In India, the proportion of older persons has risen from 4.9 per cent in 1901 to 5.5 per cent in 1951, 6.5 per cent in 1991 to 7.7 per cent in 2001 and will be 12 per cent in 2025 and like many other developing countries in the world, India is confronted with plight of elders comprising young, old, middle, oldest and extremely old persons resulting from rapid aging of its population. In then year 2025, India will occupy the second rank in having the old persons in their population projected by the United Nation Population Division.
Traditionally, in India, aged enjoyed a place of respect in family and community but in modern times, they have lost their place in society. Family is also described as “group of persons directly linked by kin connections, the adult members assume responsibility for caring for children”. Hence, the aged are gradually being left uncared for by their own family members.
As per Indian culture, it is duty of the son to look after its parents. Now the Indian society seems changing very fast and also its moral values.
Based on the above exposition, the book analyses the plight of elders living in families and old age homes comparatively in Tamilnadu with specific reference to socio-economic characteristics of the elderly persons. The facilities provided in the families and old age homes, perception of elderly persons about old age homes, the provisions of government programmes for the care and support of the aged and strategies of coping with ageing thereby suggesting appropriate remedial measures for welfare and development of the elderly persons at large.