Old Age homes in Bangladesh
This is about old age homes in Bangladesh. It is a sensitive issue. If I hurt anyone, I apologise. According to our religions and social values, we cannot accept the idea of having old age homes in the country, but the reality might be different. Old parents might not be accepted as integral parts of their sons' families. Whether we like it or not, the society is becoming more and more individualistic and self-centered. We cannot ensure a respectable and honourable presence of our senior citizens in the families initiated by them. In view of this, should we think of the old age homes where our senior citizens can live with dignity and honour?
Old age homes are shelters for old people under certain terms and conditions. These homes provide accommodation, food, clothes, medical treatment, and entertainment to the old people. Facilities of these homes may differ from centre to centre. Some centres provide services on regular payment basis. Some are subsidized by the Government and some others may be established by private initiatives.
In Bangladesh, old age homes are not very popular for religious and social reasons. In Bangladesh, more than 90% of the population is Muslims. 9% is Hindus, 0.6% is Buddhists. Christianity covers 0.3% of the population. Others are only 0.14%.
In Islam, there is no provision of old age homes. As per Islam, it is the duty of the children to take care of their parents. The sons and daughters are supposed to talk to their parents with due respect.
Hinduism suggests that the parents are the most important people in our lives. We must respect our parents and grandparents because they brought us to this world and raised us through much sacrifice and dedication.
Christianity holds the similar values. Christianity teaches us to take care of our parents in their old ages.
Buddhism also teaches us to support the parents.
Actually, all religions teach us almost the same values. When the religions came to our world, life was not so complex. The world was not so competitive. The world was not industrialized. Now the old values are being replaced by the new ones. The real-life rotate as per changing needs of the socio-economic conditions. The society changes with economic development, social development and industrialization. These days, the women work outside home. They can give less time to the elderly people at home.
Society changes with education as well. People acquire new ideas and values as they become educated.
These days people do not follow religious instructions like before. They follow parts of religion that are convenient to them. For example, Muslim women inherit paternal and maternal properties as per ratio 2:1. That is if a brother gets 2, a sister’s share is half of it, that is 1. In most cases, the Muslim parents and brothers are not ready to spare any property for the sisters even though they follow other religious instructions that they like. They say their prayers because it does not require any sacrifice, but they do not like sharing a property with the sisters and the daughters.
The daughters-in-law are modern and educated. They do not like the presence of their parents-in-law in their families. Earlier parents lived with their sons, their wives and the grandchildren. At that time it was regarded as one integrated family. Now, my son’s family is not mine. It is another family. In the real sense of the term, I do not belong to my son’s family. The daughters-in-law treat us as an extra burden. From the very beginning, they want a separate home for themselves and their children. The children do not get the close touch of their grandparents. I think in a neutral family, the children are deprived of the love, affection and guidance of their grandparents who can raise the children with their experiences of life. When the children grow up with the grandparents in a joint family, they get better personality development. They learn to respect the senior people. They can acquire soft and tender behaviour.
The modern women never like joint families. They believe in privacy and individual freedom. In many cases, I have seen that the elderly people are neglected. The young members of the family do not behave well with them. Children learn through observation. They observe the attitudes of their parents and find that their grandparents are the burden on their parents or they are not essential parts of the family.
The old people sometimes experience cruel behaviour in the family. They are sad and depressed.
Everyone wants to live with dignity and honour, but every moment the old members of the family feel that they are unwanted. Life becomes miserable for them.
During their youth, they spent their savings on their children. Now, they are dependent on their sons. They don’t have financial ability to live independently.
Now, what the old parents can do? I understand that nothing can be done without money. The Government of Bangladesh may try to create old age homes for old parents. Our development partners may help the Government by providing foreign assistance. For humanitarian causes, the development partners should support such projects. They can create income-generating activities for them within the compound where they live. All parents are not too old. Some are in good health. They can teach students. Some can make baskets. Others can do embroidery work on clothes. I mean suitable work can be given to them.
Sometimes old parents are helpless even in the developed world, although they are financially solvent. I lived in YMCA Hostel in Auckland for some time. Mr John lived with us who was around 80 years old. He was a citizen of New Zealand. He had no financial problem. since New Zealand is a welfare state. Mr John got Superannuation benefit as a senior citizen. We met him in the lobby or on the lift. In one evening, he said to the house cleaner, “Mele, I am not feeling well. When you come to the hostel, please, check my room to see whether I am okay or not.” The next morning the cleaner came and opened the room of Mr John. She found him dead on his bed. We heard that his daughter-in-law did not like his presence in her household. After his death, the YMCA Hostel authority called his son. He came and took the dead body of his father with him for burial.
Now, let me come to the point. I was talking about the old age homes of Bangladesh. I must say that we should accept the reality. The old parents are not accepted in their sons’ families. They need a new shelter, which they cannot afford to finance. The main problem is financing. Yes, some old people can finance, but others cannot. The Government’s assistance is needed for those who cannot finance. The development partners should come forward too. Bangladesh Government can’t implement it all alone. Studies should be carried out on this.
There are a few old age homes in Bangladesh. These are HelpAge International Bangladesh, Subrata Caregiving Centre, Old Rehabilitation Centre in Gazipur, Old Home, Dhaka etc.
The Old Rehabilitation Centre in Gazipur was established by a completely private initiative. This was established by Khatib Abdul Zahid Mukul, Founder Chairman of Old Rehabilitation Centre. This centre is completely free. It provides food, shelter, clothes, medical treatment and entertainment to the old people. Thanks a million to Khatib Abdul Zahid Mukul for doing a noble job. I have heard that other old age homes charge money. The old people can be charged less if the Govt. subsidy is available and if the development partners provide assistance.
There are many rich people in Bangladesh. If all of them help to establish old age homes, it would be a great benefit to the senior citizens of the country. It can be a single approach or a joint venture.
Compared to the population of Bangladesh, the number of old age homes is negligible. We need to increase the number of old age homes as per requirements of the people.
The purpose of writing this article is to create social awareness about the rehabilitation of the old people.
