NationStates Jolt Archive

Snipped some stuff.

People live alot longer these days and accumulate alot more serious age related illnesses. Also alot of families need both parents working to make ends meet. How do you care for a parent who may be suffering with Alzheimers, cancer, or chronic debilitating diseases like severe arthritis for a period of perhaps a decade while still working a full time job?
I'm not saying it's wrong. However, you will find that in most cases, our elders, despite any health problems they may face, live with their families. Is it because our adults are all unemployed? No...this happens even in families where the adults are all wage-earners. You will find this happening also in other cultures...many Pakistani or East Indian families, as well as Chinese families seem to have more in common with our take on family and communal support than other ethnicities. Again, neither way is right or wrong. They just are.

I'm not saying it's wrong. However, you will find that in most cases, our elders, despite any health problems they may face, live with their families. Is it because our adults are all unemployed? No...this happens even in families where the adults are all wage-earners. You will find this happening also in other cultures...many Pakistani or East Indian families, as well as Chinese families seem to have more in common with our take on family and communal support than other ethnicities. Again, neither way is right or wrong. They just are.
My maternal grandmother was cared for at my aunt's home by my aunt, my mother, and a nurse. She had Alzheimers and came down with cancer twice. The second time killed her. Yes, it's possible in many cases to care for an elderly parent, but it ain't easy. And if you have to take care of small kids as well it may become impossible.

You're right. That community value really WAS a part of Western culture in those days. Do you honestly see that value being passed on to the majority now? Where once old age homes would have been unthinkeable when there were living relatives to care for you, they are fast becoming the norm.

There are exceptions, and small town tend to exemplify that. I know mine does. But the west pushes individuality in its economic systems and political ones, and I don't see that changing in the near future.

I think there is a lot more to consider on the old age home front. My grandmother for example will not live with my parents. She absolutely hates being in a house where people live they way they do these days (television, computers, games systems, internet, etc.). She feels out of place and passed over. My parents are more inconvenience by having to go to her place, a couple of miles away, every time there is an incident and by the constant worrying. I don't think the youth is abandoning the elderly but to some degree that the elderly feel out-of-place in a household that is so drastically different than it was in their day.

My maternal grandmother was cared for at my aunt's home by my aunt, my mother, and a nurse. She had Alzheimers and came down with cancer twice. The second time killed her. Yes, it's possible in many cases to care for an elderly parent, but it ain't easy. And if you have to take care of small kids as well it may become impossible.
No one said it was easy.

I think there is a lot more to consider on the old age home front. My grandmother for example will not live with my parents. She absolutely hates being in a house where people live they way they do these days (television, computers, games systems, internet, etc.). She feels out of place and passed over. My parents are more inconvenience by having to go to her place, a couple of miles away, every time there is an incident and by the constant worrying. I don't think the youth is abandoning the elderly but to some degree that the elderly feel out-of-place in a household that is so drastically different than it was in their day.
Perhaps so. In your culture. My parents will have no problem living with us when they need to. And we will have no problem taking them. If that isn't in their best interests (for health reasons), we will deal with that. We also expect that my husband's mother will live with us at some point.

I guess I'm just pointing out how cultural differences can be misconstrued as other things based on world-view...communal solidarity as strength or weakness depending on how you think of it, and so forth.

I guess I'm just pointing out how cultural differences can be misconstrued as other things based on world-view...communal solidarity as strength or weakness depending on how you think of it, and so forth.

If this thread become serious then people are going to think we're all racists. Inject some humor quickly.

Um, Sinuhue is a stupid indian who drinks because she mixed with the Irish, um, yeah.

If this thread become serious then people are going to think we're all racists. Inject some humor quickly.

Um, Sinuhue is a stupid indian who drinks because she mixed with the Irish, um, yeah.
I always lose my sense of humour around this time:( Maybe some coffee is in order? And sugar...definately some sugar...

I always lose my sense of humour around this time:( Maybe some coffee is in order? And sugar...definately some sugar...

Gimme some sugar, baby - Ash, Army of Darkness