• Annie vedha T
• Navaneetha.M

Abstract : Background : Geriatric care is a specialized type of care that needs a focus only on older adults. The elderly population always desires to be healthy enough physically. mentally and also to function as independent as possible . The growing elderly population has wide range of problems. These could be age-related ailments, social impacts such as loneliness, or economic crisis arising from a lack of stable income and inability to afford the cost of health care. The National policy for older people NPOP 1999 gives guidelines on and Preventive and Promotional care . The activities are provided to increasing the access to health practices , regular monitoring and assessment of the elderly which are to be carried out for any infirmity or illness by organizing weekly clinic at Health Centers . In reality many elders do not avail health services at the rural health center and try to manage the health issues on their own . Thus this study has been undertaken to assess the perceptions of the elderly on geriatric care rendered at the health center and understand the unmet needs and issues of the geriatric population in depth. Objective To assess the perceptions on health care services of the elderly among the elders Design: Concurrent triangulation design . A mixed methodology study based on concurrent triangulation method was used in the study . A total of 150 elders were selected for the study using convenient sampling method. The Elders were interviewed quantitatively by administering SERVQUAL tool , a structured interview questionnaire. The perceptions on the care of elderly was assessed qualitatively with personal interviews using broad ended questions . Results : The quantitative and qualitative data was analyzed individually and the triangulation of the data was done . Among the 150 elders interviewed 90 (60%) were Dissatisfied with the care  42 (28%)Somewhat satisfied and only 18 (12%) satisfied . the mean and standard deviation of perceptions of the elderly among the elderly. The highest score was in Empathy domain (2.680+1.322), and the lowest score is Assurance domain (2.266+1.705) respectively Descriptive thematic analytical approach was utilized to analysis the qualitative data. The themes emerged were financial constraints Long waiting hours ,Dependency and Distance. Both the quantitative and qualitative findings converged at a point where current health services are having lacunae in the care of elderly which needs to be rectified. Discussion The study revealed that the current method of health care services for the elderly population is non specific ,expensive and a non feasible method . the elders expressed their dissatisfaction in the existing general health and a new strategy needs to be formulated to meet the needs of the growing elderly population .

Keywords:  Elderly care , Dissatisfaction . New strategy ,

" Care Of Elderly At The Primary Level- A Mixed Method Study", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 1, page no.d103-d108, January-2023, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2301316.pdf

" Care Of Elderly At The Primary Level- A Mixed Method Study", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 1, page no. ppd103-d108, January-2023, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2301316.pdf