Exploring the Family Ties and Healthcare decision making in Late Life: Pursuit of Financial Dependency and generational shift in India

Atul Kumar Pandey, Indian Institute Of Technology Jodhpur
Isha Sharma, Indian Institute Of Technology Jodhpur
Anindita Dey, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur

The disintegration of traditional extended families in India has resulted in increasing caregiving inequity. The proliferation of nuclear families and extended life expectancies contribute to escalating costs associated with elder care, hence placing older individuals at heightened risk of facing disadvantages or financial dependency. This study analyses healthcare decision-making within familial relationships, considering generational shifts and financial resources. It also examines how the grandparents maintain their health and organize their expenditures for themselves. The study utilizes data collected from 72,250 individuals aged 45 and above during the 2017–2019 Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI). According to the findings, among the older adults who are employed in the organized sector, one out of every five ensures their financial security through pensions. Where the central or state government provides a pension to every fifth (20.65%) of the population that is of retirement age. Considering the family's circumstances, seven per cent of senior citizens believe that their family's financial situation is enough. In contrast, fifty-three per cent of persons of retirement age are classified as belonging to the middle class based on their monthly per capita expenditure.

Keywords: Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Population Ageing, Families, Unions and Households, Population and Development

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