Ageing and exchange of care in emigrant households: Case studies From Kerala and Goa

Principal researcher

Allen Ugargol

Type of research

PhD research

Supervisors

Professor Inge Hutter, Professor K.S. James, dr. Ajay Bailey

Summary

According to the 2001 census there are nearly 77 million elderly people living in India. The increasing life expectancy and availability of better medical facilities have resulted in the elderly living longer but in many cases requiring care to manage day to day activities. The lowering of fertility in certain states in India and among middle classes has led to nuclear families where adult children and the aged spouse are the principal care givers (Bhat and Dhruvarajan, 2001). With migration of adult children the tasks of care giving are left to the aged spouse or to hired non-kin caregivers.  Although there is a growing body of research examining the impact of migration on the well-being of children, much less is known about the impact on well-being of older people. This study applying a mixed methodology approach will examine the care giving and receiving for and by the elderly in emigrant households.