Care for the elderly
We often come across with cases that relate a horrific face of our society in the present times. Many families both with high earnings and even with low earnings, the elder members are being undermined and not cared for the way they would have otherwise though to be.
Many instances of siblings falling apart have been reported across the landscape (rural or urban), where old aged parents are being termed as a liability and are being shuffled across families for months together as no one is willing to take them in for the rest of their lives.
Ironically, old age is often accompanied by loneliness, insecurity, and emotional vulnerability. As parents age they do not just face physical health issues but also require emotional connection and mental support.
They aging parents may feel neglected, anxious, or even depressed due to the absence of meaningful interaction and companionship which is nowadays becoming a routine. Even in some cases where the children are comfortable with having their elderly parents around, but in the long run the parents feel isolated as they do not get the required attention and care that they deserve otherwise.
Another concern that the elderly have these days is the many among them remain financially dependent on their children. They always seem concerned and at time slip into depression and stress over the rising medical costs, inflation, and the lack of proper social security systems aggravating their vulnerability.
A huge number of cases are being reported where the elders have been asked to take care of their needs on their own. This has resulted in many of them resorting to ignore their health concerns as they feel that lot of costs are involved in seeking treatments and medical aid.
Notably, with aging come various health complications—arthritis, diabetes, vision problems, mobility issues, or more serious conditions like Alzheimer’s or cardiovascular diseases. Caring for elderly parents involves scheduling regular health check-ups, ensuring timely medication and providing a nutritious diet and arranging for physical assistance when required.
Though most of the children rise to the occasion but those who tend to ignore their elders need to believe into the fact that they will not stay young all through their lives and the period the elders are witnessing they too have to pass through it.
Children as of now need to ensure that their parents have access to necessary medical treatment, secure housing, and daily necessities. This responsibility should not be seen as a burden but as a reciprocation of the years of care and sacrifice they have made all through their lives.
We as a community also need to wake up and help create an atmosphere where the seniors are provided access to day care centers and supportive especially for those who have no family. Civil society must be proactive in creating safe, inclusive, and respectful spaces for the elderly to socialize, stay active and feel involved.
