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Old age is a growing problem in India, as in the past the old society were looked after by the joint family.Today increasing life expectancy coupled with the increasing demands of life marginalizethe old from the study family.This evidence that elder´s family is the main support system, though many aged are forced to institutions.Comparing the aged who live in the institutions and families, who live in the household are healthier and happier than in institutions.More those aged women and single barren women are forced to live in instutions. Christian women are more in institutions when compared to other religion.For those who stay in institutions, though they have more facilities in the institutions, the company of the peer groups, and good living environment Do not give much satisfaction as they miss their families very much and feel discarded, they have segregation from social life also.Though both the groups have deprivation, the aged who stay in the institutions have more deprivation than those who stay in families.Institutional care can not be a total substitute for family care To put them in institutions is let them know that they are being discarded.

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Qualifications: MA(Sociology)M.Phil(Sociology), Ph.D, Master in Women Studies, PG Diploma Journalism and Mass Communications Working as Asst Professor MedicoSociology, Department of Community medicine, Gvt.Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.Four publications in different journals, two papers in each International and national conference.

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