"May you live to a ripe old age" How do you take this phrase..? As a blessing or as a curse.
Consider this, the elderly population in India is continuously increasing and the problems they are facing is also increasing simultaneously. 60% of elderly couples in India are forced by their children to leave their homes. So the number of peoples in old age homes are constantly increasing and also most of the parents are now deciding to live in old age homes rather than living with their children.
In India, unlike USA, parents do not leave their children on their own after they turn 18 but children find it hard to accept the fact that there are times when parents want to feel the love that they once shared with them.
There are times when parents just want to relax and want their children to reciprocate their care. Every parents wants to see their child grow and be successful but no parent wants their child to treat them like an unnecessary load on their responsibilities.
Old age cannot be avoided. It is a phase of life, which will arrive and stay till death takes its toll.
Our culture recognizes the status of the parents as that of God. A moral duty is put on the children to take care of their parents. But nowadays what we are observing in our society is that the children are not willing to take care of their parents, they do not want to spend money on them, they are treating their parents as aliens, they do not want to share an emotional bond with parents. These children are forgetting that the foundation of their life is built up by the parents. They are forgetting their moral and ethical duties towards their parents. This is because of fast life, industrialization, money oriented minds, inflation. Children have no time to look after their parents because of their busy schedule and as a consequence of this situation the elders are getting neglected.
Why do we tend to forget that the reason we are in this world is our parents, the reason we studied is our parents, the reason we were alive all this while is our parents, the reason we survived all the diseases is our mother’s care. The hands who made us walk is our parents’. When we were kids we never thought of it but we knew that no matter what, our parents will be by our side. But when our time came to show our respect, to reciprocate the love, to show our gratitude, we back out.
Consider this, the elderly population in India is continuously increasing and the problems they are facing is also increasing simultaneously. 60% of elderly couples in India are forced by their children to leave their homes. So the number of peoples in old age homes are constantly increasing and also most of the parents are now deciding to live in old age homes rather than living with their children.
In India, unlike USA, parents do not leave their children on their own after they turn 18 but children find it hard to accept the fact that there are times when parents want to feel the love that they once shared with them.
There are times when parents just want to relax and want their children to reciprocate their care. Every parents wants to see their child grow and be successful but no parent wants their child to treat them like an unnecessary load on their responsibilities.
The problems in old age is in two forms: emotional and physical. Many studies have proved that the two are actually interconnected. No precautionary measures can avoid these problems; senior citizens just have to face them bravely.
But the only thing they need is love from their children and family. Those who can afford, try to reduce their guilt by sending their old parents to the home for the aged. But seldom do they realize that although their parents or grandparents may get physical care in these institutions, their emotional needs of affection and love by their own near and dear ones remain unfulfilled. What the youngsters of today fail to realize is that they will get old too some day and may have to meet a similar fate, because history is bound to repeat itself and a person reaps what he sows.
It's time to realize that our parents need us till the end. So don't soak them, love them don't treat them as a burden. They are waiting for the Soak No More state...
Even when they are counting their last breath, they are still thinking of us!
