Socio-economic conditions of the elderly: a review

Researches in the field of ageing and the aged started in the sixties. Most of the researches identified have been conducted after seventies, which show the growing concern for the problems of the aged during this time. One of the reasons could be attributed to the demographic factors. In India, volumes of research on diversified aspects of aged have been well established from the literature. But as it is very difficult to cover up all these aspects in this research studies, few relevant cases with a heterogeneous dimension of situation are presented. Moreover, aged are by no means homogenious groups. Their needs and problems vary according to their age, family background, health condition, economic status and living arrangements (Swaminathan, 1996). Therefore, the findings from these studies are presented under the socio-economic aspects of the Elderly.