Unloved Old People

America does not treat old people nice. It’s true, believe it. The society we have helped shape sends a clear message to people young and old – as long as you can work, you are a value to our world, and otherwise you are just something that needs to be tolerated. They say, to assess how your own situation is, you should look in other places at similar situations. Let’s compare how older adults are treated here in America compared to other countries.

Recently, the Social Security Administration increased the age at which you can claim your measly $742 monthly check to 65 years. For most people this is the time when the kids are off to college and the peace-seeking young parents’ lives. Leaving them to travel the world or do anything else that they always wanted to do when they were working.

Then comes around the years when you turn 80 years old. Now you can’t even make it to the bathroom without leaving a wet trail behind you. Hey, at least your spouse (if you’re lucky to still have one) can find you from following that trail. These are the years that you need help. You feel alone, everything hurts, and the Department of Motor Vehicles has killed your driving privilege.

Here in America we have “retirement homes.” Those words are in quotes because they’re really just nice terms for the home for the neglected. There is no genuine care in those facilities. It’s merely people doing their job of taking care of your parents.

This is looked down upon by many cultures around the world. This could very well be the number one cause for the demise of the family structure in America. In cultures such as the Chinese, Indian, Greek and Arabian the parents are held in the highest regard. All major household decisions are first discussed with the elders before any action is taken.

It is not acceptable to send off elderly parents who may have lost control of structured thought processes. Even as these cultures migrate to America, they bring along their traditions and respect for their elders.

Being a first generation Pakistani, even the thought of my parents living alone brings negative feelings. I, for one, am not interested in being shunned by the entire Pakistani community of Sacramento for sending my parents off to an elderly retirement home.

As the generations pass, however, Chinese Americans and Arab Americans are finding themselves falling into the norm of neglecting their parents when they get too hard to handle. Second and third generation Americans from immigrant families are forfeiting their traditions of keeping the elderly at home. They too, have turned to skilled nursing facilities.

Although everyone has the right to be independent, they do not have the right to be lazy and irresponsible. People should have enough respect for their parents who raised them to at least return the favor when they need them the most.