Living apart, ageing well: Exploring the cultural narratives of flourishing among older adults ageing alone in South India

Abstract

The intersection of increased life expectancy, youth migration, and the disintegration of joint families has led to the emergence of trans-local family structures, where older adults age outside of international co-residence . The concerns of ageing are exacerbated when older adults age apart from their children, often leading to stagnation and loss of vitality in old age . The present study aimed to explore how older adults flourish in South India, what a good life means to them, and how they pursue a good life within their sociocultural milieu. Adopting a qualitative approach, twenty left-behind older adults across three districts of Kerala in India were selected using purposive sampling and interviewed until data saturation. The thematic analysis revealed eight major themes illuminating older adults' experiences of flourishing. Adaptive thoughts, hobbies, feeling wanted and valued, autonomous decision making, and experiencing spiritual fulfilment in later years were found to shape the experiences of flourishing at an individual level, while the cultural narratives on flourishing are shaped through close family ties, strong connections and valued social identities within the community, and serving the deserving through selfless deeds (nishkama karma) in old age. Pursuit of pleasure (kama), through righteous living and duty (dharma) to self and society, and the fulfilment of human goals (purushardhas) across various stages of life, is found pivotal to thriving in later years. Flourishing, as a context-sensitive, subjective, and ever-evolving concept, is relevant to exploring perceptions of flourishing and to fostering policies and programs in a cultural context that promote well-being in later years.

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