Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Exploring a Framework for Identifying neighbourhood-based Support Services Catering to the Quality of Life (QoL) of Older Adults: Discussion on Findings from Two Indian Cities

  • Published:
Ageing International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The loss of family-based support services along with the preference of the older adults to age-in-place, have increased the importance of neighbourhood and community based support services for the older adults in India. This study first proposes a framework for identification of the neighbourhood-based support services, which are perceived by the older adults to contribute to their overall QoL, by understanding the concerns and perception of overall QoL of older adults living in Kolkata, India. The quality and type of available services also vary considerably based on the different classes of cities in India. This study, through analysis of data collected from structured interviews with older adults living in Kolkata and Midnapore in India, also proposes a framework that can help in exploring if living in different classes of cities impacts upon on the prioritisation of the support services by the older adults. In the process of identification of the support services, the initial list was first identified from literature and interviews with caregivers and beneficiaries of non-governmental organizations providing older adults care services, and the final list of support services were selected on the basis of researchers’ judgement. The importance or prioritisation of support services was determined using RIDIT analysis. Considering the limitations of funds for social support services in a developing country like India, the proposed framework of identification and prioritisation can be utilised by future policy makers for formulation of policies and programs catering to essential support services, based on the class of city and the socio-economic and cultural background of the city residents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abhay, B. N. (2016). Elderly Care in India: Way Forward. Journal Gerontology & Geriatric Research, 5(5), 9–11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-7182.1000339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beaulieu, J. E. (1991). The quality of home and community-based services. Journal of applied gerontology, 10(1), 88–102. https://doi.org/10.1177/073346489101000107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowling, A. (2011). Do older and younger people differ in their reported well-being? A national survey of adults in Britain. Family practice, 28(2), 145–155. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmq082

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bulsara, C., Etherton-Beer, C., & Saunders, R. (2016). Models for community based day care for older people: A narrative review. Cogent Social Sciences, 2(1), 1267301. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2016.1267301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burgess, G., & Morrison, N. (2016). Improving housing outcomes: the value of advice and support for vulnerable older people. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 31(2), 197–211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-015-9452-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, S., Jespersen, A., Pernille, & Troelsen, J. (2019). Going along with older people: exploring age-friendly neighbourhood design through their lens. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-019-09700-z

  • Chang, H. L., & Chang, H. W. (2009). Exploring Recreational Cyclists’ Environmental Preferences and Satisfaction: Experimental Study in Hsinchu Technopolis. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 36(2), 319–335. https://doi.org/10.1068/b34030

  • Chen, Y. M., & Berkowitz, B. (2012). Older adults’ home-and community-based care service use and residential transitions: a longitudinal study. BMC geriatrics, 12(1), 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-12-44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clough, R., Manthorpe, J., Raymond, O. P. R. S. I., Sumner, V., Bright, K., L., & Hay, J. (2007). The support older people want and the services they need. York, UK: Joseph Rowntree Foundation

    Google Scholar 

  • Das, S., & Pandit, D. (2013). Importance of user perception in evaluating level of service for bus transit for a developing country like India: a review. Transport Reviews, 33(4), 402–420. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2013.789571

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de On˜a, J., & de On˜a, R. (2015). Quality of service in public transport based on customer satisfaction surveys: A review and assessment of methodological approaches. Transportation Science, 49(3), 605–622. https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2014.0544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denton, M., Ploeg, Jenny, Tindale, Joseph, Hutchison, Brian, Brazil, Kevin, Akhtar-Danesh, Noori,., Millen, & Plenderleith (2010). Jennifer. Would older adults turn to community support services for help to maintain their independence? Journal of Applied Gerontology, 29(5), 554–578. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464809345495

  • Dommaraju, P. (2016). Perspectives on Old Age in India. In C. Guilmoto, & G. Jones (Eds.), Contemporary Demographic Transformations in China, India and Indonesia. Demographic Transformation and Socio-Economic Development (5 vol.). Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24783-0_19

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Gangopadhyay, J. (2021). Introduction: Intersections Between Culture, Context and Ageing. Culture, Context and Aging of Older Indians (pp. 1–34). Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-2790-3_1

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Halvorsrud, L., & Kalfoss, M. (2007). The conceptualization and measurement of quality of life in older adults: a review of empirical studies published during 1994–2006. European Journal of Ageing, 4(4), 229–246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-007-0063-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haywood, K., Garratt, A., & Fitzpatrick, R. (2005). Older people specific health status and quality of life: a structured review of self-assessed instruments. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 315–327. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2005.00538.x

  • Indian Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Community-based home care for older people. Retreived 16th February, 2020 from https://www.ifrc.org/PageFiles/133694/community-based-homecare-older-people-minimum-standards-en.pdf

  • Jadhav, A., Sathyanarayana, K. M., Kuma, S., & James, K. S. (2013). Living Arrangements of the Elderly in India: Who lives alone and what are the patterns of familial support. Busan, Korea: IUSSP

  • Jayantha, W., Mesthrige, Qian, Queena, K., & Yi, C. O. (2018). Applicability of ‘Aging in place’in redeveloped public rental housing estates in Hong Kong. Cities, 83, 140–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2018.06.016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jervis, L. L., Jackson, M., Yvonne, & Manson, S. M. (2002). Need for, availability of, and barriers to the provision of long-term care services for older American Indians. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 17(4), 295–311. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023027102700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelley-Gillespie, N. (2009). An integrated conceptual model of quality of life for older adults based on a synthesis of the literature. Applied Research in Quality of life, 4(3), 259. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-009-9075-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., Chun, Sanghee, H., Lee, J., Sunwoo, & Han, A. (2016). Contribution of leisure-time physical activity on psychological benefits among elderly immigrants. Applied research in quality of life, 11(2), 461–470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-014-9374-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linton, M. J., Dieppe, P., & Medina-Lara, A. (2016). Review of 99 self-report measures for assessing well-being in adults: exploring dimensions of well-being and developments over time. BMJ open, 6(7), e010641. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010641

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohanty, M. K., & Gahan, P. (2012). Buyer supplier relationship in manufacturing industry-findings from Indian manufacturing sector. Business Intelligence Journal, 5(2), 319–333

  • Muramatsu, N., Yin, H., & Hedeker, D. (2010). Functional declines, social support, and mental health in the elderly: does living in a state supportive of home and community-based services make a difference? Social Science & Medicine, 70(7), 1050–1058. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.12.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakanishi, M., Shimizu, S., Murai, T., & Yamaoka, A. (2015). “Ageing in place” policy in Japan: Association between the development of an integrated community care system and the number of Nursing Home placements under the Public Long-Term Care Insurance Programme among Municipal Governments. Ageing International, 40, 248–261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-014-9215-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Panda, R. K. (2012). Prioritizing issues in agribusiness using RIDIT analysis: an Indian perspective. World Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 8(1), 80–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajan, S., Irudaya, & Kumar, S. (2003). Living arrangements among Indian elderly: New evidence from national family health survey.Economic and Political Weekly,75–80

  • Rashid, M., & Pandit, D. (2017). Determination of appropriate service quality attributes for household toilets in rural settlements of India based on user perception. Environment Development and Sustainability, 19(4), 1381–1406. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-016-9807-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rashid, M., & Pandit, D. (2018). Determination of appropriate service delivery level for quantitative attributes of household toilets in rural settlements of India from users’ perspective. Environmental management, 61(4), 637–649. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-017-0987-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadhukhan, S., Banerjee, U. K., & Maitra, B. (2015). Commuters’ perception towards transfer facility attributes in and around metro stations: experience in Kolkata. Journal of urban planning and development, 141(4), 04014038.

  • Saha, S., Basu, S. & Pandit, D. (2022a). Identifying Factors Influencing Perceived Quality of Life (QoL) of Indian Elderly: Case Study of Kolkata India. Social Indicators Research, 160(2–3) 867–907. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-020-02493-7

  • Saha, S., Basu, S. & Pandit, D. (2022b) A framework for identifying perceived Quality of Life indicators for the elderly in the neighbourhood context: a case study of Kolkata, India. Quality & Quantity. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-022-01419-4

  • Samanta, G. (2017). Beyond metropolitan shadow: Growth and governance of small towns in Eastern India. Jindal Journal of Public Policy, 1(3), 51–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Scrase, T. J., Rutten, M., Ganguly-Scrase, R., & Brown, T. (2015). Beyond the metropolis—Regional globalisation and town development in India: An introduction. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 38(2), 216–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/00856401.2015.1031459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siegler, E. L., Lama, S. D., Knight, M. G., Laureano, E., & Reid, M. C. (2015). Community-based support and services for older adults: A primer for clinicians. Journal of Geriatrics. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/678625

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, L., Singh, P., Kumar, & Arokiasamy, P. (2016). Social network and mental health among older adults in Rural Uttar Pradesh, India: a cross-sectional study. Journal of cross-cultural gerontology, 31(2), 173–192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-016-9286-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steels, S. (2015). Key characteristics of age-friendly cities and communities: A review. Cities, 47, 45–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2015.02.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuann, Kuo Fernando M., Torres-Gil (2001) Factors Affecting Utilization of Health Services and Home- and Community-Based Care Programs by Older Taiwanese in the United States. Research on Aging, 23(1) 14–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027501231002

  • Ugargol, A., Prabhaker, Hutter, Inge, James, K. S., & Bailey, A. (2016). Care needs and caregivers: Associations and effects of living arrangements on caregiving to older adults in India. Ageing international, 41(2), 193–213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-016-9243-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiles, J. L., Leibing, A., Guberman, N., Reeve, J., & Allen, R. E. (2012). The meaning of “aging in place” to older people. The gerontologist, 52(3), 357–366. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnr098

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, B., Carter, M. W., Goins, R. T., & Cheng, C. (2005). Emerging Services for Community-Based Long-Term Care in Urban China. Journal of aging & social policy, 17(4), 37–60. https://doi.org/10.1300/J031v17n04_03

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, C. H. (2007). On the application of grey relational analysis and RIDIT analysis to Likert scale surveys. Paper presented at the International Mathematical Forum

  • Zhang, F., Li, D., Ahrentzen, S., & Feng, H. (2020). Exploring the inner relationship among neighborhood environmental factors affecting quality of life of older adults based on SLR–ISM method. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 35(1), 215–242. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-019-09674-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y., Yeager, V. A., & Hou, S. (2018). The Impact of Community-Based Supports and Services on Quality of Life Among the Elderly in China: A Longitudinal Study. J Appl Gerontol, 37(10), 1244–1269. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464816661945

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) of Government of India for funding the research project titled Improving Quality of Life of Senior Citizens in Residential Neighbourhoods in an Indian Context (Project Code: LCR) (Sanction Letter No. F.NO.4-22/2014-TS.I, Dt. 23-01- 2014), and also the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur for providing the necessary facilities, funding and opportunities to prepare this research paper. The research conducted in this paper is a part of the research project - Improving Quality of Life of Senior Citizens in Residential Neighbourhoods in the Indian Context (Project Code: LCR), under the mega project Future of Cities at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, India, funded by MHRD, India. Some findings from this paper is also a part of the doctoral thesis submitted at , Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India by the first author. We also acknowledge the contributions of Asmita Biswas and Moumita Das (project officers for the project LCR), for their help in the parts of the literature review, process of survey questionnaire preparation, and data collection.

Funding

Name of the Research Project: Improving quality of life of senior citizens in residential neighborhoods in an Indian context (LCR). Name of the Sponsoring Agency: MHRD, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SHASTRI BHAWAN, NEW DELHI. The first author was a recipient of the institute scholarship (from IIT Kharagpur), funded by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), India, during her Ph.D at IIT Kharagpur.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Planning and Architecture, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Kharagpur, India

    Suparna Saha

  2. Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India

    Mohammad Rashid, Debapratim Pandit & Sanghamitra Basu

  3. Former Ph.D. student, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India

    Suparna Saha

Authors
  1. Suparna Saha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohammad Rashid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Debapratim Pandit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sanghamitra Basu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suparna Saha.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

• No conflict of interest. The manuscript has not been submitted to any other journal. The submitted is original and have not been published elsewhere in any form or language. Results are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification or inappropriate data manipulation. No data, text, or theories by others are presented as if they were the author’s own (‘plagiarism’). Proper acknowledgements to other works has been given. Since the survey conducted in this research is a part of a research project being conducted at IIT Kharagpur, India, the concerned authorities were informed prior to the survey. For the surveys conducted in housing complexes, a letter explaining the purpose and type of the survey was first submitted to a member/ chairman/ head of the housing/ society and the surveys could be conducted only after they permitted us to conduct the survey. Before starting the survey in all the study areas, all the participants were explained about the purpose of the survey, the type of questions to be asked, the approximate time duration of the survey and shown the questionnaire format and then the participants were included in the survey only if they gave their verbal consent to the survey. They were also explained that they could leave the survey if they felt uncomfortable or disinterested at any point of time, and could choose to not answer any question against their willingness. Besides, the personal details (names, address, etc.) of the participants were not documented. In the end of each survey, the responses were summarized and read out to the participants.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Saha, S., Rashid, M., Pandit, D. et al. Exploring a Framework for Identifying neighbourhood-based Support Services Catering to the Quality of Life (QoL) of Older Adults: Discussion on Findings from Two Indian Cities. Ageing Int 48, 958–983 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-022-09506-5

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-022-09506-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation