Medical intervention before death of elderly in India: An inquiry into gender‐based difference

Background Demographic shift in India has prolonged life expectancy. The phenomenon caused episodes of illness to protract and sufferings of the elderly populace to be aggravated. In such a situation, medical attention and hospital‐based care emerges as an important choice for many. However, such argument needs scientific validation that is attempted in the present article. Method Using nationally representative sample, the study attempts a comparative analysis and estimates the major socioeconomic determinants of medical intervention before death, for the senior citizens, aged 60 years and above. Findings Major findings are as follows: Firstly, gender discrepancy is evident in seeking medical attention and hospitalization when social caste and economic status of household are considered; secondly, medical attention or hospitalization is more familiar among the socioeconomically privileged group segment; thirdly, health‐seeking behavior is approaching towards homogeneity with all the four wealth quartiles showing a more or less equal preference for hospital‐based care. Conclusion Receiving medical attention before death is confined in the privileged section of the society and of course gender plays an important role in this regard. Lack of proper treatment still increases the incidences of death among the elderly at the lower segments of society.