PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS, PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING AND HOPE AMONG INSTITUTIONALIZED AND NON INSTITUTIONALIZED ELDERLY PEOPLE IN UTTARAKHAND

Abstract

Gerontology is the study of aging inclusive of many aspects such as social, cultural, psychological, cognitive, and biological. Gerontology includes government planning; nursing homes and facilitates the homes or places for older people and examining the impacts of a aging population on society. The aging process entails abundant life changes; it can be positive and negative. The elderly develops varied coping skills and adapt successfully to these changes depend on their personal, social support, and environmental factors, accordingly, maintaining life satisfaction and joy in late life. Lately, the capacity of the family as essential parental figure to the aged has encountered change because of primary changes, above all to the nuclearization of the family. Accordingly, the incomplete shift of caring liability of aged people on the public authority/state as different social and economic security programs. Over the past century, life expectancy has increased dramatically, and the world will soon have more old people than children. Individuals continue to face challenges to their wellbeing and social security in the changes like social structure, physical environment, also their age-related decline and changes. In the context of Indian tradition joint family set up and structure, institutionalized living inevitably induces a perception of conformity, loneliness, and isolation. Even though, institutionalization living is fast becoming a rising trend amongst the elderly in India, due to elderly dependency upon many factors such as socioeconomic status, health condition as well as the unavailability of care and support in their own homes. In the present study efforts have been made to understand the psycho-social needs, psychological wellbeing, hope towards their life. Also, endeavor to closely study abuse faced by the elderly in institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly. The number of elderly people is expected to increase with the aging of the baby boomers, keeping this in mind improving service delivery to this population is very important. The sample survey was carried out in two cities of Uttarakhand and the elderly were selected from institutional settings (group 1) and as well as from non-institutional setting (group 2). Study involved the consolidation of the critical psycho-social perspectives faced by institutionalized and non institutionalized elderly. The Sample size of 180 elderly was selected for the study. The researcher divided the 180 population into institutional (group 1n=90) and non-institutional (group 2n=90).To assess the differential influence of the selected groups, the methodology of this study involved the consolidation of the critical psycho-social perspectives faced by institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly. The amount of elderly abused was assessed iv through a questionnaire and Ryff’s well-being scale was administered to assess psychological wellbeing. Social Support Inventory (Ramamurti and Jamuna 1991) to assess psycho-social needs and Kartzindex of independence in Activities of Daily Living scale was used to assess age-related changes and health problems. Hope scale was administered to understand the level of enthusiasm left with the elderly population to live life happily. The results indicated that significant gender differences were found between institutionalized and non-institutionalized with respect to their social support needs, level of hope and physical activity. On the other hand, institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly did not show any significant difference in respect to their perceived social support. Non-institutionalized elderly had better level of psychological wellbeing as compared to non –institutionalized elderly. Male scored high on psychological wellbeing as compared to female. Further, male, and female institutionalized elderly was not found significant difference with respect to their psychological wellbeing and level of hope. Findings of result showed that institutionalized elderly were more victims of elderly abuse, as compared with non-institutionalized elderly, gender differences also observed. Non-institutionalized elderly has high level of awareness about social support system provided by government agencies, NGO, SHG to safeguard elderly people than institutionalized elderly.