Living arrangements and treatment seeking behavior of the elderly from different economic segments in India

Elderly hood is the final stage in one’s life cycle and is characterized by various chronic and multiple morbidities. Previous studies have focused on morbidity and treatment seeking behavior among the elderly but there is a dearth of studies which look into economic condition and living arrangement simultaneously to explain treatment seeking behavior among the elderly. The present study brings insights on difference in treatment seeking of elderly from similar economic conditions but different living arrangements. NSS 60th round (25.0 sub-round) data on 34831 elderly of age 60 years or above has been analyzed. Monthly Per-capita Consumption Expenditure is used as economic indicator of household. MPCE and place of residence have direct bearing on treatment seeking behavior of the elderly. But, with the similar level of MPCE, elderly living with spouse and without spouse but with children receive treatment higher than those living alone or in old age homes or with other relatives and non-relatives in both rural as well as urban settings. Treatment rate is significantly higher among elderly living with spouse than living alone in low MPCE households. Elderly of age 65 years or more are less likely to receive treatment than those in the age group 60-64 years. Elderly from scheduled tribe households are less likely to avail treatment than their other counterparts. Elderly women are neglected in terms of treatment seeking than their male counterparts in low MPCE households