It takes time for people to adjust to changes. The first reaction to any change is to oppose it.
The breakdown of the joint family has led to the problem of 'aged parents'. The old practice of aged parents staying with all their children under one roof is no more praticable. Sons and daughters work in far off places. Hence the problem -where should the aged parents stay?
One solution is for parents to stay independently. This is a good solution but this will work only if either parent is healthy. The healthy one can take care of the other.
Another solution is to stay with any one of the children or with each son or daughter in rotation. Again only healthy parents can enjoy this option. When both husband and wife are working, this arrangement will not be workable.
So the 'next best' solution is Old Age Home. Instead of parents taking it as an orphanage they should think of it as an alternative 'Home'.
Working parents send their children -even those as young as six months- to nurseries and play houses as they need constant care. With the same spirit, if old parents are made to spend day time in 'day care centres' and in special cases in 'old Age Homes', the problem can be solved. As children in nurseries, parens in Old Age Homes can enjoy the company of people of the same age group-instead of spending days in solitude in modern flats with no contact with ground or outside world.
If traditional care and protection could not be be provided to aged parents, the best option is to make them stay in well maintained 'Old Age Homes'.
Whenever possible they should be made to take part in family functions like marriage of anniversary, birthdays etc.
For all these to be successful, the aged parents should understand the situation and adjust themselves to the new arrangement.
