BACKGROUND The traditional joint family system in a culturally diverse Pakistani society shows great respect and care for older population by the families and their generations. However, in the recent years the phenomenon of population ageing in Pakistan is rapidly increasing due to demographic shift influencing life expectancy, along with changes in socio-cultural values. This transition has resulted in institutionalization of the elderly as an emerging shelter alternative. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of the elderly people and to identify the reason which compelled them to reside in these shelter homes. METHOD A qualitative methodology, with a descriptive exploratory design, was adopted for the study. A purposive sample of 14 elderly males and females were selected, from two different shelter homes in Karachi, Pakistan. Semi-structured interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Content analysis was done to extract the themes and comprehend the data. RESULTS Content analysis revealed five major themes: the circumstances of leaving home, experiences, and challenges to wellbeing before entering the care facility, coping with challenges, and decision to live in a shelter home. The analysis discovered that the elderly were experiencing lack of physical, psychological, emotional, and financial support from their family and children. It also indicated that migration of children for better career and employment opportunities, entrance of women into the workforce, and insensitive behaviour of children, left the senior citizens neglected and helpless. The findings also uncovered the challenges of unemployment and family disputes that the elderly had to face made them dependent, distressed, helpless, and lonely resulting in both their apparently willing and forceful decision to reside in shelter homes. CONCLUSION The findings point to need for further investigation of the identified areas in this study through qualitative and quantitative researches. There is a dire need for increasing public awareness through the social, electronic, and print media, and providing capacity building training to HCPs for the care of the elderly. The lobbying group can act as a catalyst in persuading the government officials for the execution of a policy on retirement, day care and subsidized provision of health services for the betterment of the elderly.

中文翻译：

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定性研究探索被带到巴基斯坦卡拉奇住房中的老年人的经历。

背景技术在文化多元的巴基斯坦社会中，传统的联合家庭制度对家庭及其后代显示出极大的尊重和照顾老年人口。但是，近年来，由于人口变化影响了预期寿命以及社会文化价值的变化，巴基斯坦人口老龄化现象正在迅速增加。这种过渡导致老年人的制度化，成为新兴的住房替代方案。这项研究的目的是探索老年人的经历，并找出迫使他们住在这些庇护所中的原因。方法本研究采用定性方法和描述性探索性设计。从巴基斯坦卡拉奇的两个不同的庇护所中选择了14位老年男性和女性作为目标样本。半结构化访谈被录音和转录。进行了内容分析以提取主题并理解数据。结果内容分析揭示了五个主要主题：离开家的情况，经历和进入护理机构之前的健康挑战，应对挑战以及决定住在庇护所的决定。分析发现，老年人缺乏家人和孩子的身体，心理，情感和经济支持。它还表明，为更好的职业和就业机会而移徙儿童，妇女进入劳动大军以及儿童的麻木行为使老年人被忽视和无助。调查结果还揭示了失业和家庭纠纷的挑战，老年人不得不面对这些问题，使他们变得依赖，痛苦，无助和孤独，这导致他们显然愿意并且有力地决定住在庇护所。结论研究结果表明需要通过定性和定量研究对本研究中确定的领域进行进一步调查。迫切需要通过社交，电子和印刷媒体提高公众意识，并向HCP提供能力建设培训以照顾老年人。游说团体可以起到催化作用，说服政府官员执行有关退休，日托和补贴提供医疗服务以改善老年人的政策。孤独导致他们显然愿意和有力的决定住在庇护所。结论研究结果表明需要通过定性和定量研究对本研究中确定的领域进行进一步调查。迫切需要通过社交，电子和印刷媒体提高公众意识，并向HCP提供能力建设培训以照顾老年人。游说团体可以起到催化作用，说服政府官员执行有关退休，日托和补贴提供医疗服务以改善老年人的政策。孤独导致他们显然愿意和有力的决定住在庇护所。结论研究结果表明需要通过定性和定量研究对本研究中确定的领域进行进一步调查。迫切需要通过社交，电子和印刷媒体提高公众意识，并向HCP提供能力建设培训以照顾老年人。游说团体可以起到催化作用，说服政府官员执行有关退休，日托和补贴提供医疗服务以改善老年人的政策。结论研究结果表明需要通过定性和定量研究对本研究中确定的领域进行进一步调查。迫切需要通过社交，电子和印刷媒体提高公众意识，并向HCP提供能力建设培训以照顾老年人。游说团体可以起到催化作用，说服政府官员执行有关退休，日托和补贴提供医疗服务以改善老年人的政策。结论研究结果表明需要通过定性和定量研究对本研究中确定的领域进行进一步调查。迫切需要通过社交，电子和印刷媒体提高公众意识，并向HCP提供能力建设培训以照顾老年人。游说团体可以起到催化作用，说服政府官员执行有关退休，日托和补贴提供医疗服务以改善老年人的政策。