Are old-age homes a need of the hour?
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2022
SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
Are old-age homes a need of the hour?

Features

Tawsia Tajmim
01 October, 2019, 09:20 am
Last modified: 01 October, 2019, 02:54 pm

Related News

  • This is why we need more homes for the elderly
  • More than an old age home
  • Delay in policy implementation hurting older persons more  
  • Taking due care of the elderly
  • Preying on the vulnerable: The destitute pay bribes to avail old-age allowances

Are old-age homes a need of the hour?

Many older people are passing time in loneliness as nuclear families are on the rise

Tawsia Tajmim
01 October, 2019, 09:20 am
Last modified: 01 October, 2019, 02:54 pm
Standing at a balcony of prabin nibash an elderly person casts a faraway glance. Photo: Saikat Bhadra
Standing at a balcony of prabin nibash an elderly person casts a faraway glance. Photo: Saikat Bhadra

After the death of his wife, Mujibul Haque thought it was an opportunity to escape from family responsibilities. He wanted to lead a carefree life in tranquillity, keeping himself aloof from all social obligations.

In the last inning of his life, what he preferred was pursuing his hobbies like painting, and writing columns in newspapers.

It was not that difficult for this octogenarian to find a place to live a life in his own way.  It was "Prabin Nibash," an old-age home in the capital's Agargaon where he had found a destination to fulfil his wishes.

It has been 20 years since he started living at room 504 of this old-age home.

Like Mujibul, more and more old people today search for an old home as families are getting fragmented and people are getting lonely. The growing number of old people is also driving the demand up.

And it is natural as life expectancy has increased to 72 years. About 1.40 crore people of the total population in the country now belong to the elderly group. The number is expected to reach 4.5 crore in 2050. During that time, the number of elderly people will surpass that of the young.

And many of them will want to end up in hold homes for sure.

"I am having a good time here and I can do whatever I like to do. And I am enjoying my life to the fullest," Mujibul told the Business Standard.

"I have a son and a daughter; they are well-established. They stay at their own apartments. Sometimes they come to visit me," he added.

The paintings hung on the walls of his room are the first things to captivate a visitor's eyes. Those are done by Mujibul himself – the old man paints whenever his heart wishes so.

Unlike Mujibul Haque, 65-year-old Firoza Biswash had no option left other than choosing to live here.

All her five children live abroad. She did spend some days with her children in the United States. But she felt lonely there as all of her children were so busy that they did not have any time to spend with their mother.

She returned home in 2017 and made it to a room in the old-age home. At this old-age home, she has found some women of her age to gossip with.

"I love talking, and gossiping", Firoza smiled. "My sons and daughters are very busy. So, I used to spend time with my grandchildren. As they grew up, I became lonely again. But now, I am spending a good time with all here," she expressed contentment.

The old-age home is an ideal place for elder people like Mujibul Haque and Firoza Biswash who do not have financial constraints and want to lead a life of their own.

Many older people are passing time in loneliness as nuclear families are on the rise. Their children stay in towns and cities. Many other elderly residents have to spend days alone at concrete apartments as their children stay abroad.

Indeed, elderly people are now alone everywhere – be it at villages or in cities.

In some cases, some people, who believe in the freedom of life, stay alone as they do not get married or get separated from their better halves. For proper care of such elderly people, the old-age home is a demand of time. 

"For the kind of culture we have in the country, most people want to stay with their children at older age. But now the reality is – children are going away from their parents for better careers," said Dr ASM Atikur Rahman, general secretary of Bangladesh Probin Hitoishi Sangha, to the Business Standard.

"It is not possible to provide facilities like nutritious food, proper healthcare, company, and freedom to older persons all the time at home in our country," he added.

For this, the old-age home is an ideal place where there are all the facilities available round the clock tending to the older ones' needs, said Dr Atikur.

Old-age homes not adequate

Under the social welfare ministry, there are six old-age homes in Dhaka, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Bagerhat, Chattogram, and Barishal. Each can house only 50 persons at a time.

Our correspondents from Sylhet and Rajshahi said there is no old-age home at the district level. Only ten seats are available for older persons in "Shishu Paribars."

Besides, Prabin Hitoishi Sangha has 80 branches across the country. There are some self-run old-age homes too.

Today is the International Day of Older Persons and the day will be observed across the country and elsewhere in the globe.

This year's slogan is– The Journey of Age Equality.

Mentioning old-age as a major challenge of human life, the United Nations is observing October 1 as the "International Day of Older Persons" every year since 1991.

Top News

old-age home

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Plucking the poultry: New tax regime for the sector on cards
    Plucking the poultry: New tax regime for the sector on cards
  • Dr Zahid Hussain. Illustration: TBS
    The economics of remittance subsidy
  • The government needs to continue subsidising both agriculture and non-agriculture sectors to keep inflation under control Photo: Mumit M/TBS
    Commodity rally continues

MOST VIEWED

  • The taboo of dining out alone
    The taboo of dining out alone
  • The perfect time for newborn photography is between the first five and 14 days when a baby’s bones are the most malleable for posing. Photo: Courtesy
    Is there a market for newborn photography in the country? Studio Picturerific says yes
  • Pakistan finds itself in political turmoil again as Imran Khan pushes for immediate general elections. Photo: Reuters
    Supreme Court of Pakistan: Now a candle in the dark
  • Indulge in Momium’s guilt-free dips and spreads
    Indulge in Momium’s guilt-free dips and spreads
  • Sketch: TBS
    ‘Government officials tend to show exaggerated food production data to make the higher-ups happy’
  • “The Chronicle of the Postal System in Bangladesh” in the Dak Bhaban, the headquarters of Bangladesh Postal Directorate in the capital’s Agargaon, showcases the history of the development of the postal system of Bangladesh. The oldest stamp in the gallery dates back to 121 BC. Photo: TBS
    From runners to digital Speed Post: How our postal system evolved

Related News

  • This is why we need more homes for the elderly
  • More than an old age home
  • Delay in policy implementation hurting older persons more  
  • Taking due care of the elderly
  • Preying on the vulnerable: The destitute pay bribes to avail old-age allowances

Features

The taboo of dining out alone

The taboo of dining out alone

15h | Food
The perfect time for newborn photography is between the first five and 14 days when a baby’s bones are the most malleable for posing. Photo: Courtesy

Is there a market for newborn photography in the country? Studio Picturerific says yes

15h | Panorama
Pakistan finds itself in political turmoil again as Imran Khan pushes for immediate general elections. Photo: Reuters

Supreme Court of Pakistan: Now a candle in the dark

17h | Analysis
Indulge in Momium’s guilt-free dips and spreads

Indulge in Momium’s guilt-free dips and spreads

17h | Food

More Videos from TBS

Fear of food crisis sets across the globe

Fear of food crisis sets across the globe

11h | Videos
Is Mushfiq refraining from self-destructive shots?

Is Mushfiq refraining from self-destructive shots?

11h | Videos
Kanak is ahead of everyone in Guinness Book

Kanak is ahead of everyone in Guinness Book

17h | Videos
What should your CV cover letter look like?

What should your CV cover letter look like?

18h | Videos

Most Read

1
Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi
Bangladesh

Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi

2
Corporates go cashless…tax cut on cards
NBR

Corporates go cashless…tax cut on cards

3
Photo: Courtesy
Panorama

Misfit Technologies: A Singaporean startup rooted firmly in Bangladesh

4
Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge
Bangladesh

Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge

5
British International Investment (BII) CEO Nick O’Donohoe. Illustration: TBS
Economy

BII to invest $450m in Bangladesh in 5 years

6
Representational image. Picture: Pixabay
Economy

Govt raises regulatory duty to discourage imports of 130 products

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab