Abstract
Given the trend of Population ageing in India, the elderly face a number of problems and adjust them in varying degrees. They are often dependent on others especially when bedridden for their activities of daily living. The Indian aged population is currently the second largest in the world. In such a scenario caregiving to the rising number of dependent elderly is a major problem that India is going to face in the near future. The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 100 purposively selected bedridden people in Chandigarh, India. Patients and their respective caregivers were interviewed about the pattern and quality of care provided and its impact on their lives. The Katz Index of activity of daily living was used to assess the degree of disability of the subjects. The study revealed that an average of 3.05 caregivers was involved in caring per patient. This reflects the high intensity of the need of the patients. The number of female caregivers was higher than males. 46 per cent cases were provided personal care by their families and in remaining 54 per cent cases someone was hired to look after the subjects. A majority (82 per cent) of the caregivers were family members. All the caregivers were untrained. 79 per cent of the caregivers belonged to the 16 to 60 years age group, forcing them to divert their time from economically productive ventures to care for the bedridden. Moreover 13 per cent and 11.5 per cent of the caregivers were >60 years and <15 years of age respectively, the so-called dependent population thus putting the double burden on elders and the children especially girls from lower socioeconomic group were being deprived of their care receiving years. The mean age of subjects was 69 years. A majority of them (68 per cent) lived in joint families. All of them required assistance in bathing, dressing, toileting and transfer. Complications like urinary tract infection (39 per cent), chest infection (44 per cent), pressure ulcers (54 per cent) were reported. 57 per cent of the patients reported satisfaction with the care provided. Thus, the present study reveals that in the upper social strata of Chandigarh, the labor-intensive, long-term care is provided by family members of the patients at great personal costs. Although, the personal needs of the elders are well taken care of, the high rate of complications reveal that the technical quality of care leaves much to be desired.