About the Seminar
Care for older adults in India, whose population crossed 100 million, is become a very serious problem to be addressed. Proportion of older adults living alone or away from their younger kin is increasing due to socio-demographic changes. Present younger generation, particularly women entering workforce cause lack of informal care. Neglect, violence and abuse against senior citizens are assumed to be increasing. The public care facilities, welfare services addressing psychosocial, and health needs of older adults are not in place in India, which adds to the gaps in elder care. Though older people live longer due to developments in healthcare and technology, the quality of care available is highly inadequate. Some NGOs are making possible efforts to fill these gaps, however, those care initiatives are available only in certain pockets of the country.
Although many ageing literature paints a negative picture about the changing family values, still positive intergenerational care exchanges are taking place. Children continue to support and care their older parents, but other duties and demands of modern life make it challenging to carry the burden of care. With inadequate public and private care facilities and increased care burden on families call for alternative interventions focusing on care for older adults and support services for families who are providing care. Exploring the experiences and perspectives of older adults and their kin, and other stakeholders might help in identifying the gaps and design alternative interventions amidst the social transitions.
Against this background, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal in collaboration with Maastricht University, The Netherlands is organizing an International Seminar to provide a platform for professionals and students, interested in the field of aged care, to discuss on generating evidence on elder care and developing alternative social interventions promoting intergenerational care and well-being of older adults.
Main theme
Promoting intergenerational care for active and healthy ageing
Sub themes:
• Intergenerational bonding and mental wellbeing of older adults
• Community and public spaces for intergenerational programmes
• Migration, culture and elder care
• Healthy lifestyle through intergenerational activities
• Spirituality and well-being of older adults
• Innovations in intergenerational care programmes