Aging In Institutional Care Environment: Challenges And Satisfaction Levels Of Elderly People In Old Age Homes

Abstract

Aging in an institutional care environment involves the experience of growing older within structured settings such as old age homes, nursing homes, or assisted living facilities. In Old Age Homes, the relevance of elder care has increased globally and is likely to increase more due to this rapid growth in the elderly population of the world. The increasing number of nursing homes across the State, including Manipur, has brought attention to the unique challenges in the traditional society and forms of satisfaction experienced in these institutions. In these backdrops, the study examined the challenges faced by elderly residents in Manipur’s old age homes, including psychological, social, health, household, and economic challenges. It evaluated the overall satisfaction levels of the elderly in the environment of Old Age Homes (OAH). The sample was collected from the residents of the ten Old Age Homes in the State. Out of the total inmates, 201 residents of these Old Age Homes were interviewed. One of the significant findings was a high correlation between household and psychological issues, showing emotional struggle brought on by shifting family relations. The study highlights the importance of enhanced family support, integrated social and health care programs, empowered economic conditions, and upgraded infrastructure of Old Age Homes. Further, the study intends to contribute to creating senior care practices that guarantee the dignity, safety, and general well-being of elderly populations in the institutional care environment.