PSYCHO-SOCIAL CHALLENGES FACED BY SENIOR CITIZENS –CASE STUDY ANALYSIS

Abstract

The geriatric population of India keeps increasing because of medical advancements in ageing. The senior citizens face lot of psycho-social challenges which includes rejection by their own children, various forms of abuses, loneliness, being uncared of their illnesses and left unloved. The list goes on. The researcher selected a specific Old age home in Madurai, to study the psycho-social challenges faced by the Senior Citizens inspite of providing them food, clothing and shelter along with medical needs they require. The researcher adopted Explanatory Case Study design put forth by Robert K Yin (2003) and did the case study among two cases. The case study analysis was done by the researcher and the case study is presented using Brian Budgell (2008) methodology for the case study presentation. Interview was the technique used by the researcher to collect data. It was found that the cases were having interpersonal relationship problem, adjustmental problem, health issues like hyper tension and diabetes, Social isolation, forgetfulness and decrease in hearing ability. The researcher suggests through the case study analysis, to help senior citizens feel better by providing proper caregivers, enhancing family support and by adopting certain social work interventions to reduce their stress.