Caring for the Elderly

1.     Is it necessary for the Government to legislate for the responsibility of care for the elderly being assigned to the children and should it be enforced, or should the government take the responsibility on itself?

It, not the Government's responsibility to care for the elderly. Neither it is enforceable by Government to take care of the elderly parents. The government does not take responsibility for the elderly on its own.

As the constitution of Indians amendment in 2011 article 41 it has agreed as per the Global policy of the aged and in line of UNESCAP to provide an equal right to public assistance in cases of old age”. The policy and plans were put in place by central and state governments for the welfare of older persons.

 We expect to have more than 50% growth in the age group of 60 and above. This is all due to long life expectancy and a lower rate of fertility. 

The present situation around the world and the current situation make filial care of elderly parents on earning adult in the family tedious. In India and developing nations, there is diverse culture, political, geographical, social, financial, and spiritual influence. In spite of these differences, people have their family at heart, throughout their life and they live still love large joint family which enjoys good social bonding, filial trust, and emotional bonding.

While South-Eastern Asian countries have high mortality rates and higher fertility rates causing a reverse effect but due to the trend and lifestyle of this country sooner or later in the span of 10 years, it will show the population ratio of Elderly people due to many factors that are plaguing us.

Now that we have established the fact of an overgrowing population of senior citizens by the millions we need to find Ethical standards to ensure the dignity of humane life and respect it deserves.

 We need to study each family on broad parameters of society environment, scientific invention, policymakers, law enforcement, politics standards, economic developments, medicinal advancement, emotional and spiritual quote, and educational composition. The problem is directly or drastically lower with a country which has citizen who painstaking update and maintain high standards in all the above criteria consistently. 

What is the World's ethics have to say about Elderly Parents with financial difficulty and young children with no efficient means to care for their aging parents?

 The caretaker need not be financially strong to take care of their aging parents. Being financially weak is not criteria to exempt the children for not extending their love and affection in the time they are most vulnerable and in need of acceptance from their loved ones. Monetary criteria is not a major factor it just a means to survive. There are many institutions and Non-Government organizations that provide adequate service to sustain families with minimal resources for children and elders. There is another type of destitute in our metropolitan city the emotionally disconnected individual who have become numb to their own feeling and the needs of the others they have lost the texture of affection and affirmative hugs and kisses. There is a lot to do to mend these spurts of mushroom which is far sophisticated and poisonous, they are a bad influence and certainly not acceptable.

Are Children responsible to take care of their elderly parents?

 Parents are not bound by any legislation to care for their offspring in a similar manner and with the reversal of opportunity, the kids have a chance to care for them when they are going weak and incapacitated. They are our parents who gave birth to us and natured us as individuals. This relationship goes beyond all rational, return on investment, emotional experience. An old-aged parent isn’t priced horses in the stable to be flaunted to show and earn respect but they are the object of our affection, concern, love, and honour.

There have been trivial issues due to which the poor parents lose their dignity and respect in society. Fight amongst the siblings over the equal distribution of property, sharing the burden of caring for parents, Ego trips, and other priorities that precede Family responsibility.

In all children could be deprived of their privileges to their parent's will. Property and other entitlement if they specify in their will; if the parents deem fit to show their discord and disapproval to bless the kids with the parting gifts. This is to avoid any malpractice and mistreatment by their children and provide them equal rights, to do like they please with their life saving, earnings, and entitlements.

The law and organization are there to provide guidelines and assistance in caring for the elderly parent they cannot replace the children or take their place. Children, as well as the caretakers, need to be aware they are respectable individuals and sensitive feelings due to dwindling strength, memories, and faculties. As an evolving, mature human it is our nature to care for, protect, our loved ones, who are susceptible to danger, if we fail to care for our beloved parents then definitely we are getting cold going toward inhalation.

 To care and be with someone, without any bargain is uplifting, your own life has a purpose. An elderly person is slow to anger and patient but is not insensitive to the love and affection of children and those taking care of them. The satisfaction, it brings to care of the elderly as well as the infant brings leaves a permanent mark on our life's highest-rated completeness.

Ethics is engraining in human very fiber we have to come to the realization that life is not about hoarding in a bank account, in stocks, property, large business house or holding post of influence. It has been proven fatal and disruptive to those who seek fulfillment intangible riches.

Why and how should Children fulfill their responsibility?

Every child born is secure in the warm harms of his mother and father the first contact with the world and the infinite possibility this world has to offer. They put all their effort and human aspiration to leave a legacy behind in their kids, their prodigy. Children can feel this importance and the calling to be more than just a weak being with limited possibilities. The relationship and the interaction with the parents make them realize they are not confined to life. A lifetime to be like their parent they need to create a world safer, happier, and loving like their parents created. The joy children find in appreciation of their parents is mindboggling and trilling. Parent patiently creates a higher order in the mind of the child to care, to be fair and noble above everything. The faith and bhakti are in serving the utmost who made them in His likeness and image to be co-creators. 

Parents are the face of God who teaches them this higher calling. All calling stems from caring for those who cannot give in return. This faith and understanding of being of use to others give immersed joy and experience of being boundless to love and serve mankind. Parents become children in their old age and children become smart, smarter parents to their parents. Making a complete circle of life and death mystery. 

 What makes the parent depend on their children?

 Parent have invested their entire life around the welfare of the kids and the one who is most vulnerable they have extra concerns and inclination to protect. The Kids understand their Parents' motives and are the most trusted caretakers. Parents feel complete and loved around their kids. Parents thou old have complete and total faith in their children, that they will be for their cause, welfare and devoid of selfish motives.

Industrialization an enormous opportunity in developing nation to prepare for a better lifestyle have promoted immigration to a developed country for a better quality of life and exposure. This has been short-lived and craving to be back in a familiar place where they were born has brought well-established professionals, to choose to live a mundane life with siblings and uneducated parents. Parents know their worth that they are irreplaceable, they have lived long enough with experiential knowledge. Consumerism does not satisfy the soul thou it does provide temporary relief to an existing problem but does not serve as contentment.

Parents would like to spend their last day in the care and surrounding their children because they love them tremendously. Children with low income or humble living do not brother them they are assured their wellbeing and happiness is much important than the riches of this world. Elderly parents are harping the song it’s not in having that we receive Joy; Give and you will receive much need love than you ever needed.

 Who will ensure that elders are looked after?

 We live in a society and each society has its nomenclature which all denominations and age groups adhere to. This feeling of belonging is so special, no one will willfully give up, to be ostracized to live a loner and desolate life. Elders are the prime member of the elite society who has pristine position after the priest to hold onto and allow practice in-houses. These senior citizens have a good network that keeps rituals and customs alive. They have enough influence on their children and they have the financial freedom to gift and show favours and reprimand bad behavior. These influences along with peer pressure in the society and religious beliefs keep the Elders well looked after.

 It is assured insurance that you too in your old age will be looked after if you follow the tradition and upkeep the culture.  The legislature has assured our wealth keepers and knowledge seekers that they will maintain the right to exercise their will. Give them the dignity to choose their own personal welfare. Maintain their status as an individual, in Law governed in State and central constitution. The Act considers it a legal obligation for children and heirs. The monetary upper limit of Indian rupees. 10,000 pm as maintenance amount, Is provided showing how concern we are about the family which is the most fundamental unit that constitutes our nation.[1]

 Why Government has an old age home for retired parents?

 The fact of the matter is a retired parent may not need financial help to take care of themselves they have enough and more to last them a lifetime. These people have not only invested in their kids but have also created a strong support system. It is the few unfortunates who get trapped in wishful thinking and spare their lives in the hand of their kids. Most of them have and contributed enough and more to society. They have donated and created proper investments. The older generation most probably has a steady source of income and wealth creation strategy they can live by. It is the younger sapling and sprouts that study abroad with mortgage loans, who live on bank loans and credit cards who need assistance to match with their grandparents. The government has beds and accommodation in Government and non-Government institutions to take care of the older generation whose materialist desires are niche and not for sale. They are vested and contributors to society by way of providing assistance and guidance to form a co-operative society to have charitable institutes to look after the downtrodden. These old age groups have a sound administration and good network with influential people to make alternative arrangements for themselves.

The government has protected them with pension and other term insurance by which if used properly they could live a good social and financial life. Many upcoming countries have the best retirement plan so that they could have well-behaved and honorable citizens. They hold most of the wealth and are wise investors. They are the prime target of super-luxury products and services. 

 Ethical reasons of The pro and cons and my understandings

 Pro due to a high standard of ethics it lays ground rules on the disposition of what is expected and not of how to dispense your responsibility.

When it comes to caring for elderly parents each person has its own requirement and condition to provide the best possible solution. We need to understand the circumstance and provide adequate support. The Ethics sees all things unbiased manner, Irrespective of the cast, creed, demographic, social, political, and importance.

As we know we have limited resources and these are not available to the masses. It has been a priority of every society to imbibe equality and an amicable atmosphere by provided benefits and distribute responsibility towards their country.

Ethics take care of the extreme case and minor cases have an example to irradiate all future events and incidences. People are aware of the norms and practices of Goodwill to be maintained.

Ethics has a practical calling with dignity, not to cross the line of tolerable wrong, be prolife, and respect for life.

Cons of Ethics it gets in a way of progress that pushes the boundaries of Good and Evil. Ethics is not pragmatism it is harder to implement meeting all aspects of life.

The lesser of Evil is opted for and greater good to magnitude is expected.  

Being Old is not a problem, the issue is how do we as individuals in one world dispense our efforts to impact a larger group so that they can sustain or develop a self-sustainable ecology to meet these demands. The myth of yesterday is no more eligible, To Be Old is to Be Sick, they are irresistible to change, they not of sound mind, genetically disorders, they are not bright, and they are burdensome.[2]

 We end that elderly parents are a part of the larger society and many organizations for whom they have served and lived an exemplary life. The community and the society at large have integral support to provide senior citizens with discounts and privileges. It is a Joint effort of the individual family to prepare for the second childhood of their parents and pampering them and make them enjoy the attention and care. By making the children capable of social, Moral, and financially stable to support their parents. Government represents the administration that has human resource welfare concerns. Who needs to keep a watch on these demographical populations and make a plan to handle upkeep to those who fall apart for the normal family segment. We have to live with the elderly and we need to learn to interact and enjoy their company.

[1] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/effectiveness-of-existing-law-against-abuse-of-elderly-parents-to-be-reviewed-on-direction-from-pmo/articleshow/71360736.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

 [2] https://grandfolk.com/guide/lets-go-dispel-some-aging-myths/