Description
An Assignment on Media Research subjct
CHALLENGES FACED BY OLD AGE PEOPLE IN A
FAMILY SCENERIO
Sadly to say many people in our elderly population have been treated just as
badly, if not worse, some were abandoned by their families, and some were
violently abuse. As adults the transition into old age can be difficult for some
people. Frustration, lack of responsibility and dependence can make the process
of aging undesirable to look after them. This reason makes me disagree that not
poverty alone had made a stomping ground at their present situation. We may
not have the luxuries that other rich families have but what me believe
important most is the love you have for each other towards our Lolo`s and
Lola`s. Old age should be viewed as another phase of life, but not the end of
life.
Upon growing older there are many decisions to be made. Among one of the
most difficult and perhaps most important decisions is where the elder person
will live and how long-term care needs will be met when he/she is no longer
capable of doing so independently due to the incapacity that accompanies many
with old age. Nursing homes will never be the best option for them to be with
but only for their families. Even the nursing home like Home of the Golden
Acres that are very nice facilities and provide the best care possible cannot
replace the friends and family members that the resident will miss.
In India, around 2/3rd of the population is below or close to 30, so does talking
about old age problems (which exist) sound awkward. Consider this, out of
every 10 elderly couples in India, more than 6 are forced by their children to
leave their homes. With no place to go and all hopes lost, the elderly have to
resort to old age homes, which do not guarantee first class treatment. In India,
unlike USA, parents do not leave their children on their own after they turn 18
(of course there are exceptions), but children find it hard to accept the fact that
there are times when parents want to feel the love that they once shared with
them. There are times when parents just want to relax and want their children to
reciprocate their care. Every parents wants to see their child grow and be
successful but no parent wants their child to treat them like an unnecessary load
on their responsibilities.
Every other day, we see news of parents being beaten up by their children,
parents and in laws being forced to do the house hold chores, being made to live
in small dungeon like rooms, their property being forcefully taken over by over
ambitious children.
There are 81million older people in India-11 lakh in Delhi itself. According to
an estimate nearly 40% of senior citizens living with their families are
reportedly facing abuse of one kind or another, but only 1 in 6 cases actually
comes to light. Although the President has given her assent to the Maintenance
and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act which punishes children who
abandon parents with a prison term of three months or a fine, situation is grim
for elderly people in India.
According to NGOs incidences of elderly couples being forced to sell their
houses are very high. Some elderly people have also complained that in case of
a property dispute they feel more helpless when their wives side with their
children. Many of them suffer in silence as they fear humiliation or are too
scared to speak up. According to them a phenomenon called ‘grand dumping’ is
becoming common in urban areas these days as children are being increasingly
intolerant of their parents’ health problems. After a certain age health problems
begin to crop up leading to losing control over one’s body, even not recognizing
own family owing to Alzheimer are common in old age. It is then children
began to see their parents as burden. It is these parents who at times wander out
of their homes or are thrown out. Some dump their old parents or grand parents
in old-age homes and don’t even come to visit them anymore. Delhi has nearly
11 lakh senior citizens but there are only 4 governments’ run homes for them
and 31 by NGOs, private agencies and charitable trusts. The facilities are
lacking in government run homes.
Forget the rights that the elderly enjoy in India. Just forget about the action that
they can take. Think on moral grounds. Why do we tend to forget that the
reason we are in this world is our parents, the reason we studied is our parents,
the reason we were alive all this while is our parents, the reason we survived all
the diseases is our mother’s care. The hands who made us walk is our parents’.
When we were kids we never thought of it but we knew that no matter what, our
parents will be by our side. But when our time came to show our respect, to
reciprocate the love, to show our gratitude, we back out.
But the truth is that even when they are counting their last breath, they are still
thinking of us!
Is the youth too insensitive to the elder? Passing comments at an old man
walking slowly on the road and disturbing the flow of the traffic are our ethics?
Come on youth, stand up against such injustice. DO NOT TREAT YOUR
PARENTS LIKE BURDEN ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY NEED YOU
doc_203562390.docx
An Assignment on Media Research subjct
CHALLENGES FACED BY OLD AGE PEOPLE IN A
FAMILY SCENERIO
Sadly to say many people in our elderly population have been treated just as
badly, if not worse, some were abandoned by their families, and some were
violently abuse. As adults the transition into old age can be difficult for some
people. Frustration, lack of responsibility and dependence can make the process
of aging undesirable to look after them. This reason makes me disagree that not
poverty alone had made a stomping ground at their present situation. We may
not have the luxuries that other rich families have but what me believe
important most is the love you have for each other towards our Lolo`s and
Lola`s. Old age should be viewed as another phase of life, but not the end of
life.
Upon growing older there are many decisions to be made. Among one of the
most difficult and perhaps most important decisions is where the elder person
will live and how long-term care needs will be met when he/she is no longer
capable of doing so independently due to the incapacity that accompanies many
with old age. Nursing homes will never be the best option for them to be with
but only for their families. Even the nursing home like Home of the Golden
Acres that are very nice facilities and provide the best care possible cannot
replace the friends and family members that the resident will miss.
In India, around 2/3rd of the population is below or close to 30, so does talking
about old age problems (which exist) sound awkward. Consider this, out of
every 10 elderly couples in India, more than 6 are forced by their children to
leave their homes. With no place to go and all hopes lost, the elderly have to
resort to old age homes, which do not guarantee first class treatment. In India,
unlike USA, parents do not leave their children on their own after they turn 18
(of course there are exceptions), but children find it hard to accept the fact that
there are times when parents want to feel the love that they once shared with
them. There are times when parents just want to relax and want their children to
reciprocate their care. Every parents wants to see their child grow and be
successful but no parent wants their child to treat them like an unnecessary load
on their responsibilities.
Every other day, we see news of parents being beaten up by their children,
parents and in laws being forced to do the house hold chores, being made to live
in small dungeon like rooms, their property being forcefully taken over by over
ambitious children.
There are 81million older people in India-11 lakh in Delhi itself. According to
an estimate nearly 40% of senior citizens living with their families are
reportedly facing abuse of one kind or another, but only 1 in 6 cases actually
comes to light. Although the President has given her assent to the Maintenance
and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act which punishes children who
abandon parents with a prison term of three months or a fine, situation is grim
for elderly people in India.
According to NGOs incidences of elderly couples being forced to sell their
houses are very high. Some elderly people have also complained that in case of
a property dispute they feel more helpless when their wives side with their
children. Many of them suffer in silence as they fear humiliation or are too
scared to speak up. According to them a phenomenon called ‘grand dumping’ is
becoming common in urban areas these days as children are being increasingly
intolerant of their parents’ health problems. After a certain age health problems
begin to crop up leading to losing control over one’s body, even not recognizing
own family owing to Alzheimer are common in old age. It is then children
began to see their parents as burden. It is these parents who at times wander out
of their homes or are thrown out. Some dump their old parents or grand parents
in old-age homes and don’t even come to visit them anymore. Delhi has nearly
11 lakh senior citizens but there are only 4 governments’ run homes for them
and 31 by NGOs, private agencies and charitable trusts. The facilities are
lacking in government run homes.
Forget the rights that the elderly enjoy in India. Just forget about the action that
they can take. Think on moral grounds. Why do we tend to forget that the
reason we are in this world is our parents, the reason we studied is our parents,
the reason we were alive all this while is our parents, the reason we survived all
the diseases is our mother’s care. The hands who made us walk is our parents’.
When we were kids we never thought of it but we knew that no matter what, our
parents will be by our side. But when our time came to show our respect, to
reciprocate the love, to show our gratitude, we back out.
But the truth is that even when they are counting their last breath, they are still
thinking of us!
Is the youth too insensitive to the elder? Passing comments at an old man
walking slowly on the road and disturbing the flow of the traffic are our ethics?
Come on youth, stand up against such injustice. DO NOT TREAT YOUR
PARENTS LIKE BURDEN ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY NEED YOU
doc_203562390.docx