Indians Break from Family Living in Twilight Years

p12-150406-a2An attendant, left, looks at physically-challenged elderly Indian citizens last month as they gather in an open area as part of daily activities at The Dignity Foundation Township in Neral some 50km east of Mumbai in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

Photo: AFP/Punit Paranjpe

INDIA, April 6, 2015 (Taipei Times): When Usha Mantri brushed off frowning traditionalists and moved into a retirement village, she became a pioneer for a generation of Indians who are increasingly breaking the custom of multi-generational households. She is now happily settled in the peaceful retreat by India’s western mountains, which has an on-site Hindu temple and offers ayurvedic massage — and is a two-hour drive from her son in Mumbai.

While most senior citizens still prefer to live with their families, alternative options are increasingly in demand as the country develops, children migrate and their parents live longer. There are currently more than 100 million Indians aged 60 and above, and that is projected to rise to more than 300 million by 2050, when they will make up about 20 percent of the population, according to the charity HelpAge India. This growing “dependency ratio,” along with better purchasing power among the elderly, are among the factors said to be fueling the demand for senior housing.

Source: Hinduism Today