Love Your Parents
Such families were well-suited for taking care of the aged. But today, industrialization has practically put an end to the system of joint or extended families, and in the place of the traditional extended family there has emerged the so-called nuclear family.
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Love Your Parents
Many of the aged are dependent on others for their needs and livelihood. Their need include love, affection and attention from their loved ones, besides medicines, treatment for ailments, clothes, etc. In present-day society, the aged have their problems; these problems arise from the change that has come over our society in recent years.
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A Result of Industrialization
These changes in society are a result of industrialization. In agricultural societies, a family consisted of a good many children, apart from grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. In other words, there were in the pre-industrial day’s extended families or joint families. Such families were well-suited for taking care of the aged. But today, industrialization has practically put an end to the system of joint or extended families, and in the place of the traditional extended family there has emerged the so-called nuclear family.
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The Aged Being Left High
The emergence of the nuclear family has been necessitated by the exodus of young men and women from their agricultural bases to the cities in search of jobs in offices and factories. This has resulted in the aged being left high and dry in their own home. What the young men and women, who go in search of jobs, can do at best is to give some money to their parents. They cannot at any rate take care of their aged parents.
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Leave Their Homes
There are people migrating from cities and towns, too. In the developing and underdeveloped countries, job opportunities are few and far between. This is particularly so in the countries of South East Asia. Many young men and women leave their homes for the countries in the Gulf or for the United States or Canada. When they get jobs, they send money to their aged parents. But money does not solve problems of the aged.
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Loneliness and Estrangement
Most of the problems of the aged in a changing society are psychological. Their physical needs can be met the money they receive every month from their sons and daughters staying away or living in foreign countries. But they need love and affection as well as attention from their loved ones.
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There is the misconception among the young that the aged need only material comforts. Even if these are assured we cannot expect them to be happy. There is more to life than these. They would like to feel that they are wanted. Theirs is the problem of loneliness, and even of estrangement. It is their feelings of loneliness and estrangement that make them unhappy.
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Welfare Homes for the Aged
Governments have in recent times come forward with welfare measures for the aged. Old age pensions are disbursed every month. Free medical aid is assured. Also, social organizations and religious communities have started Welfare Homes for the Aged where not only are they looked after but they can have the company of their fellow inmates. But all these welfare measures cannot be a substitute for the love and affection and attention that they crave for from their sons and daughters.
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Problems of the Aged in a Rapidly Changing Society
The problems of the aged in our society are insoluble. This is because young men and women are forced by circumstances to leave their homes for the sake of jobs and are incapable of looking after them as in the days when all the members lived together under the same roof and lived off the land. There is also an attitude change in the people towards the family as a unit. Today, for the most young men and women, the family consists of themselves, their spouses and children. Unfortunately, it does not include their own parents.
Liked it
Kairos | Aug 9, 2009 | Reply
we should all do
Christine Ramsay | Aug 9, 2009 | Reply
Such a good article. I am having problem with my own parents who moved to Italy. Now they are aging it is difficult to give them the comany they need from family as they are so far away.
Christine
Debra. | Aug 9, 2009 | Reply
Very good article, MrGhaz.
Phill Senters | Aug 9, 2009 | Reply
I agree Mr G. Families today are separated to the point that they can no longer care for aging parents and grandparents.
Jamie Myles | Aug 9, 2009 | Reply
Excellent article on just one of the problems that has occurred since the breakdown of the extended family units. It is so sad that the younger people don’t understand that one day they will be old and will need the love and care of their own children but they have not taught their children by example and will be left to the same isolation and loneliness as they have left their parents to. So sad.
Susan | Aug 9, 2009 | Reply
Excellent article. The problems are not unsolvable, they just haven’t been examined thoroughly enough. Like most difficulties in our society, solutions are there if enough people look.
Sherry Wallace | Aug 9, 2009 | Reply
Excellent article, mrghaz. I know lots of families do not care for their elderly.
I think it has to do with the way you are taught by your family to treat elders.
My husbands mother is getting older and is not well. There are 5 sons – she lives with one of her sons and the other brothers take a turn every week sitting with her. She has been ill for about a year.
My husband let my mom live with us until she died at the age of 90.
I know that sometimes helping our mom and dads is not fun; but they took care of us when we were young, and I feel if we love them, we should do the same for them.
Mystify | Aug 9, 2009 | Reply
Excellent article on a subject not a lot write about,very eye opening.It is true that many don’t see that their aging parents need love as well.They brought us in to the world the best they could so why not show some appreciation.
John | Aug 9, 2009 | Reply
Thanks mrghaz for another good article
Lauren Axelrod | Aug 9, 2009 | Reply
Interesting piece.
papaleng | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
an article worth pondering. Yes, I agree we sometimes neglect our aging parents. Friend this is a very motivational article worth sharing to friends.
Nicholas Kenney | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
A great article Mr. Ghaz. This is a real problem here in the states. Too many people put their parents in nursing homes and then forget about them. It’s like you said…all they want is love and some time spent with their kids and grand kids.
Melody Arcamo Lagrimas | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
Great writing. Parents should be loved, honored and respected especially during their senior years.
Idazalee | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
Great post!..Thank you for sharing this very important topics..I agree with you..we should respects and love our aged parents.
Redburn | Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
An amazing article!
The Real Ghost of Teresa Fidaldo
lindalulu | Aug 15, 2009 | Reply
Really wonderful article…I so wish more would take care of their parents especially here in the United States. I know I gave my Mother 8 years and nurtured her the way she did me as a child. Although very hard at times I would not trade a second of it for anything else in the world. I was always close to her but throughout this time in both of our lives I loved her more and more with each passing day. After her passing still I have wonderful memories and no regrets!
Katien | Aug 24, 2009 | Reply
Good article. This problem is set to get much much worse as well, with people living so much longer now.