Culture, Context and Aging of Older Indians : Narratives From India and Beyond

This book discusses the intersections between culture, context, and aging. It adopts a socio-cultural lens and highlights emotional, social, and psychological issues of the older adults in urban India. It is set in multiple sites such as Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, and Saskatoon to indicate how different cultural practices and contextual factors play an integral role in determining the course of aging. It also focuses on different narratives such as older adults living with adult children, older adults living with spouse, and older adults living alone to demonstrate the intricate process of growing old. Drawing from various sites and living arrangements of older adults, it sheds light on cultural constructions of growing old, ideas of belonging, the inevitability of death, everyday processes of aging, perceptions associated with growing old in India, acceptance of the aging body, and intergenerational ties in later lives. Given its scope, the book is essential reading for students and researchers in the fields of sociology, demography, and social scientists studying aging. Acknowledgements 5 Message 7 Contents 8 About the Author 12 1 Introduction: Intersections Between Culture, Context and Ageing 13 Population Ageing and Living Arrangements in India 14 Ageing, Caregiving, Culture and Intergenerational Relationships in India and Beyond 16 Theory and Social Gerontology 20 The Grounded Theory Approach 21 The Interpretive Approach 22 The Sandwich Generation 23 A Multisited Study 23 Methodological Rigour and Qualitative Research 24 Qualitative Research and Doing Fieldwork 26 Caste and Fieldwork 27 Religion and Fieldwork 28 Gender and Fieldwork 29 Age and Fieldwork 30 Educational Background and Marital Status 31 Nationality and Ethnicity 32 Methodology 33 The Study Sites and Sample Population 40 The Chapters 40 References 42 2 The Family Business: Ageing and Intergenerational Relationships in Ahmedabad, India 47 Contextualizing Gujarat 47 Social Constructionist and Exchange Theory of Ageing 48 Ageing and Family Business: No Retirement, Still Involved and Do not Feel Old Enough 50 Intergenerational Relationships and Family Dynamics: Voices of the Adult Children 52 Gender, Ageing and the Family 54 Concluding Remarks 55 Multigenerational Household, Ahmedabad Study 56 Questionnaire for the Male Older Adult 56 Section I: Socio-demographic Information 57 Section II: Family Business Details 58 Section III: Perceptions of Ageing 58 Section IV: Intergenerational Ties 59 Section V: Government Policies 59 Multigenerational Household Questionnaire (Ahmedabad Study) 59 Section I: Socio-demographic Information 60 Section II: Family Business Details 60 Section III: Perceptions of Ageing 61 Section IV: Intergenerational Ties 62 Section V: Government Policies 62 Multigenerational Household Questionnaire 62 Section I: Socio-demographic Information 63 Section II: Family Business Details 63 Section II: Intergenerational Relationships 64 Section III: Government Policies 64 References 64 3 Ageing in an Eldercare Institution in the Industrial Town of Jamshedpur 67 The Successful Ageing Model 67 The Industrial Town of Jamshedpur 69 The Old Age Home 70 Meanings and Perceptions of Ageing in Institutional Settings 70 Loneliness and Intergenerational Relationships 72 Old Age Homes: Alternate “Spaces of Care” 74 Gender and Ageing in Old Age Homes 75 Concluding Observations 77 Old Age Home Study: Jamshedpur 77 Section I: Socio-demographic Information 78 Section II: Adapting to the Institution 79 Section III: Intergenerational Relationships 80 Section IV: Health Issues 80 Section V: Perceptions of Ageing 80 Questionnaire for Trustee 81 Section I: Background of the Home 81 Questionnaire for the Caretaker 82 Section I: Background of the Home 82 References 82 4 Global Ageing: Narratives of Elite Older Couples from Urban Delhi 84 Understanding Social Capital 84 The Elite Culture of Delhi 85 Social Capital and Global Ageing 86 Filial Ties and Virtual Care 87 Gender, Class and Caregiving Roles 89 Concluding Notes 90 Older Couples Questionnaire: Delhi Study 91 Section I: Socio-demographic Information 91 Section II: Network Ties 92 Section III: Ageing and Global Norms 93 Section IV: Intergenerational Ties 93 Section V: Caregiving Arrangements 94 Questionnaire for Adult Child/Children of the Elderly Couple 94 Section I: Socio-demographic Information 94 Section II: Intergenerational Relationships 95 Section III: Caregiving Arrangements 95 References 96 5 Loss of a Life Partner: Self-Isolation in Urban Kolkata 98 Death and Cultural Ideals in the Neoliberal Era 98 Reconstructing Lives Post-widowhood: Ageing, Personal Loss, Memories and Living Alone 99 Kin Ties and Ageing Alone 102 Ageing and Gender Identity 103 Concluding Observations 104 Questionnaires 105 Questionnaire for Widowed Older Adults (Kolkata Study) 105 Section I: Socio-demographic Information 105 Section II: Grief, Loss and Death 106 Section III: Intergenerational Relationships 107 Section IV: Caregiving Arrangements 107 Questionnaire for Adult Child/Children of the Widowed Older Adult 108 Section I: Socio-demographic Information 108 Section II: Intergenerational Relationships 109 Section III: Caregiving Arrangement 109 References 110 6 Ageing and Transnationalism: Identity, Religion and Later Life Experiences in Saskatoon 111 Transnationalism, Culture and Identity 111 Transnational Identity and Ageing: India Versus Canada 112 Religion, Meaning and the Construction of Ageing 115 Reciprocal Relations, Transnationalism and Later Life Caregiving Arrangements 116 Concluding Thoughts 118 Questionnaire for the Widowed Older Adult: Saskatoon Study 119 Section I: Socio-demographic Information 120 Section II: Ageing Identities, Memories and India 121 Section II: Loss, Bereavement, Widowhood 121 Section III: Intergenerational Relationships 122 Section IV: Caregiving Arrangements 122 Questionnaire for Co-resident Adult Children 123 Section I: Socio-demographic Information 123 Section II: Intergenerational Relationships 123 Section III: Caregiving Arrangements 124 References 124 7 Ageing Across the Globe and Policy Implications 126 Common Themes 126 Major Differences 128 Policy Implications: India and Beyond 129 Asian Pacific Countries 131 Western Countries 135 References 139