According to your link, it's still much more common.
"Nearly 6 percent of older adults are sheltered in residential facilities that provide a wide range of care"
According to your link, it's still much more common.
"Nearly 6 percent of older adults are sheltered in residential facilities that provide a wide range of care"
So the parent sacrifices a necessary savings for the luxury of their child attending college on their dime... Seems like a stupid gamble for their financial future.
My parents raised me to the point I could take care of myself, as parents should. I am sucessful because of the values they taught me not the $$$ they spent on me. If it ever came down to it, I would take them in and care for them. I doubt that will ever happen though.
College is a luxury. If you feel so inclined as to sacrifice your financial solvency for your children's luxury go ahead. If they don't happen to return the favor, you always have the .gov to take care of you.
Nobody should be forced to care for anybody other than their own kids... and that is only because it would be a violation of the kids' rights to bring them into the world in a helpless state and then abandon them. Force is only proper in defense of someone's rights. Whether folks choose to help anyone else is a matter of personal choice, and ought to boil down to how much you value the person in question. I personally value my folks a great deal, and definitely plan on being there for them. I feel sorry for those who don't have a good relationship with theirs. I would not say that every child has an absolute moral obligation to care for their parents, though. I say don't live or the sake of another, or ask another to live for your sake. I want to care for my folks because I personally value them for my own reasons... I don't think I have any moral obligation to them just because they are the ones who brought me into existence.
You're correct, more may pass in nursing homes now but it's still more common overall to pass at home.
I over personalized the subject and that clouded me, thanks for pointing it out.
I would agree that in most situations there should be no legal duty to support a parent.
The moral obligation issue is not as black or white to me. I understand not being obligated
to parents solely because their parents, on the other hand if we were fed, clothed, sheltered,
etc. reasonably then don't we owe for around 18 yrs. of raising?
What about children who at times were helped by their parents after adulthood? If you knew
your parents were always there for you and had helped you even after you were "raised", wouldn't you owe them the same?
The moral obligation issue is not as black or white to me. I understand not being obligated
to parents solely because their parents, on the other hand if we were fed, clothed, sheltered,
etc. reasonably then don't we owe for around 18 yrs. of raising?
What about children who at times were helped by their parents after adulthood? If you knew
your parents were always there for you and had helped you even after you were "raised", wouldn't you owe them the same?
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In your opinion would it be a violation of someones rights if a child who is not the parents caretaker wrongly makes a situation for the parent and caretaker that is not in their best interest and then withdraws their promised support and abandons them to it?
What if the situation goes wrong should the persons who made it have any obligation/responsibility?
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Those past elderly status, the old, have a much different world to live in. A small percentage of them have wealth, and relatively good health. Society treats them well, until their usefulness, i.e. money, runs out. Then, they join their less fortunate brothers and become the forgotten.
There was a time when age was equated with wisdom, and worn with pride within society. Within some Eastern cultures, it is still so. However, modern society looks the other way when it comes to the bother of caring for the aged. Of course there are Nursing Homes, and assisted living centers, but that is not the same as home care being provided by loving family members.
I sincerely hope that today's middle aged members of society consider their actions with their older relatives. As they respect, or so not respect their elders, they set the example for younger family members to follow. Loneliness, and uselessness may be their fate if they fail to nurture their own aged relatives.
http://www.helium.com/items/230633-elderly-people-in-modern-society
"Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members".~Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973), My Several Worlds [1954].
"A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Ghandi
.
There was a time when age was equated with wisdom, and worn with pride within society. Within some Eastern cultures, it is still so. However, modern society looks the other way when it comes to the bother of caring for the aged. Of course there are Nursing Homes, and assisted living centers, but that is not the same as home care being provided by loving family members.
I sincerely hope that today's middle aged members of society consider their actions with their older relatives. As they respect, or so not respect their elders, they set the example for younger family members to follow. Loneliness, and uselessness may be their fate if they fail to nurture their own aged relatives.
http://www.helium.com/items/230633-elderly-people-in-modern-society
"Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members".~Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973), My Several Worlds [1954].
"A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Ghandi
.
Forced by law, no, but from a moral standpoint from my point of view the child should take care of the parents if they have the means until such time as they can no longer do so. I understand in some cases this may not be possible, such as with advanced dementia, or some other illness that requires medical supervision. I was raised by my grandparents, so I was put in this position earlier in life than most, but I felt obliged to help them in any and every way I could.
I know I'm rabbit trailing a bit, but I do think it is a somewhat uniquely American to have elderly parent's live their lives independently. In many other societies multi general homes are the norm. Children taking in their adult parents to live with them. Personally I don't see that as a disrespectful thing at all to not just assume that your parents will come live with you at some point. I think we as Americans value our freedom and independence, and in our old age want to live on our own.
But what the OP proposes is that should that freedom be propped up by either the government or by family members.
I for one believe that a parents DESIRE for living an independent life, shouldn't trump my ABILITY for my own freedom and independence in living life.
I'm part Japanese, and have Korean step family, and I'm the black sheep of the family because I don't have plans to take either parent in. Although right now I do help out my mom a lot, I pay the taxes on her house, keep up the house, and help her out with occasional bills. I do that because she wants her independence and I'll always chose to help her as much as I can.
But what the OP proposes is that should that freedom be propped up by either the government or by family members.
I for one believe that a parents DESIRE for living an independent life, shouldn't trump my ABILITY for my own freedom and independence in living life.
I'm part Japanese, and have Korean step family, and I'm the black sheep of the family because I don't have plans to take either parent in. Although right now I do help out my mom a lot, I pay the taxes on her house, keep up the house, and help her out with occasional bills. I do that because she wants her independence and I'll always chose to help her as much as I can.
What is living in a nursing home or resident care facility so bad. A lot of these aren't free. These people use their retirement or kids money to pay for these. A lot of these home get the seniors out and about safely as well as other day to day activities.
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