and got married. They always asked about my native place and they told me they wanted to go and meet my relatives. I agreed and we came to Shillong to search for them. My relatives welcomed my sons and me. The intention of my sons was to keep me with my relatives, but my relatives were very poor so they advised to keep me in this institution. My sons left me without a single penny and now I am a helpless mother who has no option but to stay here in this institution. Two years had gone and I know I cannot stay without my sons.

CONCLUSION:

It has generally been observed that old people are deprived of social attachment because hardly one has time to share emotion and sentimental attachment, feeling with the old people. Everyone is busy for development and economic prosperity. As a result, the old persons feel himself/herself partially or totally neglected that result in the state of melancholy and depression. Though aged are the responsibility of the family and society in the matrilineal society of Meghalaya, but with time there is breaking down of this system in many families, particularly in the rural areas, where poverty is one of the main causes. For older people living in poverty and social isolation have adverse effect on health.

Matrilineal society in Meghalaya has been providing the best place for the satisfaction of physical and emotional comfort for the elderly people. Strong kinship and religious values are the corner stone that act as a natural social security for old people and in fact elderly people enjoyed considerable status in the family, particularly over family property. But, with all the status that the aged still enjoy in this matrilineal society, there are still so many aged left alone and deprived their rights within their family. These aged have no option but to take shelter in the Mercy Home in Demthring-Shillong.

The study reveals that most of the aged are widow/widower some of them have children who are not financially sound and not in the position to keep them in the family. Most of the inmates from the village came to the Mercy Home because of their health, because they are homeless and because they possessed no source of income. All the respondents expressed that they do not feel lonely or depressed in the Mercy Home, but rather they feel happy because their family members visited them and the care and support of the staff and medical facilities developed confidence in themselves and their association with religious work make them feel that they are not spiritually isolated.

PLATES:

The inmates in Old Age Home, Demthring,Shillong

January 2013.

Plate 1. Mr. Shngain Lyngdoh 86 years old from Lyngam (Mairang) West Khasi Hills

Plate 2. Ms Baiahunlang Swer 76 years old from Khyriam (Mawprem in Shillong city) East Khasi Hills

Plate 3. Dondor Lyngkhoi 82 years old from Lyngam (Mairang) West Khasi Hills

Plate 4. Mary Palei 104 years from Pnar (Jowai) Jaintia Hills (Left) and Ms Kristina Rynjah 88 years old from Khyriam (Mawkdok) East Khasi Hills (Right)

Plate 5. Umiri Kharsohnoh 80 years from Khyriam (Umpling in Shillong city) East Khasi Hills

Plate 6. Ancy Wahlang 76 years from from Khyriam (Golflink in Shillong city) East Khasi Hills

REFERENCES:

1. Townsend P, 1964. The Last Refuge-A Survey of Residential Institutions and Homes for the Aged in England and Wales. Published by Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd. London. p12

2. Webb, S and Webb, B., 1972. English Poor Law History: Part I, The Old Poor Law, Longmans publisher, London, p16-17

3. Srivastava, R. C. 1994. The problems of the Aged, Classical Publishing Company-New Delhi. p6-7

4. Graton, B. and Haber C. 1994. Old Age and the Search for Security: An American Social History. Published by the Association of American University Presses. America. p7-8.

5. Nair, T. K. 1995. Care of the elderly: Directory of organizations caring for the elderly in India. Madras: Centre for the Welfare of the Aged, Madras Institute on Ageing.

6. Rajan, S. I., Mishra, U. S., and Sarma, P. S. 1999. India’s elderly: Burden or challenge? New Delhi: Sage Publications.

7. Varadharajan, D. 1989. Elderly in the changing Indian family. In T. K. Nair and K.V. Ramana (Eds.), Ageing and welfare of the elderly in India, Madras Institute on Ageing. p19-30.

Received on 26.04.2018 Modified on 15.05.2018

Res. J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2018; 9(3): 535-540.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5828.2018.00090.6