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Traditionally in Indian culture mothers and grandmothers are the central figures in the household. They raise and nurture their children and in turn when they grow old the children must look after them. It is still very common in the UK for three generations of the extended family to be living in one household, a tradition that has been maintained for decades. When the time comes it is the duty of the son or daughter to look after their mother until she passes away.
More recently, a growing trend in the UK has been the rise of care homes for Indian elderly people. The household and extended family unit has been replaced by these homes as a growing elderly population emerges and busy lifestyles take over traditional values.
This project explores the role of the elderly matriarchal figures within Indian culture and the shift of traditional values in a growing British Indian society.
My engagement with an Indian elderly care home in Leicester spanned over a period of two years. I would travel to Leicester from London and often spend a number of days at the home speaking to and interacting with the residents, all of whom wanted some company. During this period my own nan passed away and the project became ever more pertinent.
Respect to the women featured in the project have now passed away.
Resident sits in the living room in a line of red armchairs. The residents pass their days in this room.
The living room in the elderly care home. Entertainment consisted of TV programmes on Indian channels and bhajans (Indian religious song)
A resident enters the living room.
Residents' bedroom
Resident suffers from dementia, believing the doll was one of her children. “Go away” she cries in a slumber. I ask who she is talking to but she is unable to respond. She tells me she has gone mad. Everything has gone, she refers to her mind.
Lord Krishna
Resident in living room.
Bhaji and tomato ketchup. The care home provided Indian food to its elderly residents as a way of familiarising and a reminder of home.
Resident in living room.
Residents' bedroom
Residents' bedroom
Resident was 82 years of age and from the Punjab. She has tears in her eyes when she talked about her family. “My memory has gone and so have my eyes”.
'Who cares' featuring photographs from the Indian Elderly Care Homes project, published November 2014
