NAGAPATTINAM: Sending parents to old age homes is no longer an urban phenomenon. Many senior citizens, especially farmers, in rural areas are now being admitted to such homes across Nagapattinam district.There are about 255 senior citizens residing in the 40 old age homes recognised by the Social Welfare department in the district. Around 65 per cent inmates were once active in agriculture. As their children abandoned farming and shifted to urban areas, elderly parents were sent to the homes. According to data, widows often seek out old age homes for help.
In Nagapattinam district, each of the nine homes averages around 20 new admissions a year. Pattamangalam, Konthai, Pappakoil and Vadagudi are the villages who have the most people admitted to old age homes. Speaking to Express, 70-year-old Swaminathan of Kizhvelur said, “While my wife was alive, both of us were involved in farming on our 1.5 acres of land. Our efforts had been unsuccessful in recent years due to drought. My wife fell sick and died in 2016.
Though I managed some cultivation, the non-arrival of Cauvery water and the monsoon failure in 2016-2017 forced me to sell my land as my son and daughter had their own families. As I was in debt, I initially gave my land on lease and then sold to a neighbour. As I felt alone, I chose to stay in the home in Manalmedu.” D Kalyanasundaram (75) of Konthai said, “I have a daughter and son. I lived with my wife in our ancestral house and had some agricultural land, but the recent drought left us in debt. Soon after the demise of my wife, I sold my land and came to the old age home.”