Experiences and support systems of old people living in India

Indian people believe in tradition. It is common for old people to live in the family community, primarily the family of the eldest son. Old Age Homes exist, but are viewed critically in Indian culture and are mostly used by poor people, or by people without a family. There are few studies on the life situation of old people in India and the impact of demographic changes. The aim of the study was to assess the situation and experiences of older people in Families (F) and Old Age Homes (OAH). Following a mixed-method approach, 60 qualitative interviews were conducted and 206 questionnaires collected, half of each in F and OAH. 47 inductive categories with subcategories were formulated using statistical analysis according to Mayring. From this, 37 significant incidents were selected and evaluated in terms of Shweder's "Three Ethics Theory".