Vol. 1, Issue 11, Part H (2015)

Abstract
Old age is the last stage of human’s life, which is inevitable and comes in every one’s life. Psychologically and physically this stage is considered to be of physical deterioration, emotional insecurity, instability, and requires lots of adjustment, support and care to cope up problems emerging in this stage. Economic uncertainty or limited income after retirement increases dependency of elderly people on their children which makes them more vulnerable especially women as today generation is more self-centered and highly ambitious towards their own goal. Elderly people have to face various social problems either they are living with their children, living in any old age home, or alone - social insecurity, degrading values towards elderly people, adjustment problems with new generation, economic insecurity, serious health complications, lack of respect and care etc. This stage requires lots of adjustment and patience unlike any other stage because role and physical changes in old stage are not easily accepted by elderly people as well as their family too. Children are avoiding sharing the responsibility of their elderly parents in their old age, leaving them in old age/destitute home or leaving them to some unknown place just to get rid of them and such cases are increasing rapidly which is danger signal to our society. In today environment -attitude and refusal of new generation to elderly people in mainstream of society has created a sense of gerento phobia, in which people will be afraid of becoming old. India is not having good and specialized geriatrics services to meet-out medical needs of the elderly people nor even sufficient social security measures which can help them in their life when they are refused by their children. Quality of life in this stage is affected to a great extent due to certain reasons, what is the quality of life of elderly people living in old age home is the focus of this study. This paper is an attempt to understand the living pattern and satisfaction level of elderly people towards their life living in an old age home through QOL- Quality of Life indicators schedule developed by World Health Organization. This paper aims to put in perspective the plight of the Indian elder with respect to the changing demographics, the changing social structure and the near absence of specialized geriatric care.