An Elderly Care Among the Fishermen Community in Puducherry

Demographic ageing is a global phenomenon. India is no immunity to this demographic transition. The life saving drugs and advancement in medical arena increased the life span of an individual. But attitudinal change and dilutions of Indian joint family system escalates the issues of aged. The elderly care has its own typical problems and issues alike childcare. The current need is to conduct research and explore new directions in research on population ageing. The relationship between the government, care providers, insurers and patients are a prolusion to any important change connecting elderly care. A suitable policy to deal with health care challenges of an ageing population is crucial for India. In this context, the present study aims toanalysis the pattern of care given by the family members to the elderly persons in the fishermen community of Puducherry region.The male members venture into sea for fishing activity. It requires a good deal of vigour and stamina. But the exhaustion of energy forces them to keep away from sea. . It seems to be young age for retirement when compare with other unorganized works and the white collar jobs in government and private offices. So the responsibility rests in the hands of the male children who started working on fishing activities at their early age like 15 or 16 years of age. So the children have to work hard for a long time to take care of their parents. An interview schedule has been constructed for data collection from 50 retired fishermen who hailed from fishing villages namelyVaithikuppam, Veerampattinam and Solainagar in Puducherry region.