City has ugly side too, 44% caregivers feel burdened

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 14

Though Chandigarh is known as City Beautiful, when it comes to care of the elderly it has an ugly side too. As many as 44 per cent caregivers in the family feel burdened while taking care of elders, revealed a report released by HelpAge India, an NGO, today.

The report elaborated that 29 per cent caregivers in the family (mainly son, daughter-in-law, daughter, son-in-law) felt the burden was moderate to severe, while 15 per cent felt a severe burden while taking care of elders.

It was also found that 25.7 per cent caregivers felt fatigue and frustration resulting in aggressive behaviour towards their old kin.

“Our society has changed and moral values are not there. When an elderly is sick, he has to be taken to toilet or hospital by daughter, daughter-in-law or son or son-in-law. These caregivers take it as a burden and not as responsibility or duty,” shared Ashok Patiyal, advocacy officer, HelpAge India.

“On the other hand, parents love their children unconditionally and cared for them till they stood on their own feet. But, when parents get old, their children think they are trapped,” he added.

The survey was conducted in May-June 2019 in different states and its report was released nationwide at different places ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day today. As many as 2,000 caregivers from Chandigarh were interviewed during the survey.

The city report further found that up to 62 per cent sons, followed by daughters-in-law (upto 26 per cent) and daughters (upto 23 per cent) took care of the financial burden of daily needs of the elderly. Other elderly had to bear their medical expenditure by themselves.

Caregivers soothed upheavals related to anxiety, declining self-confidence, depression and fear of dependence. These situations were largely addressed by women caregivers, who were either daughters or daughters-in-law.

As many as 78.1 per cent caregivers rued that no policy or measures were adopted by their employers to help them ease the burden of caring for the elderly at home.