Eldercare, Filial Piety within the Joint Family System of Urban India

Abstract

Legally, adult children and their families are obligated to provide later life caregiving to their older parents. Although the joint family system is dominant only in some parts of India, the law, as well as societal norms, continue to expect filial piety from adult children. Recent studies on intergenerational relationships have suggested that older parents primarily complain of lack of respect and dignity in their old age and not monetary aid. Though several studies have investigated the various dynamics of the joint family system and filial obligations across India, a systematic analysis of eldercare within the Indian family system is missing from the narrative. Against this backdrop, the present study intends to understand the perspective of older adults receiving eldercare on a regular basis. Relying on qualitative interviews, this study aims to examine how do these older adults navigate their dependence and independence on their adult children and shape their later life narrative. Finally, using a cultural lens, this study draws from the Disengagement Theory and sheds light on the intersections between everyday experiences of eldercare and filial piety in urban India.