Food for Thought 9
In most cultures within the US, caring for the elderly is taken with different perspectives. For instance, it is easy for a white person to be put in a nursing home than for an Asian or Latino elderly person. In many societies, caring for the elderly is the responsibility of all members of the community; however, it is the sole responsibility of the immediate family members. In my opinion, older parents should be provided with the best environment to improve their health and provide comfort at the end of life years by their families. According to (Lally 2019), families are the ideal people to provide emotional support and help care for the elderly.
When my parents or loved one gets to that stage, I want to be there for them. It is believed in many communities that parents can curse or bless someone during their end times. Furthermore, it is expected that this is the time for the children to return the favours of being taken care of to their parents. Family involvement in the health of the elderly has been found to be effective in improving the quality of life and recovery from minor diseases (Lally, 2019). It would be quite unfair if my parents brought m up, protected me, and provided me with everything only to abandon them when they need me the most.
However, to provide effective support, you need a source of income to ensure the availability of the required resources. Gardiner (2019) pointed out that caring for the elderly meant stopping your life and occupation, a sacrifice many do not want. In addition, family hostility hinders relationships, creates a distance between parents and children, and interferes with senior care decisions.
References
Gardiner, A. (2019). ‘I Put My Own Life on Hold’: The Pain and Joy of Caring for Parents. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/05/reader-center/taking-care-of-elderly-relatives.html
Lally, M. (2019). LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT: A Psychological Perspective By Martha Lally and Suzanne Valentine-French.