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| Oldies are sent to old-age homes when they expect children to reciprocate their care | | | Tahir Ali Shah | 10/6/2015 11:51:24 PM |
| These words of Elbert Hubbard are true to the situation, "where parents do too much for their children, the children won't do much for themselves."
The old age is an integral part of human life, unavoidable, undesirable, unwelcome and problem- ridden phase. Everybody wants to live a long life, but not grow old. It is ironical that however undesirable the old age, it is bound to come in life. A man is compelled to go through the pains and pleasures of this age like the other phases of life before making an exit from this mortal world.
Though it is true that no stage of life has its ever smooth sailing and every stage has its attendant problems, those of old age are more difficult and insurmountable because the physical strength and mental capability required to cope up with the adverse situations of life are immensely reduced. The situation becomes all the more difficult when one finds himself/herself left alone without anyone to attend him. In childhood and youth one has parents and other close elderly kith and kin to help, cooperate and guide. Besides, one oneself is full of energy, strength, stamina and courage. But the situation takes a reverse turn in the old age. For his every work he needs someone to help. He becomes dependent on others largely due to his physical infirmity. He is, in fact, filled with a feeling of emotional insecurity. He wants someone to take care of his needs and share his feelings. But in this materialist society, everybody is short of time.
Often one faces the loss of spouse and old friends is faced with multi-dimensional problems. One of the major problems is the financial constraint which is really more difficult in case of those old persons who are not entitled to any social security and have no source of income, completely depending on their spouse or children. People of this consumer culture do not have sufficient money to provide financial support to their parents; neither do they take it as their moral responsibility. This situation is really unfortunate and needs to be addressed properly.
Indeed the loneliness and neglect associated with the old age is a rather recent phenomenon. It is the outcome of break up of the tradition of joint family system. Growing urbanisation and fast moving modern life have contributed to the problem. Furthermore, the erosion of moral values has also aggravated the situation
In recent times, insecurity of the old, particularly in metropolitan cities, has emerged as a matter of grave concern. Usually, they are alone with servants to take care of them, who after becoming familiar with everything, rob them of all their belongings and run away after brutally killing them. The news of such incidents are frequent in national dailies.
The incapability of an elderly person to earn sufficient money has become a great hurdle in the way of his smooth survival in this world. Since the problems of old-age are the product of modern times the solution lies not in building more elderly homes but giving them a little care, love and affection.
However, for the West it may not be so heart rending for, there, it is their original life style that two generations never stay under one roof. But, in India where, for centuries, not only two but also even three generations have lived together, this new concept of nuclear families with the elders ousted, to fend for themselves is too touching to bear. The only shelter they find hence, is an old age home, where they spend the rest of their lives till they die, free of all hurt and sufferings at the hands of their children and relatives.
We must remember that the luxuries enjoyed by us were created by them through their hard work. At the same time we must also remember that we too will be like them one day and if our children treat us in the same fashion.
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