Volume-XI, Issue-VI, November 2025 |
বার্ধক্য ও বৃদ্ধাশ্রম: একটি নৈতিক বিশ্লেষণ শুক্লা দাস, সহকারী অধ্যাপিকা, দর্শন বিভাগ, মালদা কলেজ, মালদা, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Received: 15.11.2025 | Accepted: 21.11.2025 | Published Online: 30.11.2025 | Page No: 10-21 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.11.issue.06W.151 | |||||||
Old Age and Old-Age Homes: An Ethical Analysis Sukla Das, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Malda College, Malda, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
At present, old age homes provide many services for elderly people, such as safe shelter, medical facilities, nutrition, psychological support, and various types of care. Earlier, these services were mainly available within the family. Due to changes in our society, more elderly people now preferring to live in old age homes, either by choice or due to circumstances. In this situation, an important question arises: Can old age homes be considered a substitute for the family? This article argues that a family is not only a place for physical care, but also an institution based on emotions, values, affection, identity, and strong relationships between generations. Another related question also comes up: Is living in an old age home suitable and acceptable according to Indian ethical and cultural values? In Indian culture, elderly people play a very important role because they carry cultural knowledge, life experience, moral guidance, and also cultural values. Based on Indian ethical thought, this article explains that although old age homes may be necessary and helpful in some cases, they cannot fully replace the family. Therefore, whether the elderly live in a family or in an old age home, the main responsibility of us is to ensure dignity, empathy, safety, social connection, and loving care for them. | ||
Keywords: Aging, Old-age home, Institution, Care, Duty |