Elder Abuse in India

With the traditional system of the lady of the house looking after the older family members at home is slowly getting changed as the women at home are also participating in activities outside home and have their own career ambitions. There is growing realisation among older persons that they are more often than not being perceived by their children as a burden. Old Age has never been a problem for India where a value based, joint family system is supposed to prevail. Indian culture is automatically respectful and supportive of elders. With that background, elder abuse has never been considered as a problem in India and has always been thought of as a western problem. However, the coping capacities of the younger and older family members are now being challenged and more often than not there is unwanted behaviour by the younger family members, which is experienced as abnormal by the older family member but cannot however be labelled.