A sociological exploration of elderly people in the rural setting of West Bengal

The demographic profile of rural and small towns has changed rapidly and significantly in recent decades. The continued out-migration of increasingly educated young adults, and the growing numbers of retirees, have resulted in rural communities where residents are older, more diverse, and more likely to be female than in the recent past. These changes have transformed rural economies and as a result a number of old age homes are developing to cater to the needs of the aged. Without, diminishing the idea of old age homes to a negative expression, the researcher seeks to find out the perception of the idea of old age homes in the rural and small towns of West Bengal and how the aged people feels that they help to maintain meaningful social roles, recognition, inclusion and mending of the quality of life for them. With such a backdrop the study aims to develop an insight about elderly people living in their own homes, their problems and their perceptual understanding of the idea of living at old age homes in rural settings in Midnapore. Accordingly data were collected on 60 elderly people (Males and Females) residing in West Midnapore District of West Bengal through interview method. Findings suggest that the elderly respondents living in their own homes either with their family or alone have different idea and opinion. Those who are living alone feels isolated and lonely and miss their children, but their lives are not miserable. They can retain some identity of their own and have an identity. Contrarily, those who are living with their families are becoming constant victims of day to day conflicts within the family and losing their peace of mind.