The saga of old age homes 

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Today 160 million people are living in this country. As per different media reports, the percentage of our elderly population is 8 per cent or even more. In actuality, the mandate for old age homes which is also known as old care homes in the West is on the rise.  The demand for new modified old age homes is a reality. We should embrace this fact and try to wear off the social stigmas. We should find both rural and urban solutions to this particular matter.

Taking the data of the Bangladesh Association for the Aged and Institute of Geriatric Medicine into consideration, it is estimated that by the year 2050 to 2061, there will be 20 million elderly people in Bangladesh. These figures only indicate that the demand for caregivers and old age homes are only going to grow.

Under the Department of Social Welfare supervision, there are six government run old age homes in six divisions. The 85 ‘Shishu Paribar’ or shelter homes can accommodate senior citizens. Each Shishu Paribar’ or shelter home is equipped to host 10 senior citizens. For old age allowances, according to the Department of Social Welfare sources, the Government has allocated Tk. 3444.54 crores  in this financial year 2021-22. The total Beneficiary of this is 57.01 Lac. Beneficiaries are getting Tk. 500/- each per month per head which is payable every 3 months.

The same source informs that The Old Age allowance beneficiaries must be 65 and above. The age limit has been relaxed for women. After attaining 62 years a woman is eligible for getting the same allowance. Old age recipient’s average annual income must be below Tk 3000.

Now according to the National Policy on Older Persons-2013, in Bangladesh persons of the age of 60 or above will be considered as older persons. In 2014, the President of Bangladesh formally declared the older persons as Senior Citizens of the country. From that point of view, why should it be 65 years or 62 in case of women to be eligible for the allowance? 

A year or so back when this writer spoke with the former Director-General, Department of Social Services, Gazi Mohammad Nurul Kabir, it was informed that the building of 8 new old homes in 8 divisions are in the pipeline. Each will be able to house 20 senior citizens and that they are starting an Elderly Development Foundation to work for the elderly. There will be courses on caregiving which they have started in an old home cum resort pilot project in Sylhet for senior citizens who are more financially sound and want better living facilities. However, authorities at the Department of Social Welfare and Ministry of Social Welfare could not be reached over the phone and questions regarding the development of construction of new old age homes and other queries remain unanswered.

On their website it is mentioned under the section who are not eligible to get the allowance. They are: day  laborers, maidservants, and vagrants. This also begs the question of why they are being excluded? Is there any other arrangement for them?

Elderly people who are more financially sound want better old age homes with improved facilities. In our country, the number of private old homes is not recorded. There are serious criminal allegations against different private old age homes, not only in our country but throughout the world. In China, there are wonderful concepts regarding old age homes.

However, in different media reports, we can see that in China in the name of caregiving and old-age services fraudulent Ponzi-like investment schemes are taking place. Our track record in terms of corruption is not that good if one has to address the matter politely. That is why we need the concerned authorities to look into different aspects regarding social welfare, especially features that concern the elderly.

Countries like Japan, China, Vietnam and many of our neighbouring countries are doing excellent work in taking care of their elderly. They are setting the gold standards in terms of providing positive services to their aged populace.

We gained independence 50 years ago and we are on the verge of becoming a middle-income country.

We should be able to do more for our elderly citizens, for example, it is nothing but an insult to give an allowance of 500 taka to an elderly person. We can see money has been wasted in different projects which do not serve the people in need, however, we are still stuck with the paltry figure of 500 taka for the senior citizens. 

The challenge is to make sure old age homes not only remain open for those who are financially sound. Rather every senior person should be able to enjoy the facilities that old age homes provide.

The concept of joint family is becoming a thing of the past. There are debates regarding this from both sides of the aisle. However, the fact remains that a good number of youths are living separately away from their family. Many are not able to take care of their parents. Ironically, there are a few who can but chose not to.  That being said, nowadays several private old age homes have emerged, although there are questions about some of the care services and their business model.

People today are living longer active lives. This endows the senior citizens the means to work hard, hold onto their self-respect and their sense of independence. From different research and surveys, we learn that the feeling or sense of contributing towards society and family enables a person to live a productive and meaningful life.

The writer is Editorial Assistant at The Business Post