Lets take the glasses of biases off for a while... I have recently again heard the narrative of west being insensitive, having broken homes and children sending their parents to old houses instead of taking care of them in their old age. First of all this might not be the case at all...may be it is a choice of parents, may be they preferred living alone and when they could not do that anymore they opted to go to old houses... or there can be many other cases...
Ok for a while I agree that in our social and cultural values family is a very strong unit. But as the times are turning, men and women are getting into economic activity and life patterns are changing; parents at many homes are ignored and let me say it straight forwardly they are suffering in many cases. If it becomes excessively common issue and the state or some NGOs think of providing a shelter to the old people; I don't think this is to be seen only from one point of view that only shows the negative side of it. The very positive aspect of it is that state and the people who care, take the responsibility. The old houses I have visited are facilitated and giving these old citizens a very safe and healthy option to live. I know the love n care of family is something different and can not be altered; but in my personal opinion there is much exaggeration in our narrative of love and belongingness in our family system. I have seen old people on roads spending all day out in hot n cold weather, I have seen them working and I have seen them suffering. I wish our family structures may not break but they r breaking with the passage of time. The new generation is finding it difficult at times. Plus the parents themselves might want to take the option of living separately as they do in many cases. So why not to give them some other safe and healthy option. In the so called insensitive societies I have seen the peak of sensitivity shown by many for example when a young couple was celebrating their wedding at a old house and all the people living in the old house were so happy that day...
Ok for a while I agree that in our social and cultural values family is a very strong unit. But as the times are turning, men and women are getting into economic activity and life patterns are changing; parents at many homes are ignored and let me say it straight forwardly they are suffering in many cases. If it becomes excessively common issue and the state or some NGOs think of providing a shelter to the old people; I don't think this is to be seen only from one point of view that only shows the negative side of it. The very positive aspect of it is that state and the people who care, take the responsibility. The old houses I have visited are facilitated and giving these old citizens a very safe and healthy option to live. I know the love n care of family is something different and can not be altered; but in my personal opinion there is much exaggeration in our narrative of love and belongingness in our family system. I have seen old people on roads spending all day out in hot n cold weather, I have seen them working and I have seen them suffering. I wish our family structures may not break but they r breaking with the passage of time. The new generation is finding it difficult at times. Plus the parents themselves might want to take the option of living separately as they do in many cases. So why not to give them some other safe and healthy option. In the so called insensitive societies I have seen the peak of sensitivity shown by many for example when a young couple was celebrating their wedding at a old house and all the people living in the old house were so happy that day...